The Austin Association of Professional Firefighters Monday expressed no confidence in the ability of fire chief Gary Warren to lead and manage the Austin Fire Department.
The union issued the vote of no-confidence by a margin of 88 percent. Roughly two-thirds of Austin firefighters participated.
"We need and deserve a better leader than we have," said Mike Sullivan, Austin firefighter of 30 years.
General complaints from the firefighters include a lack of trust and leadership, lack of support for firefighters and poor management. Warren has served as fire chief for more that five years.
Four years ago, the city of Austin recommended an Organization Health Assess-ment study that concluded that there was a breakdown in communication between firefighters and the fire chief, said association president Scott Toupin. Those problems, Toupin said, still exist.
"We've given our fire chief over three years to change, and he hasn't," Toupin said.
After the assessment, committees were formed to allow more communication from the firefighters to the fire chief. Firefighters complained that these committees were not allowed a voice - they were only able to confirm Warren's decisions, Toupin said.
The firefighters stressed the importance of understanding that this vote reflected ongoing occurrences.
"It is important to know that this is not a new issue," Austin firefighter Mike Duffee said.
Firefighters wanted city manager Toby Futrell to reappoint a new fire chief with new perspectives and ideas, Toupin said.
"We need someone from outside of Austin, because everyone here has been damaged by this experience," Sullivan said.
The association hoped that Futrell would take their arguments into consideration.
"It is part of Futrell's job to listen to the work force," Toupin said. "So I want to give [Futrell] the benefit of the doubt that she will listen."
But the city manager has no intention of hiring a new fire chief.
"The results of the association's no-confidence vote against fire chief Gary Warren will in no way sway my management decision to support Chief Warren," Futrell said in a written statement.
Futrell stated that a union vote is not the proper way to address management concerns, but she will continue working with the firefighters and the department's management team.
"The vote is merely something utilized by the association to voice its opinion in a very unfortunate and divisive manner during a difficult budget process," Futrell said.
Warren declined to comment Monday.
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