Less than 24 hours after he posted a sepia-colored “WANTED” poster of himself, thumbing his nose at his critics, Palm Coast Mayor this morning held his two interviews with prospective city manager candidates in the City Hall parking lot, standing by his truck–and forcing the two candidates to do likewise.
The first interview, with Richard Hough, was at 8 a.m. The interview with Paul Trombino was at 8:30. Norris waited for Hough at the entrance to City Hall, standing in the early morning sun while scrolling through his phone until Hough pulled up in an SUV and introduced himself.
The two then walked to Norris’s truck on the side of City Hall’s Community Wing–recently renamed the Jon Netts Community Wing, for the former mayor, who was likely rolling in his grave at his successor’s conduct–and started interviewing. They did so in the half hour highly trafficked by morning employees arriving for work, backing and beeping into parking spots, slamming doors, and walking by. And they did so in the morning’s increasing heat.
Inside the building, city staffers and officials, along with Doug Thomas, the vice president of SGR, the recruiting firm shepherding the city’s manager search, discussed the stunt in disbelief (without calling it a stunt).
Thomas had spoken with Norris, who told him that he’d be gone as soon as his two half-hour interviews were over, as he had another commitment. It wasn’t clear at that point whether he would show up for the 1 p.m. interviews when the candidates were to appear before the full council in the open, public session. But he did, and chaired the meeting. (There was no small talk between him and the council members as they waited for the clock to strike 1, though Norris bantered briefly with two people in the audience.)
Asked by a reporter why he’d held his interviews outside, Norris said he had no comment. It was the latest beguiling behavior by a mayor who shocked the audience at the State of the City Address earlier this month when he drew a bleak portrait of City Hall and made accusing and conspiratorial allegations about staffers and developers, calling it all a “swamp.” He had just cleared his office at City Hall. He was a no-show at last Tuesday’s meeting, when he was censured, taking to Facebook instead after 36 hours of silence.
The tailgate interview was the latest stunner.
“It shows a total lack of understanding the position he’s in and what his responsibilities are,” City Council member Dave Sullivan said. “I’ve said publicly what I think, and I’m going to stick to that. And I think the fact of doing the interviews in the parking lot shows a continuation of what we said about it.”
Sullivan was referring to last Tuesday’s meeting when the council approved a pair of motions by Council member Charles Gambaro to censure Norris and express the council’s no-confidence in him, and to forward a complaint to the Florida Ethics Commission about Norris’s recent conduct. The votes were the result of an independent investigation that found Norris to have violated the charter when he demanded the resignation of the city’s top two executives, along other issues.
Thomas before the interviews briefed the candidates on recent developments in the city, at least to give them context, though the candidates were likely well aware: in their one-on-one interviews with other council members, four of which FlaglerLive attended, they made clear that they’d kept up with city issues through media reports. They are aware of the turmoil they’re stepping into.
In her one-on-one, Council member Theresa Pontieri asked the question on the lips of anyone who’s been paying attention to the manager search–its concurrence with constant controversies, its dearth of candidates and the erosion of finalists from the original five just two: “Why are you still here?” Sullivan asked the question less directly.
Their answers encapsulated quite a bit of their character.
“I would say this: If I was coming here, and you guys said: you know, the organization, we feel like we just want you to dress the curtains, I would say I’m the wrong person,” Trombino said. “That is not where I want to be. I like to improve things. Okay, I love process improvement, and I am confident that we can be better, right? I’m not advocating they’re bad, either. That’s a lot of times what people convey. I am confident we can improve the process. I love that. I like to fix things. I’m not advocating it’s broken. But I actually believe that we can make improvement. So the things that I have seen excite me.” He added: “If it was the opposite, I would not be sitting here.”
Trombino had not yet experienced his stand-up interview with Norris, who at that time was interviewing with Hough. When Hough interviewed with Sullivan in late morning, his answer was wryly informed by what had happened earlier.
