City of Overton appoints new fire chief over objections on leave of absence

KLTV
By KLTV Digital Media Staff
Published: Dec. 16, 2022 at 9:29 AM GMT-7

OVERTON, Texas (KLTV) - An East Texas volunteer fire department is under new leadership after the city council voted to hire a fire chief.

The decision is facing pushback from members of the department who say the city is overstepping department bylaws.

“We conduct the normal business of the department, and then we vote on the officers for that next upcoming year,” said Assistant Fire Chief T.J. Lewis. “It’s not a community vote; it’s not a city vote; it’s your leadership -- your chief, your assistant chief, your captains -- they’re all voted on, nominated and voted on by the body of the department.”

Lewis said the department’s bylaws state the department decides its leadership, and he said that’s what happened Tuesday when they decided his father Terry Lewis would be the chief and T.J. would be the assistant chief for the upcoming year.

During Thursday night’s city council meeting, the city voted to hire Mikey Hamilton as fire chief, effective Friday. T.J. Lewis said with that decision, the city is ignoring the department’s bylaws.

Mayor Curtis Gilbert said regardless of who the department wants as chief, the city makes the final decision.

“They do elect the leadership, and we’re not stopping some of that, but we do have the right as the city to hire a fire chief, and we have to approve,” said Gilbert. “The city has to approve the fire chief.”

With the city hiring Hamilton, the job of fire chief became a salaried position for the first time since 1932 when the department was formed.

Terry Lewis, who the department selected as chief, said he will continue to serve the community.

“Oh, I’m still going to be a firefighter, you know. If that’s what they want, let him have the headaches,” said Terry Lewis. “He ain’t got a clue, and he don’t know what he’s just getting himself into.”

Mayor Gilbert said the salary for the new fire chief is still being negotiated.