City business leaders have invited the Board of Trustees of Renton Technical College to outline what “new direction” the board plans to take the college following its firing of the college president.

The setting is the Sept. 17 meeting of the Renton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at the chamber’s office of Rainier Avenue North. The invitation was signed by Don Jacobson, the chairman of the chamber’s board.

The college’s trustees voted 3-1 on Aug. 11 to fire Dr. Don Bressler, who has served for nine years as the college’s president. His last day was Aug. 21. Replacing him is acting president, Carol Werner, who was the college’s vice president for finance and administration.

The chairwoman of the board, Ronnie Behnke, issued a short statement after the vote, explaining why the board fired Bressler. The statement read:

“The board and president want to take the college in different directions. The majority of the board felt it was in the best interest of the college for the board and president to part ways. We want to thank Dr. Bressler for his years of service to the college.”

The Aug. 21 chamber letter was hand-delivered to the college by chamber President Bill Taylor. As of Wednesday, he said he had yet to get a response from a trustee.

“I am hopeful she (Ronnie Behnke, the board chairwoman) or one of the trustees accepts the invitation and explains to us this new direction,” Taylor said.

There’s a lack of understanding between the college “and the rest of us,” he said.

The invitation from Jacobson reads in part:

“Renton Technical College has been a valued chamber member for a very long time and we feel it important that significant changes in direction be understood so that we can be supportive and/or accurately inform our membership.”

He explains Bressler’s involvement in a number of chamber committees.

“The president of RTC served on the Renton Chamber of Board of Directors, on our Education Committee, Workforce Committee, our Legislative Committee and as a delegate to the Eastside Legislative Coalition. The lack of a credible RTC presence and voice on these vital areas presents a disburbing void,” Jacobson writes.