NEDERLAND — The city council appointed Terry Morton as the acting fire chief during a regular meeting this week. City manager Chris Duque said that he appointed Morton as acting fire chief in July, but needed the city council’s approval moving forward. Fire Chief Gary Collins is on approved leave, Duque said.

“I appointed him in the beginning of July, which allowed him to run the department,” Duque said. “However, our department is a civil service department. To handle civil service matters, he has to be confirmed by city council as well. Our city charter allows me to make those temporary appointments. State law takes it one step further for civil servants.

“We now have a vacancy in the fire department, and in order to start the hiring process, he has to satisfy civil service, which requires them confirming the appointment. It was a formality.”

Morton said the new title has been like doing two jobs in one.

“It hasn’t been extremely difficult,” Morton said. “It’s been busy. I’m basically doing the job of two people in the absence of Chief Collins. As assistant chief of our department, you’re also the fire marshal. You do fire inspections and fire investigations, arsons. Chief is more of a leader role and doing long-term planning. He is also the emergency manager. In the event of a storm, he’s kind of the lead on that in an evacuation-type of deal. I’ve been tasked with some additional duties that I kind of have to learn as I go along.”

Morton said that Collins has been able to help him quite a few times and is someone that Morton can go to for advice.

Collins said that he has been dealing with colon cancer for the past two years.

“I’ve had some complications come up with it that requires some other surgeries,” he said. “It’s put me to a point where I haven’t been able to go into work. I’m trying to recuperate from it.”

Collins said that Terry has always been his go-to guy.

“He’s more than capable to run the department,” Collins said. “Terry basically runs day-to-day operations now. He’s included in all of my decision that I make. I have great faith in his opinion. I’ve been with the department 42 years. Terry has been with the department — I’m thinking since ’81.

“He’s got the experience. He’s levelheaded, and he cares about the city. That’s the main thing. He’s not going to do anything unless it’s in the best interest of the city, the citizens and the employees. You have to balance it between those three.”

Collins said he hopes to be back in the office sometime in September.