Turnover in city ranks

One day after Chico City Manager Dave Burkland announced he hired a new fire chief, James Beery, it was learned that the city’s Human Resources director, Dan Fulks, had resigned a week earlier under mysterious circumstances.

Fulks reportedly submitted his resignation on June 20, cleaned out his desk and left the building that very day, no explanation given. His timing left something to be desired, since the city was in the midst of negotiating salary caps with its unions, but Burkland said Fulks’ replacement, Interim HR Director Teresa Campbell, a 19-year veteran of the office, could hit the ground running.

Beery, whose first day at work will be July 21, replaces Steve Brown, who retired in March, and succeeds Interim Chief Keith Carter, who’s staying with the department. Beery has more than 27 years of experience, starting as a firefighter and most recently as chief of Emergency Operations with Portland (Ore.) Fire and Rescue. In that role he’s had oversight of 30 fire stations, 42 companies and more than 600 personnel.