Palm Coast’s five-member Charter Review Committee in an hour-long inaugural meeting Monday at City Hall appointed former County Commissioner Donald O’Brien its chair, heard a briefing on open records and the Sunshine law from its emphatic moderator, Georgette Dumont, and outlined its work plan for the coming months.
There were surprises, both in the tightly controlled approach of the moderator and in the committee’s expected final product: it won’t be a set of amendments to the existing charter. It’ll one document–a whole new charter, making the process not so much a “review,” as billed by the council and the charter itself, but a rewrite. That was not the approach verbalized by the City Council when it launched the review. Nor was it a direction Interim City Manager Lauren Johnston provided the moderator, a city spokesperson said today.
The existing charter calls for a “review” at least every 10 years, not a wholesale rewrite.
Absent specific amendments, it’s not clear how the proposed changes, if part of a new document, would be submitted to voters on the 2026 ballot, since the entire charter cannot be part of that ballot. The only other time the city conducted a charter review, in 2017, the result was three amendments, while the document itself remained mostly unchanged but for scrivener edits.
The meeting was very lightly attended, in part by the usual conspiracy-minded gadflies who buzz at most City Council meetings, and in part by alternate committee members. An alternate would be appointed in case an existing member were to decide to quit.
Dumont before the meeting made a point of introducing herself and briefly chatting with every person in the audience. For that, she only got a little grief from one of those audience members, who raised questions about Dumont’s pay and role in the public-comment segment at the end of the meeting.
O’Brien, taking up a public role for the first time since he ended an eight-year tenure on the Flagler County Commission last November, said he likes to chair meetings with a light hand, favoring the informal. He doesn’t require anyone on the panel to ask for recognition before speaking, as some board chairs do. “If you want me to recognize you, I will, but I think we’re all adults here, and I think we’ll have good, formative ideas and discussion.”
So he may have been surprised by the unnecessarily rigid if not stifling format Dumont said the committee will follow(she did not propose it for discussion, but rather stated it as fact): “Each person will have an opportunity to speak once,” she said, “and then when everybody has had their opportunity to speak once, if they so wanted to, then a person can speak a second time. So this way, we can make sure that everybody is getting input.”
The approach does not seem to lend itself to a discussion, placing Dumont in the role of a controller rather than a facilitator and making O’Brien’s role superfluous.
“Now, if you all want to change these, this would be the time to say that you’d like to change the structure of the meetings,” Dumont had said by way of prefacing her meeting rules. But she’d said it quickly and immediately moved on to those rules, never returning to the option of alternate approaches–or even opening up her suggestions to discussion. The dogmatism was startling for a moderator so disarmingly congenial.
Committee members asked more questions about public-comment segments than about their own deliberations–how much time to give speakers, whether to let them go over time, how much time to let meetings stretch (Michael Martin, one of the committee members, prefers a hard stop after three hours.)
The panel is to take up each charter article in turn, systematically, focusing the discussion in segments, exclusively on the article in question.
As Dumont provided a general overview of the charter, it became apparent that the committee would do a complete rewrite of the document rather than propose specific amendments. That, too, may be a surprise to City Council members.
“We don’t take votes at the meetings, we do consensus,” Dumont said, “and the votes take place at the back end, once we go through the whole charter, and then you can see it in its totality, and it’s changed by change that gets voted on.”
“That becomes one document to deliver to the city council?” O’Brien asked.
“It’s a document as a whole,” Dumont said. It isn’t clear where she got that direction. It is not from the City Council. There were no further questions on that score. City Attorney Marcus Duffy, who was present, did not intervene. The City Council may have other ideas.
Committee member Michael Martin was under a similar impression. “We’re going to look at the entire charter, and change things, or add things. It’s a comprehensive look at the entire charter,” Martin said in an interview this morning. He said it won’t be an entire rewrite, with some sections of the charter that may not need changing. But it’ll be a different document. “I actually want to add both a preamble and a citizens’ bill of rights.” He added, referring to city staff and his preference for frequent meetings starting in September, “I’m not sure they’re ready for me–I’m going to introduce some things.” He said he has 18 to 20 pages to introduce.
But O’Brien today clarified that what he meant by “one document” was the document containing the proposed amendments, not the rewrite of the entire charter. “We would present one document with the amendments,” he said, seeing the committee’s mission as the council did. More than that would be “making of it more than what it is,” he said.
The committee’s work must be completed by March 31. Its recommended amendments are then sent to the City Council, which may accept the committee’s work in whole or in part or amend it. The resulting proposed amendments will be on the Nov. 3, 2026 election, though in what format (if it is a new document rather than specific amendments) remains unclear.
