CLINTON - Clinton Fire Chief Shawn Milton was sworn in for a second time Tuesday night - this time in front of the Clinton City Council and a handful of residents - but a sixth firefighter quit anyway over the contentious appointment.

Milton was nominated for the job by his father, Public Health and Safety Commissioner Jerry Milton, and approved in a 3-2 City Council vote on Aug. 18. As controversy surrounded the appointment, Shawn Milton was sworn in early at an unpublicized ceremony on Aug. 26.

The department, which has 42 firefighters when fully staffed, now has 23 after the resignation Tuesday of fire Capt. Steve Mayfield.

"I can't stand by and let good firefighters that I have worked with leave the force and not see our leaders stand up to fight to keep them," Mayfield said after the meeting.

"The community needs to understand that these aren't quick reactions to a situation the firemen don't agree with," he said. "All of us have thought long and hard about our decisions and how it will affect the community, the department and our own lives.

"We all love being firemen. Leaving is tough. But sometimes, you have to do what you feel is right."

Commissioner Milton said Tuesday night he had not yet been informed of Mayfield's decision. He said he knows the new chief has made priorities of securing his officers, retaining firefighters and easing the problems in the department.

"They are meeting right now to get the officers in order, and I understand a couple of them have come forward and offered to be assistant chiefs," Commissioner Milton said. "We're trying to move forward and he needs some time to do that."

The chief's appointment is on an interim, part-time basis that will come up for renewal May 1.

The council received criticism at a workshop session last week from critics who said the father-son relationship between the chief and the council member most directly in charge of supervising him is inappropriate. Many have praised Shawn Milton as an excellent firefighter but said he should not be reporting to his father.

The day after that workshop session, the chief was sworn in during a private ceremony, prompting more criticism from residents and more resignations.