The North Central Texas Council of Governments terminated Director of Transportation Michael Morris Tuesday evening. 

Morris served as director for 35 years.  Executive Director Todd Little informed employees of Morris’ termination by email, and appointed assistant director Dan Kessler as the interim replacement.

Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey believes Morris’ removal is a “wrongful termination” related to an ongoing lawsuit with Denton County filed against members of the executive board of the Regional Transportation Council. The lawsuit states its purpose “is to stop the executive board of NCTCOG, which is currently unlawfully constituted, from taking continued ultra vires actions, and to correct is structure to be lawfully constituted.”

“There are 45 members in this council, and one person has stepped up and made this decision,” Bailey said. “We were working this out, but it was not to the liking of fiscal agents such as Todd Little.”

Bailey said he and other members of the council are working diligently to reinstate Morris and want to “retain his knowledge of the region.” He also said Morris was fired due to a “political fallout” with other higher council officials.  

“There was no explanation or any kind of paper trail. It was for no reason,” Bailey said.

Other council members expressed shock, saying they had no idea the termination was coming prior to the announcement.

A specially called Regional Transportation Council meeting was initiated by Morris on Tuesday morning prior to his termination. Unspecific executive board items, which were meant to be discussed at last month’s meeting but were not due to the lawsuit, were listed in the agenda. The agenda also stated discussions around a request for $5 million in emergency council funds and the renegotiation of a three-party agreement between the council, RTC and the Texas Department of Transportation. 

The council is expected to address his termination at Thursday’s meeting. 

Todd Little has not responded to immediate requests for comment. 

Morris has not responded to immediate requests for comment.