A meeting of the dysfunctional Tarrant City Council ended Monday with no action and a lot of heat.
Mayor Wayman Newton once again introduced a resolution to fire Police Chief Wendell Major. Newton has attempted to fire Major for at least six months, claiming he "engaged in conduct unbecoming of a Chief of Police."
As Newton read the resolution Monday, Councilman Tommy Bryant began to speak over him.
Bryant revealed that the independent council investigation into the allegations against Major found no evidence of a crime.
Bryant also read about a previously filed lawsuit against the city where an employee claimed Newton denied her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
"Mayor Newton harassed, first of all, he made contact with a person who was off on medical leave, which is illegal," Bryant said. "Then, because she told them about it, he dropped her pay grade then started taking retaliatory measures at her, fussing at her, discriminating against her."
"She took this to court and won a large lawsuit against the city of Tarrant because of the mayor's actions," he added.
The councilman then continued to list the mayor's issues with others in the city, including himself.
Bryant punched Newton in the face after a meeting in November 2022 when Newton allegedly told Bryant he was going to do vulgar things to his wife. During the council meeting Monday, Bryant said the charge against him was dismissed because the court found any reasonable man would react that way.
That's when Newton told him that the next time he calls him names, he will hit him, too.
"You ain't man enough to stand up to me, man," Bryant reacted.
"Well, call me a boy again," Newton said. "Or better yet, why don't you call me a n***** like you've been calling me?"
Councilwoman Veronica Freeman stood and approached Bryant, asking him to stop.
"Stop, Tommy! For me!" she pleaded. "Stop, Tommy, because we've got to handle city business. Stop Tommy! Stop!"
The two continued to go back and forth with name-calling and allegation-throwing.
The resolution did not get a vote. The council attempted to continue the agenda but took a 10-minute recess after discussing an issue with the fire department.
Newton blamed the council for having two fire chiefs after he fired Chief Jason Rickels in 2021. Rickels was arrested in Georgia, but after the case was dismissed, the council went to the personnel board to reinstate Rickels. However, the city had already hired a replacement fire chief. The debacle is costing the city $500,000.
"I'm tired of the City of Tarrant having to pay money for his [Newton's] lawsuits," Rickels told the council.
The mayor also tabled a resolution to offer a credit to Tarrant Electric customers after he said department heads were turning the issue into a "political theater."
He asked residents to return for the December 2 council meeting to support a $75 credit.
Resolutions to appoint a community crime commissioner and donate money to youth sports were passed from the agenda on Monday. All other resolutions were either tabled or did not get a motion.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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