There will be four town hall meetings, one in each of the city’s four voting districts in October and November, for the public to contribute its ideas. The committee will be present but will not conduct any business. “I would be at all these meetings, facilitating them, and I will be reiterating at the beginning of each meeting that this is about the charter,” Dumont said. “It is not about ordinances. It’s not about something that was passed that you didn’t like.”
Jeannie Duarte, a candidate for a City Council seat who earlier this month claimed the city’s utility was trending toward encouraging cannibalism, and whose court filings a circuit judge has called “nonsensical,” was among the handful of people who addressed the committee–o question Dumont’s pay and the timing of the review, which she said should not take place before 2028. She was incorrect: the charter provides for a review at least every 10 years, but the council may call for one earlier.
Duarte returned to the charge at this morning’s council meeting. She claimed that “a little bird whispered in my ear that this moderator was hired for $250 per hour with a minimum of $12,000.” Though Duarte may, like St. Francis, speak bird language, a bird did not disclose the moderator’s contract. FlaglerLive last week published the moderator’s letter of introduction and terms, which call for a $250-an-hour rate plus mileage, and an estimated cost of $12,500 for the duration of the contract.
“It’s really not necessarily customary to hire somebody, especially in this economic time of stress, to be a moderator for such a group,” Duarte claimed, inaccurately. She then went on to claim that the moderator “Works for a Jimison law firm, or something similar to that.” The reference was to Jimerson Birr, the law firm Council member Theresa Pontieri, whose seat Duarte is seeking, previously worked for before establishing her own firm with partners.
Dumont does not work for Jimerson Birr. She is the director of the Master of Public Administration Program at the University of North Florida and runs her own consultancy, Civic Solutions (not to be confused with the Ladera Ranch, Calif., urban planning firm of the same name, or the Civic Solutions Group, a multi-state consultancy on public service.)
The next-scheduled meeting has not been set. It will be a town hall meeting for public input.
The Charter Review Committee members and alternates are as follows, by Council member appointments:
- Mayor Mike Norris: Patrick Miller (alternate: Chantal Preuninger)
- Ty Miller: Michael Martin (alternate: Donna Stancel).
- Theresa Pontieri: Perry Mitrano (alternate: Donna McGevna).
- Dave Sullivan: Donald O’Brien (alternate: Karen Sousa).
- Charles Gambaro: Ramon Marrero (alternate: Greg Blose).
MAT Talley says
Same names=Same Results
Why would anyone who truly cares about the Building Palooza ruining our home reelect any of these people?
Flagler First!
Here hold my beer..... says
Matt Talley,
These folks that volunteered should be appreciated not ridiculed.
You are complaining but did you show up to speak, nah it’s easier to just complain.
MARGARET MINUTAGLIO says
Let’s hope in the re-write they protect the people of the city from Mayors who break Charter rules and think they can do whatever they please, just to please their loyalists, as we have going on now. Let’s also hope that spreading lies, propaganda, all the dreadful conspiracies and misinformation will be enough to remove an elected person (such as the Mayor) or city council members. The “City Charter” needs to be obeyed and understood by the elected officials, and not a have what we have now, with this wishy-washy take it to mean what fits your narrative option. Things have changed greatly in the last 10 years, and with the MAGA loyalists in positions in our city, we need to protect our citizens rights and homes without these dangerous politics playing a major role, as they do now.
JimboXYZ says
The charter is the charter ? Is it like the US Constitution ?Where the US Constitution can only be amended ? Rewriting the entire charter ? Honestly, I don’t think anyone on that committee is qualified to do anything more than steal the framework of the original charter and rewrite it to server their agenda & ulterior motives for purposes. It becomes in effect the same charter as amended ? A completely new charter, wouldn’t that have to be approved by the County, eventually by the State of FL in accordance with FL Statutes ? The local government here is just beyond belief. It’s easier, less costly to amend than to start from scratch. We need to get rid of these folks in the next election. It’s not like they haven’t overstepped & circumvented the original intent of the charter at every opportunity & that goes back well beyond Norris & even the growth of Alfin-vision.
http://palmcoast.elaws.us/code/coor_city_palm_coastch
https://library.municode.com/fl/palm_coast/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CITY_PALM_COASTCH_ART._IIFOGO
Republican no longer says
This is outrageous, but not surprising. I'[m talking about a complete re-write of the City of Palm Coast Charter.
it’s just more of Tammany Hall (look it up) but by Republicans (and I’m a registered Republican).
