A tense hearing unfolded Wednesday in Port Arthur as former Fire Chief Greg Benson continues his battle to reverse his April termination.
The former chief, who was dismissed by City Manager Ronald Burton, is claiming his firing was unjust and retaliatory, 12 News Now reports.
The hearing, which lasted more than seven hours, featured intense exchanges over the reasons for his dismissal and whether proper procedures were followed.
At the center of the dispute is a claim that Benson was let go in retaliation for raising concerns about the overpayment of two firefighters and slow ambulance emergency response times. Benson’s lawyer, Larry Watts, argues that the two firefighters played a key role in convincing City Manager Burton to fire the chief by falsely accusing him of neglecting his duties.
Burton, on the other hand, maintained that the decision to terminate Benson was based on the chief’s inability to communicate effectively and provide necessary leadership to the department.
During the hearing, Burton could not provide clear evidence to back up his claims about Benson’s poor performance, often responding with, “I can’t recall” when asked for specifics, 12 News Now reports.
Another point of contention is the city’s claim that a “vote of no confidence” from the Port Arthur Professional Firefighters Association led to Benson’s firing, but the association’s president, Shawn Johnson, has denied that such a vote took place, 12 News Now reports.
