PORT ARTHUR, Texas — For the first time since he was stripped of his title almost two weeks ago, former Port Arthur Fire Chief Greg Benson spoke in front of City Council members.
Benson says he wanted to give the council members and the public a chance to know the truth about his termination as well as ask questions.
Benson was the first person to speak at the Port Arthur City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7, and he only spoke for five minutes.
After he was done none of the council members said a word, including Mayor Thurman Bartie and City Manager Ronald Burton.
After his recent termination, Benson is hoping to create a sense of transparency between himself, city leaders and the public.
During the council meeting, he shared how he believed he was working in a toxic and hostile environment.
He also briefly spoke about his achievements during his three years in the city. This included projects for two new fire stations and improving the city’s dispatch system.
Benson says further details were included inside a 14-page document he presented to council members.
"They were silent but I had a sense they weren’t going to say anything, but there are a lot of details in that document that they may find interesting," Benson told 12News.
He says he filed an appeal with the city over the weekend that gives council members a certain amount of time to vote to possibly reinstate him.
Benson says he still hasn't taken his severance pay and is still undecided if he will pursue legal action.