Mayor David Alfin’s proposal to more than quadruple his and fellow-Palm Coast City Council members’ salaries drew stinging rebukes from the public at a council meeting this morning.
The public stood the proposal in contrast with inflation, historically high gas prices, comparatively stagnant fixed incomes and the average local wage to paint a council either oblivious or indifferent to ordinary Palm Coast residents’ economic conditions. The proposed council salaries would be $8,000 more than the average Flagler County wage, $10,000 more for the mayoral salary, according to Daytona State College figures.
The manner in which Alfin first launched his proposal–it had not been placed on the agenda, it happened at the very end of a night meeting two weeks ago, most of the audience had left–and the rationale behind, it, particularly the unfounded assumption that it would draw a better cut of candidates, also drew sharp criticism.
Adding to the more than hour-long public comment segment, not all of which was devoted to the subject, were claims and counterclaims that turned into a salad of falsehoods, misinformation, misunderstandings and vagueness of which neither council members or their attorney were immune.
Council members are paid $9,600 a year. The mayor is paid $11,400. They get additional communications and transportation stipends. Alfin on March 1 proposed raising the salaries to $44,670 for council members and $46,470 for the mayor. The proposal will be presented to the council as an ordinance for the council to vote on. Voters will have no say.
“We deserve sneaky, underhanded, dishonest leadership, Mayor Alfin? Because that’s exactly what you have given us in sneaking through a vote on a very contentious issue to award yourself a 365 percent increase in your current salaries,” said Mike Martin, a Lake Success resident who recently served on the city’s appointed redistricting committee and is an elected member of the East Flagler Mosquito Control District. He was first of 11 speakers who opposed the raises.
“You achieved this by deliberately leaving this issue off the agenda on March 1 and bringing it up under other business at the end of the meeting,” Martian continued. “‘Other business’ as you well know is designed to deal with last-minute issues that arise that are too late to be included on the public agenda. It was never meant for knowingly contentious, serious issues.” The mayor, Martin said, should have raised the issue at a workshop. “Shame on you,” he continued. “You have acted like every sleazy and dishonest politician has acted. If you had believed in your arguments for this raise, you would have raised this issue publicly and placed it on the agenda…. Is this open and transparent government? Hell no.”
The next two speakers, Sue Urban and Eugene Holland, said the raise should be a question for voters to decide at the ballot box, not for the council to decide for itself, or if it were, that it should be a full council (one seat is vacant at the moment due to the resignation of Victor Barbosa) and the amount sought should be “reasonable.”
“Citizens of this city are struggling to pay gasoline prices in excess of four dollars a gallon,” Holland said. “These are folks that have to drive to and from work, nobody subsidizes their extra costs, and for the council members to vote themselves an increase, this is un-American for my way of thinking.”
That’s when the confusion over ballot measures started. Council member Nick Klufas tried to “preempt some of this” by claiming that the raise proposal would be on the ballot. He went on to say that the council’s vote was merely to start the process of putting the matter before voters, as supposedly required by charter. But he was remembering a former version of the charter, since amended.
The charter is clear on compensation: “The Council members and Mayor shall receive compensation as established by ordinance. Such compensation shall not take effect until the date of commencement of the terms of Council members elected at the next regularly scheduled election that follows the adoption of said ordinance by at least six months.”
Alfin did not immediately correct him, and Klufas’s statement changed the approach of a subsequent commenter who, still opposed to the raise, said he was was thankful it would go before voters. Only then Alfin asked Jennifer Nix, the city attorney, to “clarify” Klufas’s comment. She specified–not too clearly–that the city attorney had been directed to “draft an ordinance to be considered and placed upon an agenda for discussion. So it wasn’t a ballot vote.”
The statement’s wonkishness was vague. It did not explicitly state that the council wanted to discuss it in order to give itself a raise, leaving just enough room to give the public the impression that the council would eventually place it on the ballot. Alfin did not seek further clarification that was obviously needed: “It’s nice to find out it’s going to a ballot,” a speaker said after Nix’s explanation.
