By David Ball

david.ball@panews.com

Rumors are floating on social media that Patrick Melvin, Port Arthur police chief, will be the next to leave his job since City Manager Brian McDougal resigned from his post on Monday.

The chief lost a no confidence vote held by the Port Arthur Police Association. Even so, Mayor Derrick Freeman said he hasn’t heard anything about the chief’s job performance being up for review.

“The city council only has four employees: the city manager, the city secretary, the municipal court judge and the city attorney,” he said. “The way the city is chartered the city council does not get involved in personnel matters. The city manager handles personnel.”

Since McDougal’s resignation, Jimmie Johnson, assistant city manger, will serve as interim city manager. Freeman said Johnson would have to pursue reviewing Melvin’s job performance.

Johnson said after McDougal’s resignation was rendered he will sit down with city council and work on a plan to meet the city’s goals.

“I’ve been working with Brian for three years very closely and he’s very good at being a professional. I’m kept in the loop in the city,” Johnson said.

After his departure, other city managers praised McDougal work.

1. Sosa, Groves city manager said it was great to work with McDougal.

“We’ve done a few little projects together,” Sosa said. “He’s a nice guy. I feel bad he will no longer be here.”

Sosa said he and Chris Duque, Nederland city manager, loaned trucks to Port Arthur to pick up trash after Tropical Storm Harvey.

Duque said his working relationship with McDougal was fine.

“The last thing we did with Port Arthur was help them after the storm with an issue they were having with their solid waste fleet,” Duque said. “Everything worked out.”

Duque said the Mid-County cities work more with each other than larger cities such as Port Arthur or Beaumont, but McDougal has been very professional with Nederland.

Andre Wimer, Port Neches city manager, said he had a cordial and professional relationship with McDougal.