By Emma Longwell, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
The City of Apopka is entering a transitional phase as it seeks to fill two critical roles. After just nine months, Apopka Economic Development Director Michelle Boylan resigned, and discussions are underway regarding the potential permanent appointment of Interim Fire Chief Wil Sanchez. City leaders are navigating essential decisions that will influence the city's future.
The hiring process for both department heads is still undecided.
Boylan, Apopka's first economic development director, resigned on November 15th. Although she did not respond to questions from The Apopka Voice before her departure, she stated in her resignation letter that she had "been presented with an opportunity that [she] cannot pass up."
The City Council ratified Boylan on January 17th, and she began her tenure as economic development director on February 5th.
Jacob Smith, the Apopka City Administrator, was unsure when the search process would begin and what it would entail.
"I would love to (tell you), but right now, all I can say is when I know what the process will be for both positions, I'll let you know," he said. "Michelle Boylan will be missed. She came into the City of Apopka as the first hired professional to deal with economic development and laid the foundation for a sustainable future for the City. She had a vision for where the City could be, and one of the most difficult aspects of the job is sharing and realizing that vision – as positive change takes time. We will continue to benefit for many years from the work that she has done. Sad to see her go."
On July 17th, Apopka Fire Chief Sean Wylam announced his retirement, effective October 31st.
Sanchez officially took over as interim chief on July 29th. However, 25 days after Wylam's departure, Sanchez has yet to be tapped, and a process to hire a permanent fire chief has not been implemented.
The Council's first mention of the hiring process was at its November 20th meeting. Apopka City Commissioner Nick Nesta praised Sanchez and called for a motion to promote him to the top spot in the Apopka Fire Department.
"He has done some incredible work since holding that position," said Nesta. "He's increased department morale, which has helped our department just be able to move on as a whole. There's been a lot of transition within the department and being able to move together and serve our residents in such a better way. So they've had such increased department morale. He is increased that he's been able to get our union contract across the line, which has been great for him as well and great for our department again to be able to move forward and start to focus on the jobs, focus on training, focus on servicing our residents, which is the goal. We're all here to serve our residents, and it's gotten better and better with him at the helm. And he's been consistently setting goals for the future, making sure that we are a progressive department, that it's we're continually moving forward and not backward, that we're not just doing the old things that we continue to do new and listening to our firefighters and fire department head. So I want to make the motion that we take interim off of fire chief Sanchez and make him our full-time fire chief."
"I have to make that determination," said Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson, who decides on the fire chief position according to the City Charter.
"That's fine. I still motioned it. I want to show a sign of confidence in our interim fire chief and that he's doing an incredible job and the morale in our department is doing absolutely incredible now.
"I couldn't agree with you more,"Nelson said.
"So I have a motion," Nesta said.
"I know we can't do this officially this way, but I certainly do agree with the recommendation that Commissioner Nesta is recommending," said Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez.
"Chief Sanchez, I know you know that you have my support and you've done an outstanding job," said Commissioner Alexander Smith.
"This will be ceremonial," Velazquez said. "I second because I support that. I feel that since his appointment as the interim chief, I have seen tremendous support from the firefighters. And that's something we've been looking for for the last two years to unify the fire department."
Nesta and Velazquez voted in favor of the motion, while Commissioner Nadia Anderson, Nelson, and Smith abstained.
