- July 2, 2026
On Wednesday, July 1, the Flagler Beach Personnel Review Board heard sharply conflicting arguments as attorneys for former Fire Chief Stephen Cox and the City of Flagler Beach debated whether Cox's May termination was justified and whether the process leading to his dismissal was handled appropriately. The hearing recessed without a final recommendation and is expected to continue at a later date.
Representing Cox, attorney Gary Wilson argued the city's decision was based on an unsigned, undated letter of no confidence and was made without a meaningful investigation or an opportunity for Cox to respond to the allegations before he was fired.
Wilson told the board the case was not about whether City Manager Dale Martin had the authority to terminate an at-will employee, but whether that authority was exercised fairly and with sufficient evidence. He maintained that Cox, as a public employee, was entitled to procedural due process before suffering damage to his professional reputation. Wilson also questioned the city's reliance on a no-confidence letter signed by department members, noting that the document itself was not dated or sworn and arguing there was little documentation showing how the city verified its claims.
Wilson further contended that several firefighters cited by the city as evidence of turmoil had already planned to leave for reasons unrelated to Cox, including higher-paying jobs or personal circumstances. He also pointed to Cox's favorable performance evaluation just months before his dismissal, arguing it conflicted with the city's later characterization of his leadership.
City attorney Jeff Mandel countered that Florida law and the city's charter gave Martin broad authority to terminate at-will employees when he determined it was in the city's best interest. He argued that neither the city's charter nor its personnel policies guaranteed Cox continued employment or required progressive discipline before termination.
Mandel said the decision followed the resignations of multiple command staff members and a signed letter expressing a loss of confidence in Cox's leadership. He told board members the city manager faced a choice between retaining the fire chief or preserving the confidence of the department's leadership team. According to Mandel, the no-confidence letter was supported by signatures from current and former employees, and Martin personally spoke with nearly all of those individuals before making his decision.
During testimony later in the hearing, Martin said he met with six of the seven employees who signed the letter but acknowledged he kept no written notes from those conversations. He also testified that Cox was given time to reflect on the resignations before the final decision was made and was offered the opportunity to resign before being terminated.
The hearing is intended to allow the Personnel Review Board to determine whether Martin's decision should be upheld and to provide Cox an opportunity to respond publicly to allegations that affected his reputation following his dismissal. The board recessed without reaching a conclusion and will continue hearing testimony before making its recommendation. In addition to Martin, Acting Flagler Beach Fire Chief Jennifer Fiveash also testified during Wednesday's proceedings. Former Fire Chief Stephen Cox and several other witnesses are expected to testify when the hearing resumes.
