06/28/2025
City of Chester Mayor Carlos Williams has responded to the letter (which we posted earlier) from the Chester Fire Board regarding negotiations of the fire contract…
To the citizens of Chester,
Let me begin with a simple truth: the City of Chester operates an excellent, professional, and award-winning fire department. Our department is led by a capable, decorated chief and staffed by individuals dedicated to protecting life and property. That excellence, however, has made our department a target—not because of poor performance, but because of a power struggle.
Let’s call this what it is: an attempt to seize operational control of the Chester Fire Department by members of the Chester Fire Control Commission. And as this campaign of interference, misinformation, and intimidation has unfolded over the past several months, the City of Chester has consistently chosen the high road.
We have chosen restraint.
We have chosen transparency.
And above all, we have chosen to remain focused on our mission: serving the people of Chester with integrity, accountability, and respect.
We have been counseled—by our City Attorney, by state officials, and by our own conscience—not to respond to every public provocation. We were told not to engage in tit-for-tat disputes, even as we faced bullying tactics, unlawful meetings, and repeated abuse of power.
But I will say this clearly:
Silence must never be mistaken for guilt, and professionalism should never be confused with passivity.
The citizens of Chester deserve the truth. And today, I intend to provide it.
Before I address the recent false allegation, let me clarify an important point about process and authority. The negotiated fire service contract is—by law and by practice—a matter decided by Chester City Council. It forms a part of our City’s overall budget, which must be publicly debated, approved, and adopted through formal readings. While the Fire Chief, City Administrator, and I regularly engage with Commission members to assess needs, build relationships, and foster collaboration, those conversations are not contract negotiations. They are about trust and coordination—not formal decision-making. Only the City Council can approve the contract, and that approval must occur transparently, in the public’s view.
The False Accusation
On June 25, the Chester Fire Control Commission publicly accused the City of Chester of refusing to attend a scheduled negotiation meeting.
That accusation is not just misleading—it is demonstrably false.
At no point did the Commission reach out to ask for our availability. The City was not consulted. We were not involved in scheduling. There was no collaboration, a unilateral decision by the Commission to set a date, time, and location, and then mischaracterize our inability to attend as a refusal to negotiate.
That’s not negotiation. That’s manipulation.
Even with only seven days’ notice, the City acknowledged the invitation, explained our scheduling conflict, and proposed three good-faith alternatives: July 8, 9, or 10. As of today, we have received no response from the Commission.
This is not an isolated misunderstanding. It is part of a much broader—and deeply troubling—pattern of behavior.
Retaliation, Not Policy
This dysfunction did not begin with a budget disagreement or a contract negotiation. It began on February 3, 2025, when the City of Chester took a lawful and appropriate action regarding a personnel matter involving a deputy fire chief.
What should have remained a private and routine HR matter instead triggered an unprecedented campaign of retaliation.
That same day, Fire Commission members Hazel Alexander and Ben Bell unlawfully entered a City facility during the employee’s exit interview. Ms. Alexander approached Administrative Services Manager Marquita Fair in an aggressive and confrontational manner, pressuring her to arrange an unauthorized meeting to contest the termination in violation of HR policy.
Let me be clear: Ms. Fair acted professionally and ethically. She upheld City policy and refused to compromise the integrity of our personnel process.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief James Jackson—a decorated public servant and the first Black Fire Chief in Chester’s history—was subjected to verbal attacks, disrespect, and an active campaign to undermine his authority. Under Chief Jackson’s leadership, the Chester Fire Department has earned awards, passed audits, and provided exemplary service to our residents.
And yet, he has endured not only personal attacks but the trauma of watching a public body operate as if his authority—and the authority of the City Administrator and Mayor—simply did not matter.
Let the record show:
The City stood its ground. And we continue to do so.
The actions taken by Commission members, per legal counsel and law enforcement, including unlawful entry, employee intimidation, and interference in internal personnel affairs—could have warranted criminal charges. But in the interest of de-escalation and maintaining a working relationship, I instructed staff to stand down.
That goodwill has not been returned.
