Fulshear council unanimously votes to fire city manager

Fulshear City Manager Jack Harper was fired from his position after a unanimous vote by City Council on Monday.

Council met privately before the 6-0 vote to oust Harper.

Fulshear officials have not yet provided information on Harper’s salary or how long he had worked for the city.

Officials and Harper have not yet responded to a request for further comment.

Harper was put on paid leave after a Feb. 6 special session, where city council members discussed complaints against Harper during an executive session that lasted nearly four hours.

The reason for Harper’s termination has not been revealed by city council, but was found to be with good cause, according to Mayor Aaron Groff and the meeting agenda.

“We’ll get through all that’s coming in the coming days,” Groff said Feb. 6.

“But one of the most important factors in this moment is that the public and staff understand that retaliation of any sort will not be tolerated when a member of staff or public brings a complaint to the city,” Groff added. “It will not be tolerated.”

The city manager position will be filled by Assistant City Manager Zach Goodlander, according to a news release from the city.

“I think last night marks an end as well as a beginning,” Goodlander said in a release. “Everyone has already been working on a number of projects and those will continue.

“At the same time, I think everyone should feel empowered,” Goodlander said. “The citizens demand a lot of us, we need to keep pushing forward. Again, my door is literally open, always is.”

Groff said the city is looking to move forward.

“It’s been a long couple of days,” Groff said during the Feb. 12 meeting. “Mr. Harper, we thank you for your service to the city of Fulshear. Staff, we look forward to a new tomorrow and we will, as a city, move forward and we will continue to be Fort Bend County’s premiere address, a place that residents and staff want to work, play and call home.”