With County Commissioner Pam Richardson questioning the necessity of one library and Commissioner Kim Carney questioning its staffing requirements, the future of Flagler County’s two county libraries is uncertain.
The Palm Coast library isn’t going away, and the new South Side library, called the Nexus Center, will open later this summer. At least if the county doesn’t intend to give back the millions in grants that paid for half its construction costs. But how either will be managed is unsettled in a way that the local library system hasn’t ever been before, with Richardson at one point ready to stop construction on the new building and Carney promising not to add a single employee to staff it.
That’s left library staff, patrons and Holly Albanese reeling. Albanese is the assistant county administrator and legislative liaison who’s also been the library director for a couple of decades. The number of hats she wears has inexplicably rubbed a few people the wrong way, including Carney, who openly called for sending Albanese “back to the library”–a transparent meddling of a commissioner in administrative lanes.
On Monday, Richardson was shocked that she’d “been hearing that they’re closing the library in Palm Coast,” as she said at the end of that commission meeting. “That was never mentioned in this building when I was here. I would think that would be a travesty, because it is a heavily used building for the most part,” Richardson said.
No, no one had spoken of closing the Palm Coast library from the commission’s dais. But Richardson shouldn’t have been surprised that the possibility became part of three options the administration prepared at the commission’s request, after commissioners themselves appeared ready to either stop the opening of the new library or staff it at skeletal levels.
Richardson may not have been remembering what she’d said on May 28, when she suggested halting work on the Nexus Center during a discussion on beach-management funding. “Are you going to stop construction?” Commission Chair Andy Dance asked her.
“Possibly. If that’s what’s necessary,” Richardson answered without hesitation. “It doesn’t stop it permanently. It stops it for the time until the beach can be renourished. If that’s the priority, then have a priority.”
Richardson may also not have recalled what Carney had said moments earlier at the same meeting, after County Administrator Heidi Petito said it would take six net new employees added to the county payroll to staff the new library, in addition to existing employees who’d have to be shifted there.
“You want six new employees for the library? Forget it. Forget it,” Carney said categorically. “Take two from Bunnell, take two from Palm Coast, and have Holly go back and be a librarian. You know what? I don’t care how it works. You’re not getting six new employees.”
Albanese was hearing all this. So was Petito, who reminded the commissioners that the new library was built with substantial grants. Those grants have staffing and minimum operational hours requirements. At the commission’s request, she directed Albanese to prepare “several scenarios outlining hours of operation and compliance with associated grant funding to assist in evaluating future staffing needs for the new facility,” as Petito described it in an email.”
“It turns out that we must operate the new Nexus Center to the level provided within the grant proposal to be in compliance,” Albanese said. In other words, the county has some, but not much, flexibility to staff the Nexus Center with 11 employees and operate at least 40 hours a week.
The original plan was to cull three existing employees from the Palm Coast branch and two from the Bunnell branch, with the addition of five new full-time positions at the Nexus Center (four full time, two part-time), and a library director added to the staff count. That would have left 12 full-time employees and a part-timer at the Palm Coast library and 11 at the Nexus Center. It would have required the Palm Coast branch to reduce hours from 52 to 44 per week.
As directed, Albanese crafted three alternatives. Two of them reduce staffing by several employees and operational hours in Palm Coast to 40. A third, rather nuclear option–the option that ended up making the most noise–is to close the Palm Coast library, sell its 19 acres and the building, reduce overall staff from 18 to 11 and move them all to the Nexus Center, which would operate 41 hours.
Of course it’s not what Albanese would want to do. But the commission was looking for options and speaking in pretty drastic terms. Albanese met with her staff and discussed the options, which of course got discussed beyond the library’s walls: there was nothing secret about them (the options are public).
“Please know that it’s not my recommendation, ever, to close the Palm Coast library. No,” Albanese told the commission on Monday. “But it was suggested that we provide the board with every alternative possible.”
In an email, Albanese conceded that she’d also been “a bit frustrated at the time.” But she’d done nothing more than follow the administration’s and commission’s directive. “Administration then asked me to add that option to the presentation as well, so I did.”