An hour into the public comment period, it was a resident who put it clearly to the council–that there would be no ballot measure, period, and that the council would vote itself the raise. “We’re clear now that it’s going to be an ordinance, and that it’s not going to be on the ballot,” he said.
Nix at that point read the wording of the charter on compensation. Klufas was still confused, referring to the time when the charter used to state the mayor’s and council members’ salaries. But that provision (which you can see here) was eliminated from the charter in 2018, if rather stealthily: what charter change was approved by voters in 2018 referred to updating ballot language. It never explicitly stated that the council members’ salaries would vanish from the charter. In an interview after the meeting, Klufas said when he voted for the charter changes he certainly didn’t read language that spoke to the elimination of specified salaries.
So Klufas, like most voters, had no idea the wording had been deleted. Later in the segment Klufas tried to explain that he had not meant to deceive the audience.
“Now I’m a little more confused,” a resident said after all the explanations. He wasn’t alone, and Nix, who herself looked confused on several occasions, did not know the history of the charter to fill in the blanks. Bill Reischmann, the attorney who has represented the city for well over a decade (from the same firm as Nix’s), is preparing to retire, and is training new attorneys in his role. He had drafted the language of the charter amendments in 2018, and he could have explained those changes (and the vague language). Today’s confusion was a stark example of the institutional history the city will be losing with his departure (a loss compounded by the revelation later in the same meeting that Fire Chief Jerry Forte will retire in October after 32 years’ service for the city).
The criticism of the raise proposal, however, was relentless, with residents using words like “exorbitant,” “shocked,” “excessive,” “offensive,” “extremely poor decision,” and one making a modest proposal: “If you truly believe that you deserve $45,000 per year, I suggest you do a ride along with a Flagler County Sheriff because that is their starting pay.”
Shadowing it all were the numerous misrepresentations–almost none malicious, and all reflecting the degree to which the proposal was sprung seemingly half-baked, if baked at all, with no groundwork taking public reactions into account. Which residents had every reason to interpret as contempt. As a rookie move, Alfin, just eight months into a tenure that until now had been faultless, couldn’t have done much worse, and today residents made him pay. Lucky for him, Forte’s announcement diverted some of the fire.
“There’s inflation going on right now if you have looked around,” a woman wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with “PALM COAST” said. “It’s like, what have you done for us lately? Really, you built multi-multifamily affordable housing. Okay, renters don’t pay the taxes. We’re the ones paying the taxes.”
The resident was repeating a common, coded (if not bigoted) and false assumption, renters in this town often being associated with minorities, the poor and public assistance. In fact, renters, like commercial property owners, not only pay property taxes through their rent, they actually pay a far higher property tax. Renters and commercial property owners subsidize homesteaded property owners, whose taxes are kept artificially low through the Save Our Homes cap on property tax increases. (The resident might have seen arresting documentation of the fact in today’s agenda packet, which includes a chart of what Palm Coast taxpayers do and do not pay in property taxes. Residential properties have a combined taxable value of $7.5 billion. But between the twin tax breaks of the homestead exemption and Save Our Homes, $2.6 billion of that, or more than a third of the taxable value, is exempt. Agricultural, industrial and commercial properties, which include rentals, don;t benefit from those breaks.)
Other people addressing the council fused the raise with the “nonsense” of too much development, too much traffic, too much rezoning. One raised the council’s just-approved 47 percent increase in garbage rates before questioning the central plank of Alfin’s rationale for a raise: “Is it to attract qualified people? Really? Are you saying that you all aren’t qualified?”
A 77-year-old resident extended the criticism to the administration as he falsely claimed that Palm Coast’s city manager makes “more than four times what the city manager makes in Tampa.” She does not. Tampa does not have a city manager. The city has a strong-mayor form of government, where the mayor has some of the same roles as a city manager. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor makes $175,655, according to her spokesperson. The city administration’s chief of staff makes $215,000. Palm Coast City Manager Denise Bevan is currently making $161,000. (That’s her salary since she was named interim. Her new contract as the permanent manager is still in negotiations. It is unlikely to be much more than Castor’s salary, or anywhere near four times that of any city manager in a municipality the size of Palm Coast’s.) On the other hand, Tampa, which does have a population more than four times that of Palm Coast, pays its council members $52,000, or 13 cents per resident. Palm Coast council members’ salaries currently cost 11 cents per resident. Alfin’s proposal would raise that top 50 cents per resident.
