Council splits on firing city secretary
Tense vote comes on heels of infighting over personnel files
NEW BOSTON, Texas —New Boston’s current City Secretary did not lose her job Thursday following a split vote by the City Council on whether she should be fired for lack of confidence.
Three of the council’s five members —Joe Dike, Richard Ellis and Jackie Laney —voted to terminate Faulknor while two others—Greg Harmon and David Turner—voted against her termination. At least four votes were necessary for the council to fire Faulknor for lack of confidence.
“Relieved. I didn’t know anything was wrong. Monday was the first I heard anything about it,” Faulknor said. “I don’t have any complaints, no reprimands. I’m ready to get back to work.”
Mayor Johnny Branson was absent from the meeting because of medical reasons. Turner said Branson has not missed a council meeting in 24 years.
The mayor does not vote with the council.
Despite Thursday afternoon’s inclement weather, a standingcrowd bowed their heads as Dike led an invocation in which he prayed for “healing and unity.” The council met in executive session for about 30 minutes before calling Faulknor
into the closed-door discussion. After another 30 minutes, Faulknor emerged and five minutes later the five-member council took its seats.
Dike spoke first.
“I’d like to make a motion, based on extensive deliberation back there,” Dike said.
Dike said he has a “strong lack of confidence” in Faulknor’s ability to fully inform the council and effectively perform the duties of City Secretary.
Harmon made a short address to the audience.
“I have probably gotten more input on this topic more than any other,” Harmon said. “From people I respect on both sides of the fence. No matter how I vote, I want you to know I respect your input.”
Turner spoke of the city’s current financial stability and “wonderful audit reports.”
Dike made a motion to dismiss Faulknor, and Ellis seconded the motion.
The vote was not enough to pass the motion to fire Faulknor for lack of confidence. However, Dike said he thinks Faulknor can be fired for “cause” with a three-to-two vote.
“I was hoping we’d be done with this today,” Dike said.
Faulknor’s conduct came into question recently after she refused to give the council access to the personnel file of former police chief Tony King. Faulknor admitted to contacting a local citizen’s employer over a social media post criticizing the city government and support staff and accused Dike last month of trying to break into her office.
The council voted to fire King in a special meeting last week, and a Texas Rangers investigation into the city’s police department is ongoing.
Ellis said he remains hopeful the city can move forward and heal.
“We need to get back to taking care of the city,” Ellis said.
Ellis previously said the city’s recent turmoil is detracting attention from positive things happening in the community, such as a new museum, upgrades to the annual Pioneer Days festival and improvements to local infrastructure.
Turner said he hopes to get back to “city business” and “doing what’s best for the taxpayers and citizens.”
Several members of the community expressed dissatisfaction with the meeting’s result.
“This is not what the people wanted,” Kent Wills said. “It’s just more of the same.”