When Oversight Breaks Down
On February 5, the Fire Commission held what was intended to be a routine public meeting. Instead, it became a spectacle.
The Commission invited the recently terminated employee, his spouse, and several personal supporters to publicly air grievances and attack City leadership. What unfolded can only be described as a mob-like scene of shouting, threats, and complete disorder.
I was present, along with local journalist Travis Jenkins, who—like myself—had never before attended a Commission meeting because they had always been quiet, civil, and uneventful. But this meeting was anything but.
At one point, individuals gathered outside City-owned fire vehicles, made threatening gestures toward City officials, and shouted down our Fire Chief. The atmosphere became so hostile that Councilman Terry Foster, a former firefighter, had to step in publicly to defend Chief Jackson and the department.
The situation became so unsafe that our City Administrator called law enforcement to disperse the crowd.
Several staff members later reported that they feared for their personal safety.
This is not what government is supposed to look like.
This is not civic oversight.
This is intimidation. This is dysfunction.
Chronic Violations of Law and Trust
Since that February meeting, the Commission’s behavior has only worsened.
They have:
Held illegal meetings at private locations—including Cyclone Restaurant—without proper public notice, in clear violation of South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Secretly appointed a new board member without issuing any public announcement or notice to the press.
Diverted public funds by opening a separate account for Commission finances without informing the City and instructed the Chester County Treasurer to stop depositing funds into the City-managed account.
Circulated false allegations against City officials, employees, and leadership in an effort to discredit the City and sow distrust in the community.
Sent threatening communications, including a letter from Commissioner Ben Bell accusing the City Administrator of illegally opening Commission mail—mail that was addressed to the City and opened through standard administrative procedures.
These are not isolated incidents. They are not misunderstandings. They are part of a sustained effort to undermine the authority of the City of Chester, bypass governance, and destabilize public trust.
A History of Cooperation, Broken by Retaliation
What makes this all the more tragic is that for years, the City of Chester and the Chester Fire Control Commission worked together in good faith. There was mutual respect. There was professionalism. There was cooperation.
That all changed—not because of policy differences, but because of personal retaliation tied to one lawful employment decision.
And yet, through all of it, we have continued to do the work.
On May 15, the City presented its proposed FY 2025–2026 Operating Budget to City Council. We held two open work sessions, passed the first reading, and have scheduled the second reading and public hearing for July 8.
Meanwhile, the proposed fire department budget—based directly on the Fire Chief’s recommendations—passed through two public readings unaltered as part of the City’s formal budget process. At no point was there any indication that changes were forthcoming. And yet, without notice, consultation, or discussion, the Fire Commission’s Treasurer secretly submitted a radically altered version of that same budget to the Chester County Treasurer on June 4, falsely labeling it as an “approved and adopted budget.” This altered submission included over $100,000 in cuts to the City’s fire contract. The City of Chester was completely unaware of this change until six days later, when the County Treasurer forwarded us a copy. We had no voice in that decision and no opportunity to respond.
Let me be very clear: The City of Chester had no seat at that table. We had no voice in that decision.
We are now preparing a revised budget proposal that includes updated figures—particularly related to employee insurance and compensation—to ensure the continued strength of our fire services.
Until a new agreement is reached, we will continue to operate under the FY 2024–2025 baseline to maintain stability and protect the services our residents rely on.
Stand With Truth—Not Theater
We understand the frustration and confusion this situation has caused. And we understand how misinformation, loud voices, and political theater can cloud the truth.
But this is what remains clear:
The City of Chester has acted in good faith.
We have responded to every inquiry.
We have protected our employees.
We have honored the process.
And we have remained committed to serving the people—not engaging in chaos.
We are not perfect. No government is.
But we are transparent. We are accountable. We are committed.
And today, I am calling on the Chester Fire Control Commission—and all those who support or enable these tactics—to return to the standards the public expects and deserves:
Professionalism. Respect. Accountability. Service.
We are ready to meet.
We are ready to finalize a fair, responsible contract.
We are ready to protect this city—together.
All we ask is that those entrusted with power do the same.
With resolve and service,
Mayor Carlos Williams
City of Chester, South Carolina