Dennis McDonald, the perennial government critic often prone to error, and who still owes Flagler County government well over $70,000 over a frivolous claim he filed, told Alfin that he was “trying to compare apples and oranges” by comparing the salaries of municipal elected officials to those of county commissioners or school board members. (McDonald is married to School Board member Janet McDonald.)
McDonald said, correctly, that county and school board salaries are set by the Legislature. But he then said, incorrectly, that “if you’re in Miami Dade, and you’re a board of county commissioner, you get paid the same as you would in Martin or some other county.” In fact, those salaries are set according to population. A county commissioner in Miami-Dade makes $106,176. A county commissioner in Martin County makes $69,644, and in Flagler, $59,637.
McDonald was on arguably more documented ground when he disputed Alfin’s claim that higher salaries would draw a better cut of candidates. He compared the quality of city officials on the elected boards of Bunnell and Flagler Beach, whose salaries are similar to those serving in Palm Coast, to the salaries of county commissioners, citing Bunnell mayor Catherine Robinson and Flagler Beach’s Jane Mealy and Ken Bryan, all of whom are among the county’s most seasoned and governing-savvy elected officials.
“So your argument just doesn’t hold water,” he said, before reminding the council of the county commission’s streak of disastrous real estate deals over the last few years. “We can start with the sheriff’s department. We can go to Sears, we can go on and on, we go to Bing’s Landing. How about that one?” McDonald said, naming deals that were in fact boondoggles by any objective measure, and have left taxpayers reeling with costs. “So when you compare yourself to those guys, don’t do it, because they’ve got a really bad track record. And if you want to get paid more money, then go run for the county commission.” (He did not help his credibility moments later when he jumped back to the podium and mumbled something about “what’s stealing our elections” before addressing a different topic.)
A woman arguing against Alfin’s proposal told him he was “appointed,” not elected–also an inaccuracy. Alfin was elected last July in a special election and has nearly three years left on his term.
Klufas’s discussion of the ballot-or-no-ballot issue aside, none of the council members addressed the raise proposal with the exception of Eddie Branquinho. He capped the public comment period with a brief rejection of it. “If it was up to me, there would not be an increase in our pays,” Branquinho said. “Any type of raises or anything at this moment at this point, I don’t think is appropriate.”
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JustBeNice says
Maybe I missed it but how much is that going to raise our taxes? Our utilities went up, electricity has gone up and we are getting less from Waste Pro. If this raise goes up, I expect these people to negotiate with Waste Pro to get the costs down. I don’t think anyone deserves a raise if they don’t earn it.
JustBeNice says
Oh and I forgot the increase in gas-how much of the price includes the taxes for Palm Coast and the county?
Thisarticlewastoolong says
So you gotta ask yourself why we have a city government. Dissolve and go Flagler!
Chris goodfellow says
David I find this kind of rich. I supported your candidature and was pleased to see what I thought would be a more professional approach to Palm Coast governance. You knew full well when you ran what the salary was. Every candidate knew this. While you apparently think the salary might not match the responsibilities of the job, it still is not a full time job and there is a professional management (City Manager plus team) running the day to day business. You are in a sense a Board of Directors for the City. I have served on many boards and never for a minute did I think I was worth the salary of the CEO even though he was making many more times than the Directors.
First let me say it is inappropriate in my view to propose such a large increase in one lump but also it taking place within six months of your election with no public input or even consideration. Furthermore you have not shown demonstrable results yet in your tenure. Perhaps waiting a year or even two so taxpayers could see the results and make an informed judgment would have been better. It would be more appropriate to propose a new scale of salaries and go to the voters with it at the next election. It also might have been less contentious if you had publicized it beforehand instead of apparently attempting to slide it through. Why don’t you reconsider and perhaps propose a twenty percent increase now and put a new scale to the voters next election? . Frankly this move looks unseemly and not worthy of any elected official who takes the job knowing full well the remuneration. One might ask where does this stop? It has been my feeling for a long time many of the elected officials in the nation assume local, state and national treasuries are there for them to loot as they see fit. This is what has made the polity so angry in this country.