Tuesday, a day after Richardson’s seeming shock at the commission and FlaglerLive’s request for the options Albanese herself outlined to the commission, Petito told FlaglerLive that “it’s important to note that they represent initial drafts and not formal proposals or decisions. Without the proper context provided through Board discussion, these documents may not fully reflect the intent or direction the Board may ultimately wish to pursue.”
It’s also no small part of the Nexus Center’s purpose that it is to be the administrative home of the county’s Health and Human Services division–or that, strictly speaking, grants alone paid for the library half, while county funds paid for the HHS portion.
Yet Richardson on Monday again repeated her skepticism about the county needing two libraries, calling it “awkward” and speaking of the new library derisively as “the Nexus Center, whatever name you want to call it.” Albanese found that “disheartening,” noting that St. Johns County has six libraries and is building two more, Putnam County has five, Volusia County has 15.
“While I realize we are a small county in footprint and the population is heavily centered in Palm Coast, not everyone lives near the current Palm Coast location,” Albanese said. “I don’t expect more than two locations, at least not in my professional lifetime and there have been two locations since 2004, this is only a larger facility to accommodate more services and finally bring programming to that part of the community. I have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to make this happen and no it is not because of any friendships.”
There are continuing intimations that the Nexus Center is the product of Petito’s friendship with Albanese. In fact, county commissioners were looking to expand library services at least as far back as 2013, if not 2010, when they supported in principle–but not in dollars–the expansion of the main branch in Palm Coast, then agreed that a new branch should be built, all under then-Administrator Craig Coffey. The Library Board of Trustees kept up the pressure. So it’s perplexing why Albanese would not be a target, as she sometimes appears to be.
“I am tired of people questioning my qualifications,” Albanese said (qualifications that include two master’s degrees, 40 years’ experience and 25 of them as library director.) “I am more qualified than most and my compensation includes acting as Library Director, Legislative Liaison and Assistant County Administrator. Since I have been up in Administration I have worked on the strategic plan, on grants, legislative documents, and other special projects. I oversee the Communications Department too and I filled in as Human Resources Director for about four months. I applied for this position with three other county employees and was selected. I did this because I believe in and wanted to support this county’s administrative team and still do.”
The commission will discuss the library options at its July 2 workshop.
Sue says
The existing library is used by many,many people.They have great programs for all ages. It needs to stay open and serve all the people in that area not to mention ALL The new homes going to be built it will be even busier. I am looking forward to the new library being built to serve lower Palm coast and all its building going on! Not to mention the traffic going on and WILL get worse. I’m sure they could eliminate a few workers or hours but DONT SHUT THEM DOWN LADIES!!
PCFL Clark says
Carney is toxic and destructive. Richardson is not much different.
Marvin Clegg says
Wow. If this description of the grant requirements is correct, what bureaucrat locked us into this personnel requirement ? ! Several of us urged county staff years ago, in a Bunnell library meeting on this topic, NOT to build another Tax Monument and to utilize any larger, empty building in Bunnell so any transportation-challenged, lower income, local residents could access the internet and things they were doing in the old building, reached by foot and bicycle, often times. Jack Clegg had donated practically an entire city block for county library services to help the ‘west side’ and yet, here we are. Seriously hope our newer commissioners continue to cut the fat, and hold the proper people accountable that continue to waste tax dollars on what was not necessary to replace the former library in Bunnell. And I would suggest that anyone considering a donation to the government make sure there are very, very tight restrictions on the gift so it truly benefits those intended.
Canary says
Typical Flagler and Palm Coast. No respect or value for knowledge, experience, or learning.
Trim the Fat says
Finally!! Let’s take a look at Holly! Look at the amount of money she is making as the “Assistant County Administrator”. Just another made-up position to get more money from tax payers. Jorge Salina’s and Heidi Petito can’t handle things?
She competed against 3 other employees for the position? One had a DUI, so how was that for competition? How convenient Heidi promotes her and then gives her a new library.
Our taxes are paying for this!
Holly needs to go back to the library director. She can direct the PC location and new Nexus center just fine.
Too many chiefs…how many people do we need up there?!? Can we DOGE this!?
