The Palm Coast City Council late Tuesday night called for an independent investigation of Mayor Mike Norris after Interim City Manager Lauren Johnston confirmed that he unilaterally demanded in a private meeting that she and Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo resign, what would be a “blatant violation of the city charter,” in Council member Ty Miller’s words. Norris is denying the charge.
Council members, including the mayor, are legally prohibited from interfering with the administration. Their hiring and firing role is limited to the city manager and the city attorney. Even then, they may not exercise that role without the elected body’s consensus, in open meetings. A trail of fears about arbitrariness and heavy-handedness had long preceded Norris’s election last November, and evidence of both had hissed about City Hall from time to time since. None were as grave or explicit as Tuesday’s allegations as revealed by Council member Charles Gambaro.
“I have a concern that was brought forward to me yesterday that I think we need to discuss,” Gambaro said by phone, as he was attending the meeting from out of town, “and that has to do with your request for the direct resignation of our staff, meaning the acting city manager and Mr. DeLorenzo in your office. I think it could be a major, major ethics violation. And it’s my understanding that it’s not the first time that you’ve tried to directly intimidate or to try to force the city manager to fire not only the chief of staff, but other members of our senior staff.”
Norris tried to protest. Gambaro immediately shut him down. “I have the floor,” he said. “It’s also my understanding that you carried out this request after our legal counsel, both Mr. Blocker and Mr. Duffy, advised you multiple times that your requests were inappropriate and in violation of the city charter.” Jeremiah Blocker and Marcus Duffy of St. Augustine’s Douglas Law Firm are the city’s attorneys.
Gambaro was equally concerned about the manner of Norris’s alleged demand, which he described as Norris telling the executives, “‘This is a one-way conversation, and I’m going to ask for your immediate dismissal [from] your office,’ and then you just basically dismiss them.”
Gambaro asked Johnston to confirm whether that took place, “yes or no.”
“Yes,” Johnston immediately said from the dais, two seats from Norris.
Norris again tried to intervene, and again Gambaro stopped him. “Hold on. Hold on,” Gambaro said. “So by your actions, Mr. mayor I’m real concerned. I really like working with you, but you may be creating a toxic work environment, and one that may be disseminating fear and intimidation across our staff that’s really working hard to meet all of our demands. And so as such, I’m formally asking my fellow council members–not you, Mr. mayor–for consensus to formally request an independent look at this investigation at next Tuesday’s council business meeting into these serious allegations, Mr. mayor. We need to take an independent look to address these issues. But failure to not address the concerns that are brought to you is, in my mind, not an option.”
Miller and fellow-Council member Theresa Pontieri were just as disturbed by the allegation. The fifth seat was empty, Ray Stevens having resigned. The appointment process, now certain to be influenced by the Norris issue, is running through mid-April.
“It’s very concerning, because the charter directly prohibits any member of this council from directing staff decisions that are solely the purview of the city manager,” Miller said. “Anything below the city manager is the city manager’s responsibility in terms of hiring and firing. So that’s one. Two, directing the city manager without the consensus of the council is also a violation of the city charter. And then it’s very hard to get past this, because my concern here is that if we’re not playing by the rules, then they’re going to be abused. And whether it’s you, Mr. mayor, or me or Councilman Gambaro or the vice mayor doing it, it’s still wrong fundamentally.” He spoke his support for Gambaro’s request for an independent investigation, “because that’s how we figure out whether this is right or wrong. To me, what I’ve heard, these are blatant violations of the city charter.”
“Independent” was not defined, though it suggests that a law firm other than the Douglas Law Firm will be retained for the job.
Norris conceded only that “frustrating” discussions took place behind the scenes, but not that he called for anyone’s firing. “There’s three people that were in that room when we had our conversation yesterday,” Norris said. He did not name the three, who would have been himself, Johnston and DeLorenzo, though shortly afterward he referred to someone who was on the phone during the meeting. He alluded to the city attorney. “How can I put this? I said that I was going to discuss with the council. You know about this, and it’s a little bit of frustration. But you know, we are under a lot of pressure here, and me and Lauren, we had a good conversation today, and it’s a lot of frustration, but I did not, I certainly didn’t do what’s being said, and counsel was on the phone.”
He then deflected the issue to a previous controversy last fall when Gambaro was appointed to the council, an appointment Norris tried to challenge, considering it a violation of the charter. The city attorney has repeatedly said that the appointment was done according to the charter. As for his issues with the top staffers, “I wouldn’t even bring up that discussion tonight, because I think we’re where we need to be. We are working together,” Norris said. “I think Lauren understood I was a bit frustrated, but I certainly didn’t tell her to fire anybody, because I know better than do that. I would never, I would never do that.”
“She just said you did,” Miller said, referring to Johnston’s confirmation.