As I understand it many expenses, travelling, meals, dry cleaning etc. are already covered in your expenses so you are not really out of pocket. The salary is really bonus money to you as none of you are required to work solely for Palm Coast as most employers would require of their employees. These jobs are part time despite they might take a good deal of time, but you understood this when you decided to run. Do the right thing. Reserve any major salary increases for the next election. As it is now you are dividing the residents at a time when we should be more united. We do not need one more thing to be angry about. It’s not as though any of you need the money.
One more suggestion: appoint an outside committee of three to examine the remuneration of mayors and councilors in cities like Palm Coast and come up with a report and recommendations. That way it avoids the unseemly nature of self dealing.
Brian says
Maybe our new mayor should step down from the job because he, apparently, is not happy with his compensation package. Why rankle the feathers of our fine citizens with his antics? If he is not happy he should leave.
Woodleg says
Right On! City Council position and mayor’s position should be held by those who are interested in the greater good of the city and community. Not because they’re looking for a high-paying job for their own selfish needs. If you don’t like they pay…..Don’t stay!!! We’re better off without you!
james vincent says
exactly : “you have not shown demonstrable results yet in your tenure.” none of them have;they simply dont deserve it
they’re watching says
should go farther, can you say state attny generals office, it’s time
Goldman Sachs says
I look at it like this- I own a home in Palm Coast, it is my most valuable investment. I want my investment to do well so I want good financial advisers making decisions around my investment. Put another way, I would not put money in a bank run by volunteers, no matter how magnanimous they claim to be.
I think two separate but related ideas are being conflated. Firstly, the best candidates may or may not be interested in a realistic salary. Either way they should be compensated fairly. That’s basic capitalism. And second, the voters determine who gets the job and what the salary is seems entirely unrelated to how the voters make that decision. Pardon my elitism as I talk down from my ivory tower having taken a course in sociology in college, but let’s move away from the sideshow debate and ask a real question: what do you want from your City Government representatives, if we can assume you want them at all. I ask this because we seem to elect one whack job after another, which to me seems self-destructive. Want something better? Than run for office yourself. Encourage people to vote at EVERY election BUT ONLY after thoroughly researching the candidates. Nothing from this salary debate will make the swales flow better, fix the seriously flawed traffic patterns, keep us from getting raped by garbage haulers, or in anyway improve our quality of life, while maintaining my share in Palm Coast INC.
jnlocal says
Thanks FlaglerLive for your incisive and explanatory reporting/background/analysis on today’s City Council meeting events. I watched the meeting this morning, often thinking “ah, now we’re getting somewhere” when Klufas and Branquinho attempted to elucidate on the citizens’ concerns, and then it all seemed to go nowhere. Was anything resolved today? And when will it be? Stay tuned, I guess.
Ken says
Greedy conservatives trying to vote themselves pay raises while supporting suppression of wages for citizens.
Cindy says
Thank you Editor for clarifying, I am the “one woman” who meant to say “then” instead of “not”elected. If you were as infuriated as I was looking into the eyes of a person who will sign the ordinance not a vote as previously stated, for a substantial salary increase with only 7 months on the job and zero previous experience as a Mayor you would understand.
It’s a blessing I didn’t speak the thoughts that truly convyed my feelings toward such a deceiving, blatant and bold move. They should earn it like the rest of us do. What nerve!
I remember standing in the voting line when voters asked “how much damage can a real estate broker do? ” Well looking back on his term, the writing is on the wall.