JC says
At least for me the Flagler County Library system has been almost underfunded for years and really need the new branch off 100 now more than ever with better hours. However, our population is not big enough and I know some residents/voters who don’t want any additional funding to go towards the library system since it isn’t used by the majority of the population here. Makes no sense since over 50k people have a Flagler County Library Card and we need it more funding for the services.
It is a shame, I use the reciprocal borrowing agreement privilege and got myself a St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) for free as a non-resident of that county. There are major differences between Flagler County Library system and the St. Johns County Library system on just about everything from book selection, free ILL services for books/more (while Flagler County Library charges $2 per ILL request and it is only for books), programing and more. I am in the F Section and I live 15-17 minutes away from the Southeast Branch of the SJCPLS system that’s on US1/206. I do use the Flagler County Library here and there but they can’t match up to the services and selection that St. Johns offers, and that is sad.
Endless dark money says
I’m sure the books are woke gang you elected care about libraries and their positive effects on communities lol.
TobiasJ says
The county never wants to fund anything in Bunnell. Why would we have library services in our part of the county when all the money is in Palm coast, the beach and hammock. Why never put things where they’re needed! Commissioner Pennington is the only one that fights for us and she is being drowned out by these two dimwits.
Villein says
What part of new library needing employees is difficult to understand? Maybe she’s never been to a library.
Nex-us this.. says
It’s about time that someone on the County Commission asks questions.
The out of control management of the County Administrator shows how their club works.
Over staff their internal supporters keeping everyone happy. Not sharing details with Commissioners until asked.
Thank you for asking questions, it makes me feel good like using a bidet to know I’m not totally going to flush my tax dollars down the drain so fast. I at least get to get wiped clean first.
Joe D says
Well, Commissioner Kim Carney appears to be the new “SALLY HUNT”of the Flagler County Commission (in my opinion).
Making impulsive decisions and comments without fully thinking through all the RAMIFICATIONS of what she is saying.
Her actions and words truly don’t seem to be of the professionalism expected from an elected Flagler County Commission. She appears to have few of the mediation or conciliatory skills required of an elected representative that needs to both support and compromise with other elected officials, government employees and the public, to negotiate the BEST OUTCOME for ALL County residents, and not just her OWN agenda ( if we could all figure out what that agenda is).
Right now it appears that her agenda is to be a MIKE NORRIS type of disrupter ( minus the conspiracy theory PARANOIA)….in my opinion, with a definite amount of THEATRICS, so everyone KNOWS SHE HAS ARRIVED.
I for one am not impressed in her use of personal attacks and Innuendo about government (personal) relationships influencing Commission decisions and funding.
The Flagler County Commission is supposed to be comprised of elected representatives of the citizens, who come together to negotiate the BEST QUALITY OF LIFE for those citizens! PERSONALLY, I’m not feeling it …unfortunately…Hope all the drama settles down SOON.
Larry says
Wow, Richardson is in way over her head. Absolutely inept. All she wants to do is cut, cut, cut and doesn’t understand what it takes to have a county that is desirable for new businesses to move in.
Libraries are desirable for Fortune 500 companies that might want to add a bunch of jobs in Flagler County. Having a beach program is desirable too. A commissioner shouldn’t always have a knee jerk reaction of “No, No, No” to everything that moves the county forward in a positive way.
PC talks says
How dare they are talking about taking our library away! Do not take away any of our libraries. Tat’s the only place families can see and learn without going broke. It would be devastating loss and I think would make a huge uproar if ever properly presented to the public.
…and yes, if all the people who are using Main library now would have to drive to Nexus, imagine the additional traffic. Ridiculous.
Grabbing my attention says
How did county government ever get to a point where they went all in on a very significant capital project, only now to wonder whether it triggers a range of drastic options? That’s what’s grabbed my attention here… how could they have painted themselves into this corner?
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Once again, you get what you Voted for. So you can keep whining about these two or start to Vote smart.