“I have not directed anyone to do it. I’m an above board kind of guy, and I’m frustrated,” Norris said. “I’m frustrated that we’re in this situation. But I did not tell Miss Johnston, Miss Lauren Johnston, to fire anybody. I said I was going to discuss with the council what we need to do to fix this city.”
“She just confirmed that it happened that way,” Gambaro said, with the council as witness.
“I know there’s only two positions I can hire and fire or–” Miller tried to interrupt, presumably to let him know that he cannot hire or fire anyone, before Norris caught himself. “Yes, that council can hire and fire. I know that for a fact, but I am not–I have not directed. But we can take whatever actions we need to. But I think Lauren understands my frustration. We had quite an ordeal today. But you do what you got to do. If you want to investigate, go right ahead.”
Norris and the council have been weathering waves of public criticism over a proposed utility rate increase, what would be the sharpest increase in the city’s history, paired with the largest loans in the city’s history, to finance a gargantuan, $615 million utility capital improvement plan. Norris had approved the plan on first reading only to inform the council last week that he was reversing course unless the plan was paired with a building moratorium. Norris’s reversal seemed to reflect what some city staffers and some elected officials past and present have cited as excessive sensitivity to social media vagaries that end up informing capricious decisions or confrontations like the one alleged took place with the top executives.
Council member Theresa Pontieri, the senior member of the council, had also apparently been made aware of the situation. “From what I hear,” she said, “it definitely warrants looking into.” She was especially concerned that the mayor’s behavior could be clouding the city’s search for a new manager, which has been hampered by the council’s poor image as it is. The council had narrowed its choices to five candidates earlier in the meeting.
“This is not healthy for our city,” Pontieri said. “Decisions like this need to be thought of high level in a robust way. And I understand mayor that you could have been frustrated. Whatever happened that facilitated anything even close to this, I understand you’re frustrated. We’re all kind of frustrated, under a lot of stress for a lot of different reasons. But you said it earlier. We have workshops for a reason. We should have workshopped it. We should have talked about it. They are adults. She has the ability to sit down there and listen to constructive criticism and we talk about things. Poor old Carl Coty gets thrown under the bus more than any staff member I know. And the guy has not been in the position that he’s in now for very long to warrant the type of abuse he takes.”
Coty is the city’s director of stormwater and engineering, and as such has been the point man on several critical issues. Some council members past and present have found it easier to shoot their messengers to silence them than to responsibly grapple with the message.
The council adjourned immediately after that.
Greg says
The whole city leadership is a joke. No wonder the city is on shaky ground. I think you all should resign and turn the city over to the state to be run. Your a God damn joke.
No bueno says
I don’t disagree that Jason has to go. He and Ray knew about the lack of water for all the permits they allowed the board to approve. But Lauren stepped up and volunteered to hold that position while they found a permanent manager. He should leave it alone.
celia pugliese says
My open letter to our Mayor and Council!
To Mayor and Council:
I saw the end of today’s 3/11 at 6 pm Council meeting given that my hubby hospice care does not allow me to attend the meetings.
As a resident that voted for Mayor Norris and knowing him well enough to see his frustration with the projected residents utility increase to pay for growth, I can ressure this council that he knowing as Mayor he can’t hire or fire staff by city charter, his conversation with city manager and else in the meeting was just a comment out of his frustration and probably exercising his First Amendment “as actually no one was fired”.
We voted for our mayor and support him as he is representing our “residents needs” and we want him to continue representing us. To the contrary this was brought up by a councilman that we didn’t elect and was apppointed by the former council members that lost last election. In spite of it all this investigation requested and initiated against our Mayor by Councilman Gambaro the appointed one, as far is my concern may not have any merits given our Mayor First Amendment Right the same right that respectufully I am exercising now.
Today Mayor and Vice Mayor showed us how much they care for us the residents, that voted for them and we want them to continue representing us!
You are right Mayor Norris and we are with you as we all have our First Amendment.
Celia Pugliese/PC resident since 1991
Protect Palm Coast, Friends of Florida Park Drive, Quiet Florida and Blue Skies Member.
Concerned Citizen says
Thank you Mr. Gambaro, for listening to staff and forcing discussion of this behavior into the open. Thank you to the other members of the council for supporting Mr Gambaro as he raised this issue. And a big thank you to PC staff for speaking up and not backing down when challenged.
This isn’t going to be easy or pleasant for anyone, but directly and in the open is how you address bullying behavior in the workplace. Once you set a standard that this type of behavior will not be tolerated (not just words in an HR manual, but consistent actions by management), others with similar behaviors are put on notice, and morale begins to improve. Still a ways to go, but a good start.
John Stove says
Mike Norris acting like a dictator?…..what do you expect from a Republican. Mike needs to get over his “my way or the highway”…attitude and realize that he may be ‘Frustrated”, this does not give him (or anyone at the national level) the right to bypass charters, laws or ordinances.
