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22-year fire veteran speaks after council announced his resignation; council extends public-comment time
Summary
Captain Barra, a 22-year Abbeville fire department veteran, told the council he was denied an opportunity to explain his resignation and disputed reports he had 'failed a physical,' saying he was cleared by doctors; councilors later granted him extra public-comment time and expressed concern about fire-department staffing and mental-health supports.
Captain Barra, a 22-year fire department veteran, told the Abbeville City Council on Dec. 16 that his resignation had been announced at a prior meeting before he was given a chance to speak and that the council’s explanation — that he failed a physical — was incorrect. "I passed that. I had two doctor's excuses that cleared me 100%," Barra said, adding that an occupational therapist had concluded he “did not look like what a firefighter would be” but medical doctors cleared him.
Barra said he had asked to be heard after he discovered his resignation was listed on the earlier agenda. He described the process as taking a significant toll on his mental health and said he regretted leaving the department. "I've had tremendous, tremendous mental problems ever since this process," he said.
After an initial limit of three minutes for public comments, a council member moved for more time and the council approved an additional three minutes for Barra to finish his remarks. Family members also addressed the council: a younger relative identified himself as Jude Barra and said he had always looked up to Barra; Barbara Mir, who identified herself as Chief Jude Mir’s wife, urged better mental-health policies for first responders and said that past unaddressed trauma had led to suicide in the community.
Several council members praised the departing or affected firefighters and acknowledged concerns about retention and department capacity. One council member said the city was losing long-tenured staff and urged the council and mayor to look at the situation carefully.
No formal personnel action occurred during the meeting beyond Barra’s public comments. The council did ratify separate personnel items on the agenda, including hires and accepted resignations in the police and fire departments.