“Some of that has to do with the contentious politics as I’ve been getting it told today,” Hough said. “Different perspectives have been coming up today, though, on that. And I would say this: The environment doesn’t intimidate me. I’m fearless when it comes to, you know–and maybe this comes from being a military officer, you know, you’re putting in all kinds of different environments, and sometimes you’re only given command for like, 18 months. So you’ve got to make a difference, right? So you’ve got to go in, find the current environment, what’s it like, where do you want to go? And really, the conversation I want to have deeper beyond today’s events is, where do you really want to go?”
Norris’s participation in today’s interviews at least suggests that he has no intention of resigning. It may also be an indication of his attempt to gauge whether one of the two candidates might help him carry out an agenda his City Council colleagues have decidedly thwarted.
“I think the staff should be concerned, because some of those people on that staff shouldn’t be there,” Norris had said in an Oct. 18 interview on WNZF. “I can’t hire and fire. But we do have a new city manager coming in. We’re going to hire a new city manager, and my push is an external hire. I don’t want anyone from this county taking that position. I want someone with the experience and expertise that can lead a city of this size, and I’m looking for an external hire. I don’t want anyone that’s in this county that’s beholden to developers or real estate industry or anybody else in the powers that be in this county that has been affected, that’s run us into the ground for the past 20, 25 years. So that’s that’s my stance.”
Really annoyed says
Excellent poster! The real culprits are certain council members and developers! Stand your ground Mr. Mayor!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Both candidates should run, run as far away from Palm Coast as you can for now.
MAGGIE M. says
Sometimes, I think i just have no words for his circus act, then there I go again, because who can watch this and not comment! He needs to step aside with the little (if any) dignity he has left, and do it as gracefully as possible. He is a hindrance to our community and is taking away from the issues at hand, while everyone tries to figure out what the mayor is going to do next and how to carry on with the business at hand.
His reference to the military in most everything he does, tells us that he just can’t put that aside when making any decisions in the civilian world. It’s time for him to face that he bit off more than he can chew and he’s just not fit to be Mayor. Voting him in was nothing more than a political stunt, the MAGAS against the Democrats. There was no fair voting this town is MAGA all the way. He is a Trump wannabe in my opinion, as are his followers and that in itself is cause for concern in making decisions for our little city.
Nike Morris says
This guy is the laughing stock of this county. His ego is big, but his brains are small. Hopefully Desantis moves quickly before the tax payers face a lawsuit from this uneducated clown. His Poster should read “Wanted” For abusing staff, screaming in their face, discriminating the 40+year old employees(protected by law) and breaking the city charter.
Jim says
I’ve never seen a local government like what we’ve had here in Palm Coast for several years. I’d hoped Norris would be a welcome change but I’m wrong. He wants the community to think he’s being persecuted when it actually appears he has some serious issues regarding the treatment of personnel and ability to follow basic rules. His behavior clearly shows he needs to resign immediately and let the city move on.
However, it appears he’s not going to do that. I guess he thinks if he can get the right person in the city manager position, he can get everyone fired that he wants within the administration. I guess he has no realization that there are four other members of the council and none of them appear to be willing to work with him going forward. So he’s not going to do what is best for the community.
I hope DeSantis will remove him from office and do so quickly. That’s probably too much to ask for though. In the meantime, here we are with another dysfunctional council with a mayor that is so far out of touch with reality that it’s just sad at this point.
Like Pontieri, I do wonder why anyone would be willing to become city manager in this circus atmosphere. And that makes me really worry about the quality of the remaining candidates.
Just entertaining says
Is this show that the city leaders put on a comedy or a tragedy???
B Slapper says
Carnac the Magnificent has risen in PC as people make assumptions
without any concrete knowledge.
Fernando Melende says
He’s totally unhinged and out of control, this must end sooner than later. The damage he is doing is far reaching and long lasting. Mike if you are reading this resign with dignity and save face while you still can.
Land of no turn signals says says
This is America nobody put a gun to their heads. Could have walked away. This story is a bit dramatic.
Nina says
Norris has integrity and stands for the people of palm coast and not for the developers who don’t care what happens to our city!
Jason Pollock.... says
This guy, and I can’t call him a Mayor has absolutely no class. He is a walking disrespectful SOB.
He’s like a tossed salad and scrambled egg.