Of course Mike be suffering from SMS (Short Man Syndrome) and perhaps this is why he is frustrated that no one listens to him as he screams and demands that everyone do what he says.
Dakota Brooks says
After watching the meeting last night, it was clear that the last 10 minutes would overshadow all the other discussions and decisions made. Important conversations about the city’s future will now be drowned out by this controversy.
The charter is clear on the separation of powers, and the acting city manager ignored the comment, as she should have. It’s fair to remind the mayor to be mindful of his words, but it’s hard not to notice that whenever real change is discussed, certain behind-the-scenes forces seem to move quickly to shift the focus.
Making this the biggest issue in the city when there are far bigger challenges feels more like a distraction than accountability.
Fernando Melendez says
This is definitely a Norris behavior, if anyone knows him from past REC meetings and his uncontrolled loud outburst, then you can bet it happened as described. This is nothing new and he should not only be investigated, but censored by the governor. obscenities, defamatory language is right up his alley.
Duane says
As I mentioned to Denise Bevans in the blog weeks before her dismissal, I’m now saying the same to Laureen Johnson: it’s time to start thinking about your exit strategy. Act now before it’s too late and you end up with a termination on your record. When the Mayor and the Manager are not on the same page, it disrupts the city’s operations and creates unease among the staff. While it’s helpful that a commissioner is supporting you, history shows that eventually, the commission’s collective mindset takes over, and the manager is let go for the betterment of the community.
Do it now while you have opportunities to prosper as an assistant manager in another city without a blemish on your record.
Justbob says
A wannabe one man Palm Coast DOGE? This dude has been a disaster since he first sat down in the mayor’s chair. But hey we saw it coming.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Newer Council, same old dysfunction.
Ric Flair says
Yes let’s spend a lot of money on an independent investigation of he said she said. While we are at it let’s spend more money on endless independent studies like has been done throughout the years. This city is a joke. The so called acting city manager is a joke and should never have been put in that position. If you want to spend money on an independent study then lets do one to determine if we should get rid of the city and just let the county run things. Our tax bills would go down and so would this nonsense.
Long time Palm Coast resident says
I find this turn of events very interesting in light of the fact that Mayor Norris recently proposed a building moratorium.
Facts:
1. Jason DeLorenzo is a long-time realtor with just a high school education. After he was ousted from his Palm Coast City Council seat several years ago, he went to work for the Flagler County Home Builders Association until ALFIN became mayor and then suddenly Jason DeLorenzo became chief of staff for the city of Palm Coast. Conflicts of interest.
2. New District 1 Palm Coast City Councilman, TY MILLER, has a direct link to the Flagler County Home Builders association. While running for the PC City Council last year, Ty Miller’s wife was Vice-President of the Flagler County Home Builders Association. She has also worked and/or still works for Hulbert Homes, a home builder in this area. Major conflicts of interest for Ty Miller.
3. Wasn’t Gambaro favored for his PC City Council seat by ALFIN? Another conflict of interest. As I recall, there was another candidate for that seat but ALFIN’ pushed for Gambaro and Alfin’s vote got Gambaro on the city council.
4. Ms. Bevan was ousted from her City Manager position by ALFIN and then Lauren Johnston took the job as acting city manager. Lauren Johnston was in charge of the water park fiasco and signed off on the deal. Yet when the water park turned out to be a fiasco was Lauren Johnston demoted? No she was given a promotion which paved the way for her to become city manager when ALFIN got rid of Ms. Bevan who was the city manager at the time. From what I recall, the way ALFIN handled the firing of Ms. Bevan from the city manager position was very dirty and underhanded.
In my opinion, Mayor Norris upset the powers that be in this county by proposing a building moratorium last week. The powers that be include the Flagler Home Builders Association (Ty Miller), the realtors who run this town and Flagler County and all the other building trades. Time to get rid of Norris. To me, it seems this is nothing but an orchestrated take-down of Mayor Norris by the group of people who REALLY run the city of Palm Coast and who are closely tied to the Flagler Home Builders Association (Ty Miller, Gambaro, Jason DeLorenzo, and Lauren Johnston who doesn’t want to lose her position as city manager.
This stinks. “THEY” don’t want Mike Norris proposing a moratorium on building in Palm Coast. Mayor Norris did the unthinkable and came into direct opposition to the powers that be last week by proposing a building moratorium. Now “THEY” are out to get him (in my opinion).
5.
Matt says
What a remarkable, ethically-conscious, coordinated stance from Gambaro and Miller. All it took is for Norris to mention “moratorium” once.
In all seriousness, we are with you Mayor. Please show us you have a backbone against private interest.
Jimmy says
Mayor Norris cursed out a candidate’s wife during the campaign. The City Manager confirmed Gambaro’s accusations. And that’s just what we know. Norris repeatedly calls Palm Coast “his city.” The guy has a Napoleon complex and thinks he runs the show. Getting what he deserves. Hope the Gov removes him.
