Apopka

Nelson responds to mayoral recall

1,042-word statement pushes back on petition's allegations

Posted Friday, May 5, 2023 12:34 am

From Staff Reports

After weeks of scrutiny on social media and in public comments during Apopka City Council meetings, Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson is responding to criticisms leveled at him.

A committee of vocal Apopka residents is 15 days into a petitioning process to attempt to oust Nelson as mayor. The Facebook Group "Recall Bryan Nelson" is attempting to get enough signed petitions from registered Apopka voters to get to the next stage of a recall.

According to the petition, the reasons the committee cited for recalling Nelson are:

STATEMENT OF GROUNDS FOR RECALL

We, the electors of the City of Apopka, recall Mayor Bryan Nelson due to Malfeasance, Misfeasance, and Incompetence. Bryan Nelson lied about- 1) Serving as Mayor for half salary; 2) Firing the former Fire Chief; 3) Firing long term employees who disagree with him, or who supported his former political opponent; 4) new Affordable Housing Development in the City Center; 5) the death of a young firefighter, and the safety committee that was supposed to investigate same; 6) the water quality, backflow preventers and the fine assessed by Fla. DEP; 7) Encourages City employees to withhold public records; He refuses to hold anyone accountable for the death of Austin Duran; continues to reward those responsible for the lack of proper training for firefighters; manipulated a city council election; continues to involve himself in the Rock Springs Ridge matter; refuses to properly fund or provide for first responders; uses City Resources to punish those that oppose or question him; argues against hiring needed first responders; Ignores the council and the public; permits employees to disrespect members of the public and the council; ignores provisions of the charter; wants to be dictator.

“There’s a whole lot of issues that he’s not taking any action on, so it’s time to find honest leadership for our city,” said Dennis New, the chairman of the recall committee.

After multiple media outlets published articles about the recall, including The Apopka Chief and The Apopka Voice, Nelson released a 1,042-word statement that pushed back on each assertion made by the recall committee in the petition.

"I would like to respond to the grounds for recall in last week’s (The Apopka Chief Newspaper) paper," Nelson writes:

Serving as Mayor for half-salary – I did take a pay cut and later by a vote of 4-0 with Kyle Becker making the motion my salary was raised based on a salary survey. I abstained from voting.
Firing the former Fire Chief – Chief Carnasale resigned with a 20-week severance package, a six figure pension for life and full medical benefits until the age of 65.
Fired long term employees who disagree with him or supported his former political opponent – I know who this is referring to and if that is the case this employee was fired for cause after forging a public record and destroying a public document.
New Affordable Housing Development in the City Center - This was voted on by the prior administration before I took office
The death of Austin Duran - A tragic accident that forced the Fire Department to look at every SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), add additional training staff and safety and mentoring programs City wide and change the culture within the Department
The water quality, backflow preventers and the fines assessed by Fla. DEP - We have had a program in place that has tested 34,518 backflow preventers and has replaced over 10,000 since my election in 2018. Apopka was fined $500 for non-compliance in 2016 (prior administration), 2017 (prior administration) and 2018 but I worked to address this issue when I was elected Mayor in April 2018.
Encourages City employees to withhold public records - Not once in my five years as Mayor have I ever asked an employee to withhold public records. This a violation of State law and something I take very seriously.
He refuses to hold anyone accountable for the death of Austin Duran - We all share some responsibility for the horrific accident that took his life but our Chief in front of City Council accepted responsibility. We have been working and will continue to work on safety and training across all departments in the City.
Continues to reward those responsible for the lack of training - We have taken appropriate actions to align goals and objectives and hold everyone accountable
Manipulated a City Council election - I have known Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles for 20 years and his reputation as man of utmost integrity from either side of the political isle is beyond reproach.
Continues to involve himself in the Rock Springs Ridge matter - Guilty as charged. One of my campaign promises for both elections has been to finally have the RSR HOA control the 300 acres of land owned by the Golf Group and eliminate the threat of building more homes on the old golf course
Refuses to properly fund or provide for first responders - Apopka’s % of general revenue dedicate to First Responders is 32.4% which is higher by more than 3% compared to the cities of Clermont, Lake Mary, Winter Garden, Oviedo, Longwood, Orlando, Maitland, Ocoee, Winter Park, and Mt. Dora
Uses City Resources to punish those that oppose or question him - Again, no name is listed here but I know who this is referring to. If I am correct, the individual has had multiple code violations for running an unsanctioned and unlicensed business out of his back yard. This was reported and cited by a city resident and there are still code infractions on the property.
Argues against hiring needed first responders - I raised the pay for our Police Department to attract additional officers and only differed with the Council on the timing of hiring all 18 firefighters at one time because I was concerned it would overwhelm our training staff’s ability to give each firefighter the appropriate individual attention.
Permits employees to disrespect members of the public and the Council – we need respect on all sides. It is not ok for employees to show disrespect but I also require that the public and members of the Council show respect to the employees as well.
Ignores provisions of the Charter- if the recall is talking about the ability of the Council to fire the City Attorney, then we have a difference of opinion as to my authority. Our Attorney advises the Council and myself what we need to hear not what we want to hear. That’s his role. But if Council goes against the advice of our attorney, he is committed to defend our position.
Wishes to be dictator- does not deserve a response but I will give you one. My role as Strong Mayor is to carry out the policies that City Council approves even if I voted in opposition; I bring all Director positions forward to City Council to be approved but firing any and all employees is at my discretion. My team manage the finances based on the Council’s agreed budget and I represent the City on multiple local and state boards.

