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Issuing a rare mayoral veto, Fulshear Mayor Jamie Roberts sent a strong message to city council members Tuesday night that he does not appreciate what he termed their attempts to undermine his authority.

Roberts appeared to have surprised council member when he told them he was vetoing their action to appoint Grady Randle of the Randle Law Firm as Fulshear’s new city attorney.

The fireworks came at the end of an otherwise routine city council meeting and a 30 minute executive session during which Randle’s appointment was discussed behind closed doors.

After the council reconvened in open session, Councilman Stephen Gill made a motion to appoint Randle. The motion was then seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem J.B. Collins.

After calling for discussion on the motion, Roberts announced he would veto any action taken by the council.

Roberts said while he had no objection to Randle’s appointment, he was vetoing the council’s appointment until council members either took legal action to change the city from a strong mayor form of government or allowed him to exercise his full authority.

“Since 1977, Fulshear has operated under a strong mayorship. That has, more or less, been changed by the actions of this council, and I need to know the direction this is going,” Roberts said. “Until I know the intent of this council, or it alleviates this mayor from the responsibilities of a strong mayorship, I intend to veto this appointment.”

Roberts gave the council until next week’s meeting to make their intentions clear. He told Randle, who was present at the meeting, that “at that time, you’ll know whether you’re working for one mayor or five council members.

Obviously surprised by the mayor’s action, Gill asked for clarification.

“Are you tabling the motion?” he asked.

“No; I’m vetoing the motion,” Roberts responded.

Roberts added that council members had been usurping authority traditionally reserved for the mayor under Fulshear’s form of government, and leaving the mayor out of the process. He said the council needs to take action to legally change the city’s form of government if they want to strip the mayor of his full legal authority.

“You all decide if it’s going to be council control or remain strong mayor,” Roberts told the council. “I have no problem with the (Randle) recommendation; I have a problem knowing responsibility. I just want to know my responsibility as mayor.”

He said by next week’s meeting, the council needs to make their intentions clear as to whether Fulshear will be run by the mayor or by the council.

Council Member Laverne Patterson said she was “confused” by the mayor’s statement.

“I thought we were all running this city,” she said.

Gill asked for examples of when council members usurped Roberts’ authority. Roberts said the council had twice ignored his recommendation for mayor pro-tem and, most recently, dismissed former city attorney David Frishman without giving any reason for the termination.

Gill did not respond to the mayor pro-tem issue, but insisted Roberts was told the reasons for Frishman’s removal. That led to a brief, but spirited, exchange between Roberts and Gill.

“There were plenty of reasons given to you,” Gill said.

“No, there were not other than you said he lied, which wasn’t true,” Roberts shot back. “You all have put me down on every recommendation I made, and I just need to know what the council’s intentions are.”

The exchange was the first public discussion of the recent dismissal of Frishman.

As the discussion wound down, Roberts said he would live “with whatever the council wants,” but needs them to be open about what form of government they want for Fulshear.

“I don’t mean to be ugly; I just need to know what direction we’re going,” he said.

At that point, Roberts called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. No council member spoke up.

Absent a motion from the council, Roberts declared the meeting adjourned and left the council chambers.  Council members lingered for several minutes longer and then left the chambers as well.

Councilman Derek Einkauf was not present for the meeting.

The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to meet again next Tuesday.