Gina Weiss says
Flagler Live: I do not understand maybe you can please clarify: If an item is not placed on the agenda for that particular meeting how do these councilmen get away with sneaking it in that evenings agenda at the end of a meeting when most of the public has no idea and most of the public has left??? And how is this allowed???? Shady indeed to say the least. This needs to stop because this is certainly is not the first time this type of behavior has happenned. This is a very bad habit which both city and the county councilmen have gotten use to doing and getting away with doing so that they don’t have to deal with the publics input. Again, if an item is not on that meetings agenda and the public is unaware of the item it should not be arbitrary put into an end of the night meeting.
FlaglerLive says
In every local government agenda there’s a segment at the end reserved for the elected where they discuss reports, meetings they’ve attended or issues of concern not necessarily on the agenda. They’re not breaking rules by bringing up those issues. Customarily, and as a matter of fairness to the public, major issues aren’t brought up that way, so based on custom and fairness, the privilege can at times be misused, or abused. A famous example here was the so-called midnight firing of County Administrator David Haas by the Flagler County Commission at the end of a commission meeting right before Christmas in 2005. It was pulled off by Hutch King, Blair Kanbar and Jim Darby, who each mumbled some vague reason. Obviously it wasn’t on the agenda. These things rarely are. In this case, and in fairness to Alfin, it was not an action item but a proposal, which was bound to draw out public reactions in subsequent meetings since there’d be a lag between the time it was proposed and the time it is voted on. There’s a strong argument that as such, this should’ve been brought up at a workshop first. That’s what workshops are for. And there was no reason it wasn’t brought up that way as an agenda item, since it wasn’t something Alfin thought up on the spot. There’s no urgency. There could’ve been analysis and background material. Instead, it felt intentionally staged to avoid prior discussion: if it were an agenda item, it would’ve had to be publicized as such on the council’s agenda days ahead of time, giving reporters, those merciless vultures, plenty of time to write articles in advance and steal Alfin’s thunder, a thunder he clearly enjoys—not maliciously or deceptively, the way Jim Landon, the former city manager, used to put agenda gaps to profit, but just theatrically. The damage to credibility is no less apparent, whatever the intent. So as a matter of form and credibility, the only one hurt by the manner in which it was brought up was Alfin, since it started the discussion on a bad footing. But the matter is not nearly comparable to the rather slimy King-Darby-Kanbar ploy that was intended as an immediate and irreversible done deal. That’s why this (the way Alfin put the proposal forward, not the proposal itself) may be ranked more as a rookie’s tactical misstep, as the article notes, and one that only undermines the goal, rather than the Machiavellian move some of the residents may see it as.
Call me Ishmael says
Well said, sir. It’s unfortunate that the process wasn’t clearly explained by council regarding the passage of local ordinances.
Do they not require approval of a first reading followed by public comment before a second, final vote?
FlaglerLive says
They do.
jay says
fire them all
Realist says
Makes me sorry I voted for this guy. He ought to be impeached
James M. Mejuto says
Well, maybe next time you’ll do some research and throw these Republicans into the gutter where they belong!
I hope you understand this entire city is run by one political party !
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Salary for Miami-Dade County Commissioners is still $6,000 yes just $6,000 a year ( because voters refuse to raise their salaries which their Charter mandates voters not commissioners set salary. To slightly compensate this paltry sum they do each have an open expense account of $55,000.
So for $61,000 a year Miami-Dade commissioners only have a mere 2.8 MILLION residents yep 2.8 million- to take care of .versus the tremendous 100,000 super exploding Palm Coast population the poor deprived Palm Coast elected officials are so overworked with their 1 thirtieth number of residents of Miami -Dade. My mother would say ” My heart bleeds borscht for the poor bubbalas”
James says
Seems to me if Alfin wants a raise he should move to Tampa and run for office there… but then again he might also consider stepping aside and then applying for Denise Bevan’s job (after all she’s only interim, but still making the big $$$).
Pissed in PC says
This is what happens when you elect someone that has sold Palm Coast to the highest bidding developers. He thinks that more housing generates more revenue for him and the council to pillage and plunder. He hasn’t addressed the swale issues, the fact that roads can’t handle the more traffic, only businesses is retail and hospitality which doesn’t pay a living wage (I don’t believe any of the current housing developments they approved are affordable by any means plus they’re killing off the wildlife), letting him just go wild with storage facilities. So much for “tree city”. Then totally botching the garbage service which will hurt the residents along with the current gas prices which has increased our electric bills (in addition to FPL voting themselves a raise in rates).