Nelson also called on The Apopka Chief to retract a direct quote from New in its April 28th article about the recall.

"I was unhappy that the Apopka Chief allowed Dennis New to state that I cut off my opponents after four minutes but let my supporter continue on past four minutes. Recently, the City Council meetings have been running between 4-8 hours so we have to be aware of wasting time on personal attacks for some of our employees who have families are required to stay to the bitter end for their action item. I have to take the four minute time limit seriously and have begun to strictly enforce the policy - I do not show favoritism on any members of the public and respectfully ask the Apopka Chief to look back for a year or longer at public comment and print a retraction of this charge based on the Audio-Visual YouTube videos of City Council.

We have made remarkable progress in the last five years and with the help of more than 500 employees we are ready to accomplish even more but without the help of City Council to make meaningful and peaceful strides, we will have trouble attracting talent and business partners to Apopka. We have wonderful opportunities to bring businesses that we all want to our great city and give everyone a chance to live the American dream. I love this City and will continue to work hard to make it the best it can be. Mayor Bryan Nelson"

Keywords

Recall, Petition, Apopka, Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson, Apopka City Council

Comments

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Richard

Recall this guy. He obviously is a master politician and manipulator of the truth. Working on his state pension after milking the taxpayers as a state representative, County Commissioner, and now mayor.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
wheresthepopcorn

I have run out of popcorn.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
SusanBeth

I’m with Richard. He’s a master at manipulating the truth.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
JimNisbet

@Richard, did you read ANY if the responses? Or are you the guy with the code violations and the back yard business... LOL!

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
MelissaW

I wish he would address everyone in the chambers during the council meetings, instead of hide behind a statement. It’s probably because he has his shills writing his propaganda behind the scenes. He says nothing during the public comments, except to shut people down for going over the four minute mark and citizens not addressing the council in its entirety during their comments.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
Richard

Jimbo, I do not have or ever had any code violations. My HOA in Pines of Wekiva is very strict. I’ve been here over twenty years with no problems except for the cars parked on the streets. Sorry I can’t keep you laughing out loud.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
MamaMia