Denise Henry says
I was at the meeting and Mayor Norris was broadsided. Investigation? It is two against one so how fair is that? Now we are starting to see the politics played out! Shocking! It is sad Miss Johnston could only reply, “Yes.” She should have been asked to relate the entire conversation last night along with Mr. DeLorenzo who was upfront at the time. Toxic? That was created last night by Councilman Gambaro who wasn’t even attending in person. I rather liked him and was warming to his appointment but my mind has not been changed. I left the meeting feeling sad over how it ended.
John Walsh says
Impeach Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris. He is most unqualified elected official in the history of Palm Coast, Flagler County, the state of Florida and the United States of America.
He is unfit to serve even as a Dog Catcher.
Mike says
I myself don’t trust Mr. Gambaro. I feel he is a puppet of Mr. Alfin and the developers. It’s funny how this is mentioned after Mr. Norris wants to put a building moratorium in place! I stand by you Mr. Mayor and continue to stand up to these developers and others who would like to see you step down! Protect Palm Coast!
Protonbeam says
One constant theme in palm coast –
Challenge the builders, their lawyers or lackeys or challenge the entrenched corrupt staff
They will destroy you- they did to the city, county, chamber – school board – sheriff charity and on and on
James says
Surprised?… Not.
Whatever happens to Mayor Norris is irrelevant. The fact remains that the city is asking to approve a $614 million dollar project. That’s almost a billion dollars.
Does anyone here think that DeLorenzo and Johnston are qualified and capable of overseeing such a costly undertaking? For that matter, does anyone here think ANYONE currently sitting on the city council is capable of overseeing such a task?
I for one, unfortunately, do not.
We’re taking BIG money here folks.
Just an opinion.
t. o. Doug says
The mayor talks about a moratorium and suddenly he needs to be investigated? What a coincidence!
In all seriousness, that is not the right way to handle it, but Jason should be gone. Its clear his loyalties lie with the realtors.
Lawrence Ruggieri says
How much more out in the open could this be an orchestrated hit job on the Mayor for uttering the
“M”word that cuts into the pockets of the Palm Coast Oligarchs ie the Builders and Realtors.
I’m surprised Miller and Gambaro don’t have Orange hair and Red ties that are way too long. I’ve been a resident for over 50 years and have never seen such behavior.
Hammock Bear says
Politics are the topic here and we all know it. Leave the Political Sides Out of this. Dems ganged up on the Mayor. The Mayor spoke of needing a moratorium on building new homes and apartments until situations allow them to be built. That basically is reason that Palm Coast NEEDS another Water Treatment Plant. Recently when we had heavy rains the Residents were asked to cut back on their water use as the treatment plant was near overflowing. Common sense dictates that you do NOT erect thousands of new homes that will have one or more toilets, washing machines, dish washers, sprinklers to keep the grass green. So now the County Builders Assoc. and members of the Council are Mad. Well they need to learn some Respect for each other and learn to work together for the People in Palm Coast. So bite your tongues and take a deep breath and start over again. I believe the Mayor has the best interest of Palm Coast and is a decent and respectable person. Let us all treat him with Respect.
celia pugliese says
First Amendment Right is for us all and includes Mayor Norris as well, as per my view. What it shocks me here is the former owner of a local newspaper calling for the gallows for the Mayor when the press knows better about the First Amendment who’s protection they always rely on! Mayor you said the M…word and this is the pay back!
DID YOU KNOW? says
What is NOT mentioned, and much more telling is during the selection process General/Councilman Gambaro REJECTED an applicant for City Manager because he was an ENLISTEDMAN !
This demonstrates to all Voters that the Gambaro appointment by alfin-klufas-danco would have a bigger stink than those three appointers combined !
Now add to the equation that Gambaro’s assault on the ELECTED Mayor was by PHONE……….gutsy!
“Let that sink in”
Natalie says
The Mayor is a bit hot headed, but was elected by the voters to serve. He is being scape goated here for expressing the frustrations of his constituents.
It is clear we do not have the utilities or the services to meet the high level of development going on here. I believe the majority of the voters agree with him on that. His biggest weakness is not understanding where his boundaries lay. But he is right, the builders and developers are in full control here. They have more power than the voters and that is not right.
Stay the course, Mayor Norris, but calm down and follow the law, please. I support your request for a moratorium until we are caught up, and others will as well. If others on the Council do not, well…that’s life and they will face the voters as well.
Remember the good Ole days says
Let’s get a referendum and vote to unincorporate and stop this nonsense.
