Wright City Fire Chief Brian Nickerson has been placed on paid administrative leave and will be terminated effective Aug. 24. The Wright City Fire Protection Board of Directors voted 3-2 on the decision Aug. 10 and voted three days later to extend his paid suspension for another week as both sides negotiate a severance package. Nickerson, who had been fire chief for nearly five years, told The Record no reason was given for his pending dismissal. He was "shocked" about the board's decision, but declined to comment further. Board members Keith Thompson, Rudy Jovanovic and Dan West voted to remove Nickerson from his position. Randy Lewis and Larry Zuhone opposed the measure. "I personally feel it was an appropriate action," Jovanovic said. Thompson wouldn't discuss specifics on the ouster, but said he felt it warranted a special meeting rather than waiting three days for the board's regular monthy meeting. "It came down to a decision to make a change in management," Thompson said. Zuhone felt the board should have followed the district's policy for handling a personnel matter. He indicated Nickerson should have received a written or verbal warning or suspension before the board voted on the termination. "It didn't follow the board's policies," Zuhone said. "That is what I am most upset about." In the Aug. 13 closed session when Nickerson's administrative leave was extended for another week, the board voted 3-2 to give paid firefighter Shane Wohler a 30-day period to show improvement. Lewis and Thompson each voted against the measure. Nickerson confirmed lawyers for both sides are currently negotiating a severance package. He hopes to have a settlement reached by Monday. Nickerson said he is being represented by Josh Knight of St. Charles. The fire district voted 3-0 in a special meeting Aug. 12 to hire Frank Vatterott of Vatterott, Shaffar and Dolan, P.C., to represent the district. Both Lewis and Zuhone were absent. In closed session the following night, the board voted 4-0 authorizing Vatterott to negotiate on behalf of the district. Lewis was absent. Nickerson has been fire chief at Wright City since November 2004. He previously was employed as a deputy chief in Washington state. He had been a paid firefighter for 10 years. Nickerson grew up in Washington, Mo. Nickerson said he was paid $58,000 annually. In Nickerson's absence, the fire board voted 4-0 on Aug. 13 to appoint Assistant Chief Ron MacKnight as acting chief. MacKnight has been with the fire department since December 2007. The Wright City Fire Protection District currently has nine full-time employees, including Nickerson, consisting of an assistant chief, fire marshal, administrative assistant and five firefighters.