Mayor Nelson, It is enlightening to see your response to these recall allegations that are unsubstantiated. It is shameful anyone can claim anything, against someone, and some will think, and believe what they heard (gossip) to be true. I know you worked as mayor at a discounted salary. The council voted for your salary increase, with Becker making the motion, and I understand his motive, oh, yes, I understand...lol! It passed. As far as former fire chief Carnesale, you did not need any reason to replace him. That is a fact, because a strong mayor has that authority to restructure, and to head in a new direction, upon your swearing in as a new mayor. Fact. Looks like the former fire chief is doing very well,..These cronies are shameless, and will lie about anything, and lie about anybody, to overthrow you, and oust you. It is not really much different than the Jan.6th insurrection, other than the violence, of course Stay the course, mayor, you are doing a great job, and it is difficult, I understand, because of the coup council members, who don't want you to succeed in being mayor, they are there to cause discourse. The one commissioner wants so much to be just like you, it is true. He attends events you go to, restaurants he knows you will most likely be at, and even goes to the church where you have attended for years, so I heard, and is desperate to be the mayor himself. I guess he wants to be you! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so they say. I like the last paragraph of your rebuttal especially. I read the letter to the editor in today's Apopka Chief about the recall and how shameful the letter writer thinks it is, and I agree with her 100 percent! She also, like me, believes you love this city, and only want the best for our citizens, and for Apopka to be a great city.

Friday, May 5, 2023 Report this
wheresthepopcorn

what are “his” plans gor the city? or is his only plan to recall nelson? I am tired of hearing what nelson did. There is one commissioner that goes to a different church every sunday….hmmm

Sunday, May 7, 2023 Report this
MamaMia

Reply to where's the popcorn...Well, process of elimination, I know it is not Smith, nor Velazquez, as I know where they go to church. So it is one of the other two commissioners. He can go wherever he wants, this is still America, with freedom of worship, but also, since the cronies gossip about every aspect of the mayor's life, it is fair fodder to wonder why this city commissioner you speak of, goes to a different church every Sunday.....hmmm??? I had thought about going to visit a church close to my house, but when I discovered the pastor of the church had called Hillary a devil, I told myself, nope, not for me! Count me OUT!

Sunday, May 7, 2023 Report this
MamaMia

I want to thank Mayor Nelson for getting rid of those horrible red light cameras here in Apopka! That was another great accomplishment of his. Those devices were causing accidents, because of people being cautious of getting caught by the cameras, and expectedly slowing, and other drivers slamming into the rear end of the vehicle in front of them. The city was not getting rich off of those devices, it was the camera company. Many people avoided Apopka like the plague, for fear of getting one of those nasty expensive red light tickets. So many citizens here in Apopka, got multiple tickets, some of them. Young families, and fixed income people, could not afford those tickets. They were bad for business too. They didn't give you much time to pay them either!

Mayor Nelson didn't give away six million $$$$$$ to an apartment developer for him to build his ramp near his apartment complexes either, the "ramp to nowhere"....no, that was the previous mayor, who took big campaign donations from that developer too, plus the developer threw the mayor a party, and I heard, that the previous mayor is now working for that.developer...??? That is what I heard. Mayor Nelson had the historic lodge spruced up, and painted, the other mayor?... there were rumors he wanted the historic masonic lodge demolished. That mayor had our historic Edward's Field demolished, and let the Highland Manor, the beautiful old historic home, slip right out of the city's control and ownership....that would not of happened under Mayor Nelson! Oh, and I heard someone say Nelson got rid of Jay D. in the planning department.....no, I don't think that is correct, I am almost certain

that was under the last mayor. It had nothing to do with his performance and work at the city, in the planning department either. I know why, and it was so ridiculous. Jay D.was really a nice man.

Monday, May 8, 2023 Report this
MamaMia

I still say those commissioners need to really do some serious thinking before they sign that letter trying to challenge the city charter, and they can always think about it, and reconsider, and change their minds, before the next council meeting. People can change their minds, until they sign the dotted line.....

Monday, May 8, 2023 Report this