Perry Mitrano is nothing but a high school graduate with a certificate in “auctioneer”. That’s the extent of what he’s done with his life. BUT, after just attending a couple of meetings of the Flagler Republican Executive Committee, managed to insinuate himself into the good graces of the former chair, Bob Updegrave, who pushed Mitrano into the chairmanship. Prior to that, word on the street was that he “retired” from the City of Bunnell, but the story on that can’t be published.
Why would Pontieri be pro Perry Mitrano? Because I believe Pontieri has higher political aspirations and Perry Mitrano, as Chair of the Flagler Republican Executive Committee, can push her into whatever political job she wants next. See how this works?
There’s much more involved behind the scenes with the PC Charter Review Committee appointments. They all come from the same political group, and that is, the Flagler County Republican Executive Committee.
Regular citizens don’t stand a chance. The outcome is always pre-determined and made behind the scenes by brown nosing, behind the scenes alliances and networking at the Flagler Tiger Bay Club and the Flagler Republican Executive Committee.
I was involved with all that for a short time until what I saw and heard made me want to vomit and take a shower.
As for me, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR Pontieri, Gambaro or any other member of the Flagler County Republican Executive Committee (and I know them all), nor will I vote for anyone affiliated with the Flagler Tiger Bay Club.
In fact, in the next local elections, I will not vote Republican at all because I know who all these people are.
To sum it up, the complete re-write of the PC Charter review is outrageous but not unexpected.
If you vote for any of these people in the next election, you have only yourselves to blame.
I warned many times via comments on Flagler Live about our now mayor Norris, yet the majority voted for him only to quickly find that he’s unstable.
Cracker me this Son.... says
Jimboxyz,
Who said they were doing a rewrite. I was there last night nobody mentioned it. If fact what heard was from the person next to the City clerk say it was important to have definitions, add things that have bite to the Charter. Likely implying when a Council member is acting up what should be done.
I never heard a rewrite.
Sadly your opinion of them not being able to have the ability to rewrite it is a sad depiction of whom you’re neighbors are because that’s who volunteered. BTW from each district they are, so I guess you are the only smart guy in the room.
Now I’m worried about the Charter review committee because you know better.
Ellen Tozzi says
This is such bs. More things done behind closed doors. Just wrong. The people just seem to have less say about the city they live in in every day. If the people we voted for and In some cases didn’t get the opportunity to vote for as they were placed there against our will now have other people that can be placed there against our will. Our council is crooked
long time resident says
void the charter close city hall everybody gone
RWBoggess says
One does not remove all the organs of the body when removing the appendix. Likewise, one does not revise the entire City Charter just to fix parts and pieces to improve the Charter. A concise, surgical approach is what is needed.
Wallingford says
I too was in attendance and did not hear anything about a complete rewrite. It’s a simple fact, you need to read the complete document before you can write any amendments to it. There is a deadline to this exercise – March 31, 2026 – and you could never hope to achieve it if there was a complete rewrite
Maria the Unsolvable Problem says
So the 10% of the population who actually show up to express outrage at the waste and corruption from the city government are “gadflies”, eh?
The best is yet to come – and this is because our people are FINALLY standing up to do more than just complain. People are listening and they’re bringing the mops & buckets and chasing the rats OUT.
Calling our neighbors names only fuels their resolve. People are sick and tired of being hosts for these parasites. They’re waking up and saying “Hell No!” I, for one, am cheering them on. I might not always like or agree with what gets said, but finally, they’re waking up & speaking up.
Gadflies? “Just you wait, ‘enry ‘iggins.”
Start something says
I agree 100% with “long time resident.” Delete Palm Coast. In its place sell the water and sewer infrastructure to a private company, create a drainage district to maintain the swales and canals, and a recreation district to oversee the parks. Fire can go to the county, or better yet a fire district.
Red gold..... says
Republican no longer,
You need a shower. You couldn’t take the Executive Committee so you left. You complain about them, you complain about one person on the board and strike out like you are a decision maker for the rest of us.
As far as you not voting for someone running for office, that is actually the right you have because of those that volunteer to be on boards and run for office.
Continue on believing the Mayor is doing a good job. His style of Mayor has produced nothing but heart attack.
Stay in your lane and drive with the emergency flashers on so we can see you coming and we can get the f out of the way……
FlaglerLive says
@Maria, 10 percent of the Palm Coast population would approach 10,000 people. The chamber has capacity for perhaps a couple of hundred. There were a dozen people in the audience. Less than half were the usual noise-makers, fabricators and irresponsible slanderers. We are not calling them names. We are identifying their methods.
JimboXYZ says
Cracker me this Son…. says,
I didn’t write the article, I just read it & comprehended what I see from what I assume is accurate reporting ?