County rule worked much better without the sideshow ……. at half the price
JimboXYZ says
Yep, I knew this was the connecting of dots that leads back to the Alfin “Vision of 2050” era of an administration. Lauren Johnston is going to be gone by the end of April 2025 as “interim”, short of Palm Coast failing to hire a new City Manager. All of this is growth failure & plan of Alfin that is the water bill inflation.
“Norris and the council have been weathering waves of public criticism over a proposed utility rate increase, what would be the sharpest increase in the city’s history, paired with the largest loans in the city’s history, to finance a gargantuan, $615 million utility capital improvement plan. Norris had approved the plan on first reading only to inform the council last week that he was reversing course unless the plan was paired with a building moratorium. Norris’s reversal seemed to reflect what some city staffers and some elected officials past and present have cited as excessive sensitivity to social media vagaries that end up informing capricious decisions or confrontations like the one alleged took place with the top executives.”
Geez, how many times was Alfin accused & investigated for ethics violations for all this growth & Vision of 2050 ? Yet nobody seemed to connect dots every time. Yet here we are with a $ 615 million dollar borrow. It’s not social media vagaries when people show up at the meetings and sound off. The voter mandate to vote out Alfin is similar to removing Biden nationally. I feel for Norris, voted in with $ 615 million legacy of Alfin era. And there’s a $ 405 million number out there for 2 new schools they want to build as a leftover legacy from the Alfin era. That will be over $ 1 billion of debt, & the roads haven’t even been repaved yet.
https://flaglerlive.com/ethics-commission-tosses-yet-another-complaint-against-palm-coast-mayor-david-alfin-this-one-from-familiar-name/
Here’s a fact check of the facts on DeLorenzo. All this started around the time when Denise Bevan seemed to revolt against Alfin. She was ambushed in her firing.
“He has been instrumental in streamlining the permitting processes…”
“He previously held the role of Government Affairs Director for the Flagler Homebuilders Association for ten years.”
https://www.palmcoast.gov/Newsroom/Home/Details/jason-de-lorenzo-appointed-to-chief-of-staff-for-city-of-palm-coast
https://flaglerlive.com/bevan-fired/
Crisco kid says
Gambaro was appointed by Alfin, Klufas and Danko, with their PC for sale
on their foreheads signs, when his 2 years are up he needs to go!
Strongly appears that the administration along with Gambaro are
in cohorts to try to get Mayor Norris unseated, the investigation
should be into the lies and dirty doings of the current administration
who are the puppets for Tobin, Afin, Chamber of Commerce, and their
developer ties who has run this county down to the ground, there are also
players on county seats, Dance and Hansen both need to go.
Critical Eye says
There is not a single doubt in my mind that Mike Norris did exactly what Gambaro, Johnson and DeLorenzo says . I remember during the campaign when Mike Norris told Peter Johnson and Alan Lowe they needed to drop out of the mayor race. There was also the video where he told Alan Lowes wife that her husband was an ass ——— and told her to get out of there! When she asked him why he verbally assaulted her husband he demanded nit just once but several times she leave and referred to her husband as an ass—— several more times.
Norris temper outbursts at several of the city council meetings speak loudly of his lack of control and his dictator tendencies. At one of the city council meetings shortly before the election he told Mayor Alfin very brutally he was going to end Alfins mayor career. There has also been women that spoke out how inappropriately he invited them to meet him privately to talk about the upcoming election. There was no reason to meet privately when their questions could have and should have been answered by Norris publicly.
It all adds up to his character. Norris most definitely deserves to be fired. His inappropriate behavior and his behind closed doors conversations should not be tolerated. His denial of what was said shows that he is not capable or worthy of holding the city’s mayor position.
Crisco kid says
John Walsh: Your opinion means NOTHING to the residents
of PC, you too are in the pockets of the developers, go
and lunch with your friend Toby Tobin.,
as all of you were laughing on a David Ayers podcast about
how all of you were to make more and more millions with your
irresponsible overdevelopment with your “GENTRIFICATION”
of PC, which is why this city is bankrupt, that’s why nothing is
being done for the flooded residents homes , nothing to help
them other than offering free dirt, shameful! Also your FDOT
cronies give millions to Sieger for his s**thole flight school training
businesses and airport to nowhere, can’t get a ticket in or out, and
give breadcrumbs to PC to improve infrastructure and don’t fix the
problems they have caused. They should all be arrested for malfeasance
and collusion: ‘Their property, my problem to fix’: Palm Coast resident …
http://www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2025/mar/07/their...
Critical Eye says
How can anyone watch wishy washy Mike Norris and believe he has the slightest inkling of whats going on??? Especially at the city council meetings and workshops. My guess is those that think he does…..don’t either.
It’s disgusting. He’s just another self serving Danko #2 hiding behind the mask Mike Norris. Come on people. WAKE UP. You know it’s true.
