The Liberty County Commissioners Court voted by unanimous voice on Sept. 20, 2024, to terminate and not renew the appointment of the county fire marshal and to remove the director of the Office of Emergency Management, following an executive session for attorney consultation.

County attorney Matthew Poston told the court the two roles are governed differently under state law and county practice. He said the fire marshal position is a public office governed by Chapter 352 of the Local Government Code with a maximum two-year term and that the fire marshal’s prior appointment began Sept. 6, 2022. "The county attorney's office, advises commissioner's court to terminate and nonrenew Bill [surname transcribed variably] to the office of Liberty County Fire Marshal," Poston said.

After the legal briefing, an unidentified court member said the court "acknowledge[d] that mister [Bill] was not qualified to serve" and moved to terminate and not renew his employment; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The presiding official announced the motion "carries unanimous."

On the second item, Poston explained that the director of the Office of Emergency Management is an appointed position that serves under the county judge rather than a public office. He again urged termination. A motion to terminate the director was moved, seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote.

The court had first moved into executive session under the attorney-consultation exemption of the Texas Government Code (§551.071) before returning to open session and taking the two votes. Following the votes the court adjourned.

The transcript records the subject of both personnel actions as "Bill" with multiple transcriptions of the surname; the county did not provide additional identifying details or produce a written resolution in the recorded discussion. The county attorney identified the statutory and appointment distinctions between the two positions but the transcript does not include factual findings underlying the claim that the fire marshal was "not qualified."