Flagler Beach Fire Chief Terminated by City Manager

Stephen Cox, the Flagler Beach Fire Chief since May 2025, has been terminated by City Manager Dale Martin. A letter of termination was sent to Cox at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, and subsequently distributed to local media. Attached alongside Cox’s termination letter was a separate letter of no confidence signed by seven current and former Flagler Beach Fire Department employees. One of these was Lieutenant Morgan Rainey, who worked for the FBFD for 14 years until her resignation in recent weeks. The Flagler Beach Fire Department has been the subject of local scrutiny for weeks, as several resignations have been tendered sequentially. Among those was Deputy Chief Jennifer Fiveash, whose letter of resignation appeared to cast doubt upon Cox’s leadership. “This decision is based on professional differences in leadership approach, particularly regarding how I believe employees should be supported and served,” Fiveash wrote. “This decision does not come lightly, as the line staff are a strong group and deserve consistent support from their administration in their day-to-day roles.” Dale Martin confirmed Monday afternoon that Fiveash agreed to postpone her departure to serve as acting fire chief. Lieutenant Rainey will also be coming back “on a short-term interim basis,” Martin said. “There should also be cohesion at the administrative level built on trust, which I believe is critical to effectively leading and supporting the organization,” Fiveash continued. “Given this misalignment, I believe it is in the best interest of both the department and myself to step away from the position.” Jennifer Fiveash and Morgan Rainey were the two most notable resignations given their respective rank and seniority. The other resignations came from Bruce Adams, Carlos Paltronieri, and Trey Poeira. Rainey, Poeira, and Adams were among those who signed the no confidence letter about Cox. Stephen Cox was publicly announced as the city’s new Fire Chief on May 9, 2025. By that point he had already put in 14 years with the Flagler Beach Fire Department. His fire career originally began in the Orlando area in 2005, according to the city government. Cox graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire and Emergency Services. “It’s a sad state of affairs all the way around,” City Commissioner Scott Spradley said in a phone interview on Monday. “I didn’t know Chief Cox on the operational level but purely in discussions with him informally he struck me as a very nice and capable guy. But now that the city manager’s had an opportunity to review all the documentation and to interview each of the participants and the entire affair, he’s made an informed decision that we’ll live with.” Termination Letter The following is City Manager Dale Martin’s termination letter to Fire Chief Stephen Cox. Chief Cox: Please be advised that you are being terminated from your service as the Fire Chief of the City of Flagler Beach, effective immediately (9:00 AM, May 11, 2026). As indicated in the City’s Personnel Policy, Section I.1, Generally: (c) All employees are at-will and serve at the pleasure of the city and no employee shall have any vested rights in his or her employment or in the practices and procedures set forth in these personnel policies except only by a specific written contract. It is the intent of the city to have a mutually beneficial relationship with each employee. Each employee should endeavor to improve his/her performance and skills to enable the city to offer quality service to the public and provide opportunities for advancement of employees. Your termination is related to the loss of confidence expressed in the resignations of several members of the Fire Department and in the attached correspondence signed by the remaining members of the Fire Department. Given those conditions, I do not believe that you can effectively lead the City of Flagler Beach Fire Department. At your option, within five business days, you may request an exit interview and a ‘name clearing hearing’ with myself and Ms. Liz Mathis, Human Resources Director, to respond to your termination. Thank you for your service to the City of Flagler Beach. I wish you well in your future endeavors. Sincerely, Dale L. Martin City Manager Letter of No Confidence The following is the letter of no confidence sent to city administration about Chief Cox from several current and former FBFD employees. No confidence This letter serves as a formal declaration of no confidence in the Fire Chief due to ongoing concerns that have significantly impacted the organization’s effectiveness, employee well-being, and overall trust in administration. There is a consistent pattern of behavior that has contributed to a hostile work environment. Employees across the organization have expressed concerns regarding communication practices that are perceived as misleading, inconsistent, or lacking transparency. Additionally, there are concerns about the use of pressure or undue influence in decision-making processes, particularly in situations where employees may feel compelled to agree or refrain from voicing concerns due to fear of negative consequences. These conditions have diminished trust, limited open communication, and contributed to a measurable decline in morale throughout the department. The severity of these issues is further evidenced by recent leadership turnover, including the resignation of the Deputy Fire Chief and two senior members of the department at the lieutenant rank. In addition, there are serious concerns regarding a breach of ethical standards and a lack of transparency in actions taken by the Fire Chief. Decisions that directly impact personnel and operations have been made without clear communication, sufficient justification, or appropriate inclusion of relevant stakeholders. This has eroded confidence in leadership and created ongoing uncertainty within the workforce. Deficiencies in leadership have also been evident in the failure of the Fire Chief to effectively manage personnel, address concerns, and maintain accountability. Rather than fostering a culture of professionalism, cohesion, and trust, the current approach has contributed to division, disengagement, and a continued decline in confidence among staff. Further concerns have been raised regarding financial oversight andmanagement practices under the Fire Chief. A lack of transparency and accountability in financial decision-making has created legitimate questions about resource allocation and stewardship. This directly impacts the department’s ability to operate efficiently and maintain public trust. Lastly, there is a growing perception of neglect of duty in key responsibilities of the Fire Chief. This includes a failure to address known issues, provide appropriate support to personnel, and uphold the standards expected of the position. These shortcomings have compounded existing concerns and continue to negatively affect the organization. For these reasons, we formally express no confidence in the Fire Chief. It is our position that meaningful change is necessary to restore trust, improve morale, and ensure the department can effectively serve both its personnel and the community. Signatures for no confidence document: Morgan Rainey Trey Poeira Bruce Adams Greg Evans John Strickland Jamal Prince Kayla Mullen