NATCHEZ — Natchez aldermen unanimously voted Thursday morning to reinstate the city’s suspended fire chief.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell suspended Natchez Fire Chief Aaron Wesley with pay approximately 10 days ago for reportedly violating city policy.

Grennell did not disclose the reason for the suspension.

The decision to reinstate Wesley was made following an executive session during which aldermen discussed Wesley’s suspension under the personnel and prospective litigation exceptions of the Open Meetings Act.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis made the motion, stressing that Wesley immediately return to his post.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith requested an amendment to the motion to have the Civil Service Commission, which oversees police and fire personnel, to investigate the matter and report back to the board of aldermen.

The amendment passed with Grennell breaking a 3-3 tie. Smith, Ward 5 Alderman Benjamin Davis and Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard voted for the motion. Arceneaux-Mathis, Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier and Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving voted against the motion.

Wesley was present at the meeting with his lawyer, Ken R. Adcock of Ridgeland, who stood up to address the board following the motion. Adcock asked for details on how long Wesley would be suspended, but the board clarified the motion was to reinstate Wesley while the Civil Service Commission was investigating allegations against Wesley.

As the board was moving onto other business, the Rev. Stanley B. Searcy Sr. of New Hope The Vision Center asked Grennell for permission to address the board and ask Grennell questions about the suspension of Wesley, who is black.

Searcy, who is black, told Grennell, who is also black, that he was proud when Grennell was recently elected mayor and promised to promote diversity in the community.

Searcy said he recalled watching white city department heads, “some good, some bad” be given a chance to move up the ranks, and “I never complained.”

“Then we see men of color … begin to move up the ranks because their time had come. … I understand you’re trying to (promote) diversity … but don’t move a man down the ladder just because he’s black,” Searcy said. “I know that some people have placed you where you are … but don’t make it on behalf of pulling people down just to bring diversity.”

“Are you saying that I made a decision based on race?” Grennell asked Searcy. “It had nothing to do with race.”

“Then what was it?” Searcy asked amid murmurs from the crowd and an audience member calling out, “We deserve an answer.”

Grennell consulted City Attorney Bob Latham and then said that because the matter was a personnel issue, he would not discuss it.

Searcy sat down to applause from a mostly full council chamber and shook hands with Wesley before Searcy and most of the audience members left the meeting.

After the meeting, Grennell said because Wesley’s employment would likely be reviewed once the Civil Service Commission conducts its investigation, he did not want to detail the reason Wesley was suspended.

Grennell emphasized again that his decision was not based on race.

“I would never make a decision based on someone’s ethnicity,” he said.

Latham said the civil service commission would likely hold a hearing related to Wesley’s employment after which information related to the suspension and investigation would be provided.

In other news from the meeting:

-The board appointed Brenda Lee Robinson to the Natchez-Adams County School Board of Trustees.

Robinson will fill the seat left vacant by Benny Wright, who resigned in September.