Tired of it says
A lot of this has to do with resentment against Ms. Albanese. Carney and Richardson don’t like the fact that she is far more educated, competent and intelligent than they are. The funding foe the new library was secured before ground was broken. It is paid for. And yes there are contractual obligations that go along with the funding and yes, those contracts were reviewed by the commission and its attorney before they were signed. If some of these complainers bothered to attend the commission meetings they would have known this. Their ignorance of the facts is on them. No one has hidden anything. As for the many hats that Ms. Albanese has been ASKED to wear…no she didn’t get a salary for each them. This county has gotten their money’s worth from this one employee. Look at it this way, if she hadn’t done those jobs they would have had to hire and pay someone to do them.
Elizabeth says
I love the idea of a new library branch on this side of town. I also do not agree with closing the other one. Palm Coast’s population has exploded in the last few years- there is more than enough people to make good use of both. Seems like big bureaucracy likes their fat paychecks and don’t want to share with others.
celia pugliese says
FCBOCC, staff always taking all away from Palmcoasters which are the biggest contributors to the county tax base and budget! Just our advalorem (yearly home taxes) form every doklkar we oay 45 cents goes to the county when onlt 23 cents goes to our city of Palm Coast and now these kool aid county staff suggest to take our library away? Following a pattern of plundering Palmcoasters fr0m our 33 acres ocean front land in the Hammock tradded to Bobby Ginn’s golf course in late 90’s for 200 acres in the bundocks and a $200,000 check for a mere public access to the beach, that took away our ocean front pool, cabanas and 4 tennis courts included in our ITT Sun/Sports membership amenities, the non avigation easements for the properties adjacent to the airport to further increase the flight schools bombardement over their homes, that may want to pass now after all homes built there. Allowing the school board to take away the Belle Terre Swin and Racket Club 1.078 Palmcoasters membership created by ITT as house selling point denying speacial needs residents, children and elderly its pool use, among other services that do not come to my memory now. County proceeds with its higher tax contributor services, looting?
Michael J Cocchiola says
Libraries form solid cornerstones of any community. The Palm Coast library has 20,000 visitors every month. And growing!
The Bunnell Branch is a necessity for the southern end of Flagler County. Bunnell is so deserving of a library, not to mention the younger families that are filling the newly constructed homes. That area is growing at an exponential rate.
Please support our public libraries.
Robjr says
….with Richardson at one point ready to stop construction on the new building and Carney promising not to add a single employee to staff it.
Are these two on the DOGE payroll?
A Longtime Community Supporter says
Flagler County consistently ranks among the lowest in per-capita library funding in the state of Florida. Despite this, our library operates on an exceptionally lean budget, and the director has repeatedly leveraged innovation to bridge funding gaps and deliver high-quality services. We expect the same resourceful stewardship at the Nexus. Even when fully staffed, it will maintain our status as one of the most cost-effective systems in the state—while delivering far more than a traditional library. The Nexus will provide safe, inclusive spaces for teens and grandparents alike, and serve as a hub for disaster relief, community resources, digital access, and critical information-sharing.
The library is a very wise, long-overdue investment, and Albanese found ways, after many, many years, to reduce costs and keep operational costs low.
Jack says
We needed to secure funding for public safety not libraries!!!
Holly’s salary is extremely high for a librarian. How many librarians make that much money in Florida? Cut her salary in half and fund two more librarians. We need to DOGE this budget.
Property taxes are going down, and county commissioners need to prioritize. We have a very nice library in Flagler Beach that provides similar or greater service for much less money.
Surprised? says
… in a state that bans dictionaries?
Not.
“… the option that ended up making the most noise–is to close the Palm Coast library, sell its 19 acres and the building…”
You don’t need libraries in a graveyard, you only need more mausoleums… and Palm Coast is running out of plots.
I’m just surprised that no one here mentioned bikes… oops… someone did.
Flagler county… moron county… and they like it that way.
JC says
Does anyone understand what celia pugliese was talking about in her post? I try to be kind and reread it more than once and I still don’t understand what she is saying.
Doug says
There was a meeting over ten years ago at the old Bunnell library branch my wife and I attended where the library board said the County Commissioners were basically against the building of a new library. Well here we are all these years later and a new bunch of these commissioners are against the same thing. I’m sure none of them use the library or the services it provides or they would see the benefits for two locations. There seems to always be money to be given to their pet projects, so why not something that benefits us all.