I didn’t support you Mayor Alfin and Stanko and I never will especially after your employee informed me after years of neglect on my swale and easement eroding my yard to buy my own dirt and hire a bobcat when I’m on a fixed income and you were clearly aware of the problem when you took office cause the former mayor was working on the issue with me. My yard man won’t even cut mine and my neighbors yards because it’s so soggy the mower sinks 6 inches!
Stick your raises up your collective (_*_)s!
Realist says
This is an outrageous proposal especially in these times when people are struggling. I voted for him and regret it. I will correct that in the next election.
justbob says
I gave a heads up to the Mayor and the Council way in advance of the meeting that social media was ablaze with outrage, that numerous angry residents would appear, and suggested he/they might want to get out ahead of the controversy, back peddle, revise their position, etc., to diffuse what was clearly going to be a nasty meeting. Guess they didn’t read the memo.
So, in addition to the political suicide of an almost 400% salary raise, the gang was unprepared, didn’t have a grasp on the legalities involved and the meeting was an embarrassing mess. Of course, you had the usual bunch of uninformed speakers in need of fact-checking lessons compounding the mess.
The whole matter was so poorly handled, a salary decrease rather than an increase seems more appropriate.
palmcoaster says
What makes you believe that we are the “usual bunch of uninformed residents”? What makes you better informed your bias in favor probably all these growth without proper plan or jobs creation affecting those “uninformed” residents quality of life, safety, home values and pursue of happines or maybe the abuses and nuisance overhead of the county’s pilot arrogant schools? Legalities are ignored, skewed or misinterpreted by the ones at the helm and their cheering ones like you. Also by some newcomers siding with significant developers lobbyst lately, that arriving from cowded cities with small property lots and non space arrive in our Palm Coast Paradise that is so green and good and think can still be turned into what they left to come here.God help us if you are one of the applicants to the vacant seat.
Gina Weiss says
Palmcoaster: great talking points and yes you are right we certainly don’t want anymore of that type on our council seats!
Woodleg says
Here, hear! A salary decrease is very much in order for them all! What good have any of them done? None of them are qualified for the jobs. However looking back at who was running for their positions, we as voters had a bunch of inept people to choose from. Better yet I suggest they all donate their salaries for the betterment of the city and oh yes never vote for another Republican again! Look where that has gotten us!
Gina Weiss says
Woodleg: I can assure you people will be crossing party lines in the future.
Deborah Coffey says
Sorry, but every Palm Coaster that continues to put Republicans in office deserves exactly what he’s getting…and, should have known these kinds of things would happen before voting. This sneaky, I-will-always-put-myself-first behavior has been the hallmark of Republicans in power for a long time. Having said that, I do think a raise was in order but certainly not at this exorbitant rate!
Dennis C Rathsam says
To all Palm Coasters, remember the days, gone long ago…when we had a real mayor. Remember all the concil members that didnt fight, & showed respect toward their fellow man. Palm Coast was a great place to live. Lots of green space, friendly people saying hello, or goodmorning, crime was low, & we didnt have to wait in mass traffic jams. Do you really want more people here? Do you really want more homes everywhere? Do you want apts all over the city? Do you really want to drive to Daytona to save on food at SAMS club? Vote Vote & vote again, show these ingrates the door, before our city turn into the house of mouse. Puttin a realtor in as Palm Coast mayor…Is like puttin a fox to watch the hen house.
NPA Voter says
Mayor Alfin and Council Members:
CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?!!!!! This is the tip of the outrage iceberg.
Your compensation will be considered when you start making some better decisions (like not botching the sanitation contract).
Can you hear the “60 Minutes” clock ticking?
Donald says
If this raise is implemented you can expect Joe Mullins to run for Mayor, think about that for a minute.
