Rumors circulate on Biloxi Council not reappointing Fire Chief Joe Boney
Rumors are circulating in regards to the City of Biloxi’s council meeting tomorrow night, specifically the reappointment of Fire Chief Joe Boney.
As stated in the agenda for tomorrow night’s city council meeting, the council is expected to vote on several appointments and reappointments such as chief administrative officer and city attorneys as well as departmental directors.
Rumors say four council members are looking to not reappoint Boney as fire chief. Chief Boney explains these rumors came as a huge shock to him and says there has never been a problem that has come to him that has not been addressed with the council. “I don’t know what’s driving this, I may never, we may never know what’s driving it but what I want them to understand is that, what the viewers to understand is that I have thoroughly enjoyed my career, not just as a fire chief but, as a firefighter at Biloxi. I love it. I hate to leave it alone but sometimes that’s what’s going to happen. And I will tell you that, you know, I’ve had three or four retired fire chiefs tell me the same thing and they say, you know, you can’t please everybody all the time. You got to do what’s right. And sometime when we do what’s right in our mind it’s not always what’s right but in other people’s minds.”
Chief Boney was just recently appointed as president of the Southeastern Fire Chiefs Association back in June.
During his 37 years with the Biloxi Fire Department, the department was able to get to a class 2 fire rating, new fire stations have been built, and they were able to obtain new fire trucks and get new equipment to help protect fire fighters from carcinogens.
Chief Boney is also working on getting a mental health initiative started.
Mayor Andrew ‘FoFo’ Gilich has commented on the rumors. Public Affairs with the City of Biloxi Vincent Creel released this statement: “The mayor fully supports Joe Boney and all the directors he has put up for reappointment Tuesday. He is especially proud of the accomplishments of the Biloxi Fire Department under Joe’s tenure and all of the work Joe has done in representing the city and the department. The mayor would like to see Joe continue to serve as fire chief.”
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. tomorrow inside city hall.