Jay Tomm says
The truth is the Nexus center didn’t need to be built. Just a new smaller Bunnell branch, and a small remodel of the Palm coast branch! Holly Albanese got greedy!
Pogo says
@Add an indoor gun range, bait shop
… and a bingo with slots parlor — voilà, FPC’s new hub for culture and arts.
just wait for it says
We finally have commissioners on the board who work for the residents of Flagler County and not Heidi Petito. I hope the commissioners do a deep dive into the budget, line item by line item to see where all the waste is. Never take Albanese at her word either, she tells half truths. Albanese didn’t get half the money for that new library from grants, she only received 4 million from state grants, 1.1 Million from passports and more than 12 Million dollars from tax payers and growing. Albanese even stated that in Workshops/BOCC meeting more then once. That 16 Million dollars is only to build the building, just like building a home, you only get the building and have to fill it with everything else. How much is that going to cost the tax payers to fill it with all the tech equipment for the podcast room, all the laptops/computer, printers, office equipment, office furniture, shelves, books, and on and on. I hope the commissioners read those grants very carefully because what Albanese says are in those grants is not the full truth. The 4 million dollar grant is a multi-purpose broadband internet grant that allows access for education, health & jobs.
Albanese said “she doesn’t except more than two (library) locations in her professional lifetime”. Few months ago she tried to get the board to approval another library in the Hammock. And how many times has she tried to takeover the Flagler Beach library. Enough is enough, stop with the unnecessary spending tax payers can’t afford it.
Sunny says
The department that needs a microscopic look at their HUGE BOTTOMLESS budget is Staly! He’s out of control & been out of control from the beginning! No one is allowed to question or see the numbers. He’s a county EMPLOYEE! Open those books gross spending always with his hand out for more, more, more. Now a specially ordered helicopter.
celia pugliese says
I could not say it any better than “just wait for it” . Hooray for Carney and Richardson and hope LeAnne along with them both. Some Doge needed in the county as well. How come we do not have funds for a needed Municipal Animal Shelter or Needy Peoples Shelter but they force us to fund millions for a building, staff and maintenance we can’t afford? The FCBOCC needs to use the magnifying glass in the wasteful HR payroll and do away with all the hiring nepostism and highly paid positions not vital needed and millions will be saved for a municipal animal or peoples shelter. All the grants requested for the wrong applications also need to stop, example for an airport were we can’t buy a commercial flight tkt to nowhere, but instead fund these training flight schools KFIN fields over Palmcoasters 24-7 taking away the safety, health quality of life and value of our homes. We need change and soon by electing in city and county those that will serve the residents first.
celia pugliese says
JC: First of all I apologize for rushing to post without correcting my typos. Second would be fair that other than cowardly using aliases for destructive critique of posters here you would disclose who you are are or at maybe Flive would do it like done for others. Typical cowards punch and hide! What are you afraid off? TY to Flive for the realistic editorial otherwise maybe we wouldn’t know unless attend county meetings or watch it in you tube.
Jan Cullinane says
I’ve been on the Board of Trustees for the Flagler County Library for more than ten years. I’ve lived in Flagler County for almost 19 years. Our Library offers SO much more than books. Please take a look at the library’s website and you’ll get a sense of all it does for the community. Holly, along with her staff, is outstanding, and those of you who question what the library does should visit – or better yet – volunteer. You’ll quickly change your mind and become a big supporter – of the Director, the current library, and the new branch, too.
Anonymous says
All of the commissioners are bullies to their employees and are trying to ruin livelihoods because they don’t want to be targeted by the public. These commissioners have got to go.
Mary says
It’s so disheartening to see these comments about my mom (Holly). I don’t know much about what is going on in the county but all I know is my mom is a hard worker. She has worked so hard a majority of her life to get where she is so that her family can have a better life. So please be kind to one another and remember that we are all human just trying to get through the obstacles of life. We all want what’s best for the community. I love you mom and I will always support you! You are an amazing human being ❤️