APOPKA, Fla. — Anger over a firefighter’s death has led to demands for change in Apopka, a vote of no confidence for the fire chief and a vote to fire the city attorney.
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Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson said his fire chief and city attorney will keep their jobs, despite members of his own staff calling for their removal.
On Wednesday night, three commissioners voted no confidence in Fire Chief Sean Wylam, and to fire City Attorney Michael Rodriguez.
It comes after concerns from firefighters over safety and the city’s handling of Austin Duran’s death last year.
READ: Austin Duran death: Apopka City Council votes to remove Fire Chief Sean Wylam
Duran was injured on the job while trying to move a sand trailer.
The mayor said it’s not fair to blame the chief for Duran’s death. He said there are issues within the fire department, but that Duran’s death should not be the reason for the vote of no confidence by his commissioners.
Wednesday marked the second time a vote of no confidence in the chief has been brought up at a commissioner’s meeting in the past two months.
READ: Austin Duran death: Consultant review on ‘dysfunctional’ Apopka Fire Department to be released
Removing the chief from his position is something only the mayor has the power to do, and he said that’s not in his plans.
“Communication skills are probably not his best, and I think he would agree with that and we got a communications coach helping him with that,” Nelson said.
Wylam has been under fire after investigations into the on-duty death from both the state fire marshal’s office and a private company hired by the city revealed issues with leadership and training within the department.
READ: Fallen firefighter Austin Duran named Apopka’s ‘Firefighter of the Year’
Wylam recently began providing updates to city staff, but fire union president Alex Klepper told commissioners nothing has changed.
He pointed to a mentorship program that was promised to new hires in honor of autism.
“We don’t have a policy, we don’t have a framework,” Klepper said. “There is nothing that exists except we keep saying we have implemented a formal mentorship program. We just keep saying it like it’s going to appear, and it’s going to work. That doesn’t make it real.”
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Apopka fire union pushes for new chief after death of firefighter Austin Duran
Nelson said that isn’t the case.
“Every council meeting is a mess,” Nelson said. “We got an hour of public comment. I got four or five people (who) come every week and just bash me about something.”
When it comes to the firing of the city attorney, Nelson said his commissioners don’t have that authority.
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