“In a Surprise, Committee Plans Full Rewrite of Palm Coast Charter, Not Just Amendments. Council May Differ.”
Same chain of Committee:
“The Charter Review Committee members and alternates are as follows, by Council member appointments:
Mayor Mike Norris: Patrick Miller (alternate: Chantal Preuninger)
Ty Miller: Michael Martin (alternate: Donna Stancel).
Theresa Pontieri: Perry Mitrano (alternate: Donna McGevna).
Dave Sullivan: Donald O’Brien (alternate: Karen Sousa).
Charles Gambaro: Ramon Marrero (alternate: Greg Blose).”
That much out of the way, it’s not a secret that every project that was a Vision of 2050 has resulted in a threat of a lawsuit or cave by City of Palm Coast to a threat of a lawsuit. Latest news from Palm Coast, the FL Home Builder’s Association is suing City of Palm Coast ove Alfin impact fee increases. When Norris took office the local builders were threatening to sue over the moratorium. Maybe you have more faith in what is going down than I do. This has nothing to do with “my neighbors”, but since you went there. The same neighbors that are constantly bickering with those that live in the same dwelling to merit an FCSO domestic visit ? The same one’s that are selling drugs out of their drug house operations ? The same one’s driving up & down the residentials at excessive speeds. The same one’s that are alcohol & drug abusers ? And the next generations outlook is pretty bleak Schools for K-12 that require SRO’s ? There isn’t one project over the last 3.5 years of Alfinville that was funded beyond 15% by any state grant. It’s why our water utility payments are going up 32-36 % over the next 4 years. That’s not a Trump tariff, that’s Made in the good old USA water sources locally. And we were sold that growth would pay for itself by a Mayor with his head so far up his arse that I was commenting on FlaglerLive that this was going to happen.
And let’s go back to the Holland era, something as simple as a Splash Pad in Holland Park turned into a lawsuit, turned into an additional $ 3+ million repair bill for a Splash Pad that wasn’t open for the Summer 2021. In fact 2 weeks after the grand opening, the Splash Pad was shut down for repairs. Bunnell & Flagler Beach have more development approvals. Bunnell is supposed to grow 6X larger than what it currently has for a population, that’s 6X larger than what it has ever been in the century of it’s very existence ? Maybe you have faith in what has been the same bad ending to the same movie we’ve been watching for 5+ years ? I don’t have to be a smarter person than anyone in Palm Coast, but the track record doesn’t indicate that the losing streak is changing anytime soon. Why is anyone reviewing the charter ? The charter portion of it is pretty straight forward for what is online.
https://library.municode.com/fl/palm_coast/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CITY_PALM_COASTCH_ART._IIFOGO
http://palmcoast.elaws.us/code/coor_city_palm_coastch
This is a matter of the one’s that don’t like the ordinances in place, trying to force the rest of the community to allow the one’s that don’t want to play by the ordinances to put up with that. The rest of us are supposed to tolerate streets lined with pickup trucks & trailers. Driveways for 3/2’s that are over utilized & over occupied. And somehow pick up the tab for that level of growth that will never pay for itself.
End of the day, can you honestly say that the Charter Review is going to result in anything better than what is already in place for all involved as a Palm Coast citizen/resident/taxpayer ? It would take this committee at least Norris’s term to figure out the charter, if they are even capable of comprehending it. I don’t think my neighbors somehow became qualified to draft ordinances & amendments for being assembled because things around here are already out of control. And I include myself in that incompetent committee, it’s why I didn’t seek the position. I also see little wrong with the charter, I do see more wrong with the politicians that approved what they did to put the City of Palm Coast in this position. And I have been vocal in opposition of unfunded growth from Day 1.
Cracker me this Son.... says
JimboXYZ,
Like I said, as somewhat of an answer to your diatribe.
The Charter review Committee is just that a committee that will review the Current 14 page Charter line by line after and only after all of the public workshops where, yes, even you can share you personal view.
Once the remarks are heard,
The committee will review the comments that are related to each Charter item along with the public comments to that item.
Are you board yet?
So, the great “rewrite” is BS.
It’s a discussion to bring clarity, definition simply because people like you will make an opinion and discussion at the workshops.
Stop your complaining and show up, stop bitching that the common person on the committee isn’t bright to comprehend the suggestions.
You make me sick because your comments do nothing but achieve the goal the people should read these comments on Flaglerlive and Facebook before wanting to move here.
The Committee and Consultant will do fine, try to have faith in humanity because your neighbors seem to be bad.
Oh, maybe you should move somewhere else…..