Mark says
There is something majorly wrong with this picture, He hasn’t even been Mayor a year and now he is asking to increase his salary and he through in the council to make it seem fair and he could get their approval. City of PC taxpayers want to be able to vote for this and if this gets approved without our votes this is a real con job done by the Mayor of PC and the citizens will not forget it.
Suzanne says
ALFIN THE CITY OF PC CON ARTIST AT HIS BEST.
Ramone says
We’ve already had one Councilmember accused of shoplifting to clothe his family. Obviously they could use a little extra cash. I support this raise. It will help keep them out of trouble.
I hadn't thought of that before says
Well played!!! 😉
RitaMae says
I was very dissapointed with the Mayor’s and Council’s approach to this large salary increase. I voted for Alfin because I felt he would be a fair mayor instead of Stanko’s puppet Lowe. Don’t know why Mayor Alfin did this so soon after his election. I don’t think either he or any of the council members are hurting for money. I know I should not judge, because I don’t walk in their shoes.
I am a volunteer who works many hours for nothing. Maybe go back to the table and rethink this and compromise on the amount that is fair and go from there.
jay says
fire them all, didn’t you know this is the palm coast circus, only one thing matters to them and that’s not taking care of us, i’ll give you a hint. , starts with. m. and ends with. y, just get used to it, after all my trash is more valueble now. thank you palm coast, one again
Richard Caskey says
If the mayor and council don’t back away from this obscene pay increase our only recourse may a RECALL ELECTION.
Allen says
The taxpayers of the City of PC have been conned by this new Mayor who hasn’t been at the job for over a year and he already feels he should have a raise. Is he serious????????? He should be ashamed of himself but I doubt that he is. He probably had this planned all along. If you can take the heat in the kitchen GET OUT. Right now he has upset many long time citizens of PC so he better write an apology and say he made a mistake.
Makeitso1701 says
That’s what you get when you keep voting for trump republicans. Con artist at their best. It’s the old bait and switch con.
Gina Weiss says
This sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship, we the citizens of Flagler County v/s the clowns and the stooges and as for Mullins I quote with a slight twist from Casablanca, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, he walks into ours.”
C. J. says
Thanks for the laugh, Gina! It certainly looks like a VERY bad movie…too bad it has to run for a couple more years.
The bad decisions are glaring at us daily…I really have to ask how in the world, Palm Coast was voted the best town/city to retire to? Oh, probably paid for with our tax dollars.
Remember when…it was our green space, golf courses, public sports and pool facilities, and access to an inland waterway and sea scape that were the envy of competing cities? This cast of clowns are busily making certain that it all goes up in smoke! Literally, add up the acreage that has been burned down the last five or so years. Just what green scape has taken its place? Oh, I know…PAINT!
Charles says
Please keep following this new greedy Mayor raise story because we want to know if these raises get put into effect without us taxpayers knowledge which I would bet that is his plan. So we now how a greedy Mayor out for himself. Just to let you all know I didn’t vote for him, I saw trouble as soon as he say he was going to run.
NotWoke says
Alvin is a real estate agent. That is his first outrageous offer. That is how he thinks. I would suggest that Palm Coast residents offer a 75% cut. Then we can negotiate from there. There are many retirees that might willing to do the job as a community service. And they would have the community’s interests first, rather than the interests of Alvin’s political contributors.
David Schaefer says
These people are so full of crap they all need to be fired and put out to pasture only to shovel HORSE MANURE for ever that’s what they deserve period….
James M. Mejuto says
Palm Coast is a small city . . . is there no legitimate reason why the Mayor and Council members
should not serve on a volunteer basis? After all, these positions are not meant to be full-paying jobs.
Citizens who fill those vacancies do it as an obligation to their community and the town/city.
There is no reason to get paid, other than to cover your costs, basic to living.
James M. Mejuto says
Palm Coast is a small city, so I ask: Is there any reason why the mayor and council members should not be
volunteer positions ? I mean, are they there in their offices full time(8hrs.per day + overtime) ?
These gov’t positions should be a patriotic passion to serve the community.