Please resign………
Dennis C Rathsam says
MIKE NORRIS HAS MORE BALLS THEN THAT LAWYER RUINING PALM COAST! STOP THE BUILDING! WE THE TAX PAYERS ALL AGREE STOP THE BUILDING!
George says
I supported this guy but now I’m just embarrassed. So much for economic development. Pierre stop covering this clown show so we can save our reputation.
no good deed goes unpunished says
The mayor listening to his constituents and saving Palm Coast by backing out of the belvedere cancer depot, I mean fuel depot, came with a cost. Shameful for the board to retaliate against him for standing up for his city’s interests instead of special interests. It is a sign of the times when someone is being reported to an ethics committee in retaliation for championing having a safe and healthy environment and promoting logical checks and balances to the urban sprawl the developers are destroying our city with. I am personally disgusted by the commissioners trying to force out our duly elected mayor with this ethics probe just because he stood up for his electorate and said no to the special interests destroying our community. Our mayor is doing exactly what we elected him to do by fighting for us and he just saved everyone’s property values and single handedly prevented palm coast from becoming a hot spot for cancer. The commissioners should be praising him. Instead they are attacking him and the spirit of democracy itself by lashing out at our elected leader and accusing him of wrongdoing despite the fact he is literally the champion of the people.
William Hughey says
WE need more people like the current mayor!!
He WILL get things DONE!!
Bashing the Mayor WILL show that Palm Coast is just like everywhere else in America WANTING to bash GOOD people that offers to be public servants!! Democrats have been keeping a reputation for bashing people!!
WE ALL needs to get ALONG TOGETHER!!!
Mike says
Much like with President Trump, Norris was elected for a reason.
The people that voted for him like what he is doing and see the council as the problem. Especially since two of them were not elected and are the ones stirring the pot the most.
Villein says
Indeed, probably should not hire a city manager until the city council sets a course. Where do we want to go?
It’s like trying to find someone to marry through online dating when you don’t know what your values are.
Spend some time in the wilderness. Ask yourself the hard questions about what went wrong, how did it happen, and – where do we go from here?
Then the final piece of the puzzle is finding a leader capable of executing that clear vision of what success is.
Success is rarely a straight line. Time to regroup and rally.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Who knows what this circus might do to increase tourism to our area. Just think , (in between the planes flying 10 feet over your head) how we can let America know that even though we are RED RED RED we welcome normal people and nut cakes alike – we don’t discriminate ( in my opinion). Seems to me we are far more liberal left if Palm Coast puts up with this charade much longer.
Nothing ‘conservative’ about Palm Coast that’s for sure!
Paul says
I am I the only one wondering if Mr Norris could be a risk to public safety and/or those he is serving with on the City Council.
Critical Eye says
It’s absolutely apparent without a doubt that Norris is undeniably irreversibly and totally completely mentally flawed, sick beyond recovery, unbalanced out of his mind mentally disturbed. He needs to committed into a mental institution before things escalate any further. This is not a joke. It’s serious. Normal people don’t act like this. He’s seriously ill.
JimboXYZ says
It was a beautiful sunny day for spring in FL for 30 minute interviews for the same stacked questions every interview has for a position. Casual interviews for a job. sometimes conducting an interview in a office or even boardroom is a clear employed vs unemployed delineation of uncomfortable stress ?
Why would anyone ask a candidate/interviewee, why they are still “there” interviewing for an open position when 3 of the 5 candidates have essentially given up or beaten down for even applying for the job ? We saw the one’s that retracted their applications vacillate back & forth just the same. Someone’s going to eventually get the job, the other 5 are relatively closer runner ups. Why make the final 2 candidates defend why they survived an elimination process that has been both voluntary & involuntary ? The bigger question is why does the City Manager position have such a high turnover rate for at least the last 2 mayoral administrations ? Norris ran on a platform that he felt that some individuals would be replaced under his administration as is evidenced by the WNZF. No secret there, open & transparent ? And the vote results supported that direction for Palm Coast. The facts of life are, some folks remain, others move on for a career in any restructure.