VoxPopuli says
The fact that the Palm Coast residents can’t graap that maybe Mayor Norris isn’t that great and is absolutely a hothead moron who has abused city staff since day one and more information will come about during the investigation. But I expect that the supporters of QAnon Norris who absolutely deleted his original Facebook and deleted all of his QAnon support/belief. Would believe that this man’s innocent and there’s a hit piece against him. As for Theresa Pontier agreeing with this investigation that speaks volumes, especially after she was forced to resign by Rick Staley and her comments during the BLM movement. If she believes there’s an investigation needed then there’s definitely more evidence to come.
jnlocal says
Long Time, your comments are spot on! Great encapsulation of what’s wrong with our city council, et al. This is definitely a hit job on Norris after his proposal for a moratorium on building.
Critical Eye says
Nephew of Uncle Sam
You’re right… Newer council same dysfunction. . Actually it’s the most dysfunctional council in the history of Palm Coast. The wishy washy ill tempered mayor norris needs to do Palm Coast a favor, stop wasting our time and our money and just RESIGN Now!
David S. says
This town just sucks big time, I say get rid of everyone who is employed for the city council and start over. All this B.S. reminds me of whats going on in Washington nothing but a bunch of douche bags….
Ed Danko, Former Vice-Mayor, PC says
These are very, very serious charges, and no doubt the mayor’s focus will now be entirely on defending his reputation. Therefore, I believe Mayor Norris should do the honorable thing and temporarily step down until this matter is settled one way or another.
Crisco kid says
Yet the firing of city manager Denise Brevan by Alfin was the most
publicly shameful and brutal firing we have ever seen on a
local level, and that’s ok, I felt so sorry for that lady who never
wanted the job to begin with but was forced into it then they
tarnish her resume because she called them out. Fire DeLorenzo,
the airport stakeholder, his footprints are all over PC , he wasn’t
even able to answer specific questions when asked about the count
of new homes that would not be affected by the moritorium, he had
to look to his coworkers for answers. By the way when you see Gambaro
smooching with Andy Dance, the politicial dancer, at a city meeting
that speaks volume.
RM says
I was at meeting, Mayor Norris confirmed with the attorney that he (Mayor) had to go to Legislature and request an audit on the city. He stated he would do that. He also spoke about the Moratorium needed to move forward. After those comments from the Mayor, the city council and acting city Mgr. turned on him. I agree with him on the audit and moratorium.
8 cell towers to be added, when they showed one going to Palm Harbor, one of the council said that is my neighborhood, and suggested they put it by the fire dept. #22. So much for caring about the fire fighters Health.
It saddens me to see how this city operates. Totally disgusting for the citizens.
I agree with Mayor Norris.
Jeani Duarte says
Johnston replaced the last City Manager who was fired “without cause” by the previous council and Mayor. Asking them to resign is not the same as firing them like Alfin and his Council did. Yes, it was and is against the charter. Johnston was not properly brought on board and was never supposed to “act” in this seat for this long. She should step down.
RM says
Adding research for cell phone towers:
In a shocking reversal, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has quietly disclosed that it will stop studying the biological or environmental impacts of cell phone radiofrequency radiation.
This decision comes despite results from the program’s carefully engineered and reviewed decade-long $30 million animal studies that found cancer, heart damage and DNA damage associated with exposure to cell phone radiofrequency radiation at levels comparable to those experienced by Americans today.
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4437988-why-did-nih-abruptly-halt-research-on-the-harms-of-cell-phone-radiation/
Why would we add anymore cell phone towers. I know people that live near cell towers in Palm Coast with multiple health issues, if you use an EMF meter to measure the levels of EMF in their house they are off the chart. If we stop putting up towers, people will be attracted to PalmCoast for just that reason no EMF damage.
Why would humans pick ease of technology over health of our bodies.
