Former fire chief may become assistant

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Former Portsmouth Fire Chief Don Horton, who resigned then returned in another position, could become assistant fire chief under the man who replaced him, WAVY News' Andy Fox reports.

A source inside Portsmouth City Hall told WAVY.com City Manager Ken Chandler made a mistake when appointing Horton to the position of deputy director of emergency management. The position doesn’t exist in the current pay classification.

“I am shocked by this development,” Portsmouth Councilman Bill Moody told WAVY.com. “I looked at the classification and pay plan and realized that deputy director of emergency management does not exist.”

A city council action is the only thing that could create the position.

On Tuesday, Chandler told WAVY.com the deputy director position Horton was assigned to needed to be filled, was vacant and was in the budget. Moody says that is not true.

"The city manager has some explaining to do," Moody said. "No wonder the public is up in arms over this thing. I'm getting phone calls, emails... it's like we don't know who's on first and who's on second."

Moody says Chandler needs to give full disclosure on what is happening with Horton's role in the city.

"I think somebody ,and that somebody is the city manager, needs to talk about this and give us some credible explanation to clear this thing up," Moody said. "My faith in Mr. Chandler has been shaken tremendously. I think any decision on his future is a personnel matter and needs to be discussed as such."

WAVY News’ Andy Fox reports Horton will likely become assistant fire chief under Beck Barfield, who was hired to replace Horton when he resigned for family reasons and returned to Richmond