Fulshear City Manager Jack Harper was fired from his position Feb. 12 after an unanimous vote from Fulshear City Council.
The details
The decision was made at a special meeting Feb. 12, following council members deliberating in executive session. The motion to remove Harper cited “findings of good cause.”
“It’s been a long couple of days,” Mayor Aaron Groff said at the 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 continue to be Fort Bend County’s premiere address: a place that residents and staff want to work, to play and to call home.”
In an emailed response to questions after press time Feb. 13, city officials declined to comment on what complaint or complaints were made against Harper.
"The city is not commenting on the complaints as it was a personnel matter," Communications Coordinator Mariah Gallegos said in the email. "The mayor along with acting-city manager look forward to the future of the city at this time."
The backstory
In April 2018, the city of Fulshear hired Harper, who previously worked as assistant city manager in Waco, Community Impact previously reported.
The issue of Harper’s removal was brought up at a previous Feb. 6 special meeting, according to agenda documents. The agenda item stated City Council would hear a complaint or charge against Harper in an executive session.
Following the executive session, City Council voted to place Harper on administrative leave with pay, and council voted to hold the Feb. 12 to vote on Harper’s employment.
Quote of note
“A quick word to staff in this season: we’ll get through all of these, all that’s coming, in the coming days,” Groff said at the Feb. 6 meeting. “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. It will not be tolerated. It doesn’t matter—public, staff, whatever—we will always do what’s in the best interest of the city.”
Next steps
Assistant City Manager Zach Goodlander has been named interim city manager in the meantime, according to a Feb. 13 news release from the city.
In a discussion with staff, Goodlander reportedly said work in the city won’t stop, according to the release.
“I think last night marks an end as well as a beginning. Everyone has already been working on a number of projects, and those will continue. At the same time, I think everyone should feel empowered,” he said. “The citizens demand a lot of us, we need to keep pushing forward. Again, my door is literally open, always is.”
Gallegos said next steps to hiring the next city manager are as follows:
- City managers must be approved by City Council, so the city must hire an executive search firm to accept applications for the position, she said. The city is currently accepting proposals from firms to take on the search, and City Council will likely approve an executive search firm at the March 19 meeting, she said.
- After approval, the search first will independently post the position and accept applicants, which will later be reviewed by City Council.