Brannon Howse at https://worldviewtube.com
And
Patrick Wood on Technocracy
https://www.technocracy.news/author/patrickwood/
celia pugliese says
This is the kind of city administrators we have: vindictive, ill intended and liars. They now turn against a mayor that the only thing he is doing is trying to protect the residents. Exactly like our vice mayor. TY Theresa for not allowing the cell tower in #7 Clubhouse Drive for the second time and in the very center of our residential zoning 150 to 200 feet from homes. See Theresa ? when you stated in the last meeting when tower builder Diamond decided was no longer interested in placing the tower there given the fact that needed an special exception, you candidly just out of good heart and protecting city staff said was not your interfierence that did it for the affected residentsm but was our good staff. Was not staff as you see, they vindictibly tried to stick it to us again after we spent thousands in attorney’s to suscesfully stop it! They try place it again in the same non conforming #7 Clubhouse drive location! And they do it branwashing all about the need for emergency services calls what is a blantant lie as over confidentiality cops or firehouse do not use their cell phones for communication as Mr. McDonald in his 3 minutes repeated as always done, that the emergency service communicates over the County wide Emergency millionaire system that we all paid for. The ill intended staff always stacks up against the residents needs and the Mayor is trying to stop it! We have wasted useless high paid positions because other than running our city and providing the services we need as example: a costly to us chief of staff spends two years in lobbying and brought a Wawa in the worst location middle of crowded and traffic glutted Palm Coast Parkway to just almost put out of business the first ever built Shell station one block east from it and the other across the street! What kind of city community development activity are we paying over 150,000 salary for? Why instead don’t get busy other than lobbying for developers out west expansion, don’t staff lobby for existing roads infrastructure needed north and south, east and west with this umbearable growth and widening of the forever postponed OKR north that Mr. Cote loudly replies is done. Not is not done sir…where is done? Furthermoe Netts, DeLorenzo and you in 2015 decided to close the use to 5,000 vehicles a day to Forest Grove by Palm Harbor Pkwy sending some of that traffic to overwhelmed FPD! That road was built by ITT and was needed as in this city, we do not have enough roads we do not need them closed. For worst now I learned that quietly a that dead end road Forest Grove (closed by city DEMAGOGUES without asking the residents first) also got speed humps? A Dead End Road needed humps? I been in Palm Coast since 1991 when was paradise and over greed and the utility Bernie M. Ponzi Piramide also is becoming unnafordable for many residents. Mayor and Vice Mayor are trying to change that and we all need to support them. Mayor is right regarding the new location for the tower intended for #7 Clubhouse Drive now In Colbert and PC Pkwy…as he said and is very residential there “we will have it moved” TY Mayor. They have plenty room by linear park undeveloped lands away from homes and they come with frivolous excuses to stick it in residential zonings. Now TG we have in Human Health Fed someone that we can report our question why these towerswere allowed on top of our students in the Flagler County-Palm Coast schools! https://childrenshealthdefense.org/emr/emf-emr-5g-environment/?utm_source=luminate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advocacy&utm_id=20241205 https://phillipslytle.com/changing-technologies-and-outdated-federal-case-law-flower-hill/.
Stephen says
I agree, the Mayor should step down. What is our city council doing with a 614 million treatment plant. Don’t they take in money form all houses built to pay for this?
Stephen says
Moratorium, what a concept! Still raising water bills $60.00 per month over 3 years seems outrageous. This will make my water bill higher from my electric bill. This is absurd. Is there not Federal or State help. Ask De Santis.
RM says
Something to think about on the cell phone Towers.
With the research and damage done to human bodies, why would anyone continue to choose the ease of technology over health?
Why did NIH abruptly halt research on the harms of cell phone radiation?
In a shocking reversal, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has quietly disclosed that it will stop studying the biological or environmental impacts of cell phone radiofrequency radiation.
This decision comes despite results from the program’s carefully engineered and reviewed decade-long $30 million animal studies that found cancer, heart damage and DNA damage associated with exposure to cell phone radio frequency radiation at levels comparable to those experienced by Americans today.
I have friends who live next to cell towers and the last 2 years they struggle greatly with health issues. Using a EMF monitor in their homes, the level is off the chart.
People think about health verses ease. Do you want your children , spouse, friends damaged from EMF Radiation and then deal with expensive medical bills.
This is My 2 cents
Endless dark money says
More republican corruption, nothing to see here. Fascist only want boot lickers no dissenters.
Let’s go Russia!
celia pugliese says
Exactly RM. Is hard to believe and watch a young mother lobbying to have those towers anywhere needed so she can have better reception to probaly download games and movies on her cell phone. Looks like her young children’s health do not count! They take the lies given by the city IT staff as an excuse to beg to stick those towers in our residential zoning. Our emergency services do not use the cell phones. Cops and firemen simply over confidentiality of emergency services calls, only use the county Emergency Comunications System that cost us many millions not long ago. So ludicrous to hint that law enforcement running after criminals will be using their cell phones to communicate, exposing themselves to hackers hearing their conversations while trying to aprehend crooks?. The city ill intended staff keeps trying over and over the #7 Clubhouse non conforming location that as residential zoned needs a special exception for a tower to serve Colbert Lane south…stick it in Colbert Lane then.If city staff keeps insisting to install these cell towers in residential zones we may need to address the new boss of Feds Human Health in DC, besides excellent land development attorney Brent Spain over any especial exception to be approved by city staff to our residential zoning to erect any of these health hazard towers. City needs to stop trying to profit from these towers and instead approve them only away from residential zonings , Furthermore OMG they had them already installed in the schools. The children exposed 24-7 to the radio frequency effects! https://childrenshealthdefense.org/emr/emf-emr-5g-environment/?utm_source=luminate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advocacy&utm_id=20241205, Thank you Vice Mayor Pontieri for rallying the NO to approval in #7 Clubhouse Drive. Also TY to Mayor Norris for saying the new location sought maybe a No if residents will oppose it. If Grand Heaven , Palm Coast Plantation or any of the other HOA’s in between want faster data/ better reception, they need to stick the tower in plenty vacant land like Graham Swamp off Colbert lane south of P C Parkway.