Almost refreshing to see this as a unique approach to the process, instead of the usual check in at the main desk, security badge show, the TSA-like screening/scanning for entering & being walked around City Hall ? If they can’t trust candidates who they’ve accepted applications & vetted for interviews for the position to answer the same interview questions that can be asked anywhere, what difference does it make if they interview in the Mayor’s office or at Panera Bread/Starbucks over bagels & coffee ? These are City Manager candidates seeking employment, not mass shooters ? Maybe this was Norris test for candidates or just a way to make the interview process more comfortable for candidates to have a more open & less stressful interview where the candidates might appreciate the unique approach ? That’s something only Norris knows of. Maybe Norris didn’t want to expose a City Manager to any dysfunctional under current the most recent censure & whatever else has been created ? I’ve been interviewed in the past off-site even. Some places have rented a boardroom elsewhere. Job fairs and that’s quite often an interview at the local hotel/motel banquet rooms. If we can end up with a City Manager that sticks longer than 1-1.5 years wouldn’t that be an improvement ?
DWOOZEN Seminole Woods says
Hmmm I absolutely agree with hiring OUTSIDE of this county. We need someone who has not been flawed by the “GOOD OLE BOY” system. Handshakes, greasing palms etc., just to get another apartment building, housing development in here WITHOUT TAKING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INTO ACCOUNT, which has been going on FAR TOO LONG!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE We did not choose to live in Boca Raton for a reason, you can only pack so many sardines into a can. GOTTA STOP SOMEWHERE, maybe Mr. Norris is actually trying to help control some of these ideocracies???
blondee says
I don’t care if he conducts business in the back seat of his car as long as he keeps working for the people!!!
Jeremy says
This is so unprofessional and childish it’s a wonder why we can’t get/keep good candidates for the city manager position?! He likes to say he’s being persecuted, etc etc — yet he hasn’t provided one iota of evidence for ANY of his claims, and he is so thin skinned and weak he can’t be bothered to show up at the recent workshop/meeting b/c he knew he was going to be censured. I don’t know what’s worse: his behavior or the lemmings that follow his every word?!
Richard B Russell says
Could Mayor Mike be concerned about being recorded in a so-called private meeting indoors? I think if I were in his position, I would be concerned about that. I would like to meet outside, after all we live in FLORIDA and how great it is that we can have a business meeting outside?
Like many people, here on this site, I’m concerned about the closeness with out of state developers and the people making decisions on both the City Council and County Commissioners. What say you ?
PaulT says
I don’t understand why anyone is surprised by the latest absurd behaviour by Mike Norris.
The MAGA persona is after all an amalgam of bullying, conspiracy theories and playing the victim card.
Critical Eye says
This is in answer to Paul says,
No, you are not the only one that has thought that Mike Norris could be a risk to public safety and to the city council members as well as city employees. I’ve thought that many times. That’s the reason I watch the city Council meetings and workshops live on YouTube. I don’t attend those meetings in person due to the fact I get a very strong feeling he could snap at any moment I think that it’s very, very possible.
vance hoffman says
Hiring an outside city manager can address concerns about a city council being too close to developers by introducing impartiality and professionalism.
A external city manager brings an unbiased viewpoint, free from local relationships or influence from developers, ensuring decisions prioritize the community’s interests over personal or financial. Outside managers often have extensive experience in urban planning, budgeting, and governance, enabling them with long-term community goals rather than short-term developer profits.
A manager not embedded in local politics is less likely to have preexisting relationships with developers, minimizing favoritism or undue influence in zoning, permitting, or project winners. A outsider can implement clear, standardized processes for development decisions, increasing transparency and restoring public trust in governance, especially if the council is perceived as developer-friendly which it is.
Also refused to be audited Red flag much.
Hiring externally can disrupt cozy relationships between council members and developers, fostering a governance culture that values community input over insider deals.
RONALD G KUBA says
Interview outside ! can’t trust the staff ?? every thing he dose in HIS office is talked about before he leaves ! Is everyboby angry
because they did’t hear the interview ??
Truth hurts says
Harassed too many people inside the building lol so had to interview outside , real professional!