Joseph D. Bryant
al.com
(TNS)
An Alabama town officially still has two fire chiefs, but only one will lead first responders, following an agreement that ends a contentious leadership and personnel standoff.
The political and legal fight over who leads the Tarrant fire department is over, and it comes with a six-figure price tag.
The city council Monday evening agreed to officially reinstate Jason Rickels and negotiate paying him back pay and salary through retirement which totals at least $368,000.
“He’d prefer just to get paid his back pay and benefits and everything of that nature and not interfere with the workings of the fire department,” Scott Morro, his attorney, said Monday evening. “He doesn’t want to be a problem.”
The cash accounts for Rickels’ missed wages going back nearly four years since he was fired by Mayor Wayman Newton.
The Jefferson County Personnel Board gave Rickels a victory last November when it declared that the mayor had improperly dismissed him.
The board in its order said that Newton failed to officially notify the city council of Rickels’ termination, which invalidated the action. The mayor disagrees with the ruling and has accused the council of conspiring with Rickels in a political vendetta against him.
“This is a complete waste of public funds and a slap in the face to the hardworking citizens of Tarrant who are trying to move past the old ways of corruption and favoritism,” Newton said in an earlier statement. “The council’s actions show that they are more interested in protecting their own than serving the people of this city.”
There are terms to the newly minted deal with the city. Rickels must not return to the fire station and allow the current fire chief, Patrick Bennett, to remain on the job as head of the department.
The town of about 6,000 people is just northeast of Birmingham. Division between the mayor and council have been bitter for the last four years.
Newton Monday night scoffed at the arrangement, maligning it as a “no-show job.”
“Basically, we have someone getting public funds not showing up for work,” he said. “The idea of having two co-chiefs is problematic because you have one chief that actually has to work, another chief that doesn’t have to work, and they’re still getting paid.”
But council members point a collective finger at Newton for the long, expensive impasse.
Newton, who was already at odds with Rickels, fired him in April 2021 after the chief was arrested near Atlanta in an altercation with a realtor and camera person at a home he owned. The criminal charges were later dropped.
Newton, who has previously sparred with Rickels also made his feelings about the former fire chief clear in a videotaped encounter last week where he called the chief a racist. Newton has stood firm by his decision to fire Rickels and criticized attempts to reinstate him.
“This is your problem, so I’ll let you guys figure it out,” Newton told the council Monday evening.
Councilwoman Cathy Anderson shot back.
“Yeah, it’s our problem, but it was caused by you,” she said.
Morrow told AL.com that he will begin talks with city attorney Michael Brymer to negotiate a final figure and settlement for Rickels.
“We are appreciative of the city council in their efforts to resolve the dispute with the fire chief and the city, and we’re happy they’re moving forward in discussion on how to make him whole,” Morro said.
Council members called the arrangement the best resolution to comply with the personnel board, end the legal standoff and move forward.
“Get it over with,” said Councilwoman Veronica Freeman. “Chief Rickels, do not show up. Just don’t come. Everybody would be happy with that and we’re through with it.”
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