Kenneth Davis says
Money for water improvement should be a 3 year tax rate increase not a permanent bill increase.
celia pugliese says
That could be a great idea if not for the reality fact that for every dollar in ad valorem tax that we contribute, the county gets 45 cents when the city of Palm Coast only receives 23 cents …can you grasp the ponzi that then our tax increase will benefit the county and not the needed repair and expansion of our utility given growth? Same happens when the brainwashers staff of uninformed Palmcoasters loud that having more homes built approved means more revenue for the city and that ladowners have entitlements…what about us residents homeowners entitlements have none? That is a blatant lie as then the only 23 cents we collect from every dollar has to pay for 614 millions in infrastructure water sewer and storm water only!.Never mind our crumbling streets given the added traffic. So everyone here look at your ad valorem taxes line items and tell me how we can afford ever 614 million in every 23 cents to the dollar. Mayor is right when demanded to the administrators triad in the last 3/11 meeting, those responsible for all this years, to explain to him how come we got to this point with our utility. Then he gets disclosed, accused and investigated with intent to boot him. This reminds me of the unjustice done to a past Flagler county honest SOE in similar circumstances. Our utility being an Enterprise account should not depend of our taxes, only from the revenue collected from our fees, for maintenance, personnel, repair and expansion reserves, but unfortunately its reserves were used for what not intended and the meager impact fees received so far never cover the real growth needs, they have us the users pay for it now. This is why Mayor is frustrated we are too and what he intends to do, is just what his contituents need.
Critical Eye says
Celia pugliese For gods sake CHILL OUT!
celia pugliese says
Critical Eye who are you to tell me to chill out or else? Just a coward hiding under an alias? What are you afraid off to be punching and hiding? Maybe as a lady I have to wear the pair that you don’t have? Or maybe you are one of those in the city payroll or a relative as seeing.
MITCH says
This is what other cities are doing. “Florida City leaders and residents are concerned about the effects of more people in the city. They want to give city staff more time to develop plans to accommodate more people. The commission has agreed to a resolution to extend a moratorium on the acceptance, processing, and consideration of all development permits, site plan approvals, and zoning approvals for proposed development by another six months.” (May 31,2024) – Do people oppose the Mayor’s controlled growth using moratorium? Taxes through utilities in my opinion is underhanded; taxes should be voted on separately for each increased itemed (itemized for residents to evaluate). Using development to force a tax through utilities penalizes those already living here; we pay for our utilities and now being forced to pay for future utilities of people not here.
Using Common Sense says
The Day of Reckoning is coming for all of the cronies with their ITT roots, LLC games, collusion and conspiratorial upzoning, shenanigans posing as “Airport Enterprise Zones” funneling grant money to fund Urban Sprawl, Special Exception Uses, and Noncompliant Development all draining our infrastructure, crowding our roads and highways, and depleting our water capacity. All of this facilitated by highly compensated City staff working for developers and not the citizens of Palm Coast!! Not to mention the negative effects on the environment, wildlife, property values, quality of life, and the safety, health, and welfare of the local residents. Keep fighting Mayor Norris! The attacks on you prove that you are making waves with the Growth at Any Cost Cabal, Airport Cronies, and all of their ilk. We are with you!
Crystal Lang says
Why wasn’t an investigation requested for the last couple of years when the residents of Palm Coast kept telling the then Mayor and city counsel to stop with all the building and the more the residents begged to stop the more permits were approved.
What about the increase the Mayor and counsel members received. That’s approximately $378K a year that money can go towards the water treatment plant. The residents were 100% against the increase they got so why don’t they give that increase up and put it towards the water treatment plant. It sickens me that they walked away with that salary and now we are up shits creek without a paddle.
Or how about they take that increase money and apply it to the hourly pay for the outdoor city workers. You keep saying jobs, jobs, jobs, for our residents, how can a resident pay rent, mortgage, utility bills, insurance, food, gas etc…. on approximately $2,100.00 a month after taxes. And I don’t want to hear about how the helicopter company is coming and employing lots of jobs for our community. They are bringing their own engineer employees and families. And someone mentioned about the company will double in size and bring even more jobs to Palm Coast I don’t think so.
How about Astor Defence? They are suppose to be up and running in January, 2025, it’s now the middle of March, the only job I see on Indeed is for a Quality Manager. Did they already hire the other 30 jobs as noted in the original article on September 10, 2024?
Mr. Mayor, I appreciate the hold on building believe me I do for many reasons but we are still going to have to pay the increase in our utility bill and quite frankly I can’t afford it.
I know I went off topic but I needed to say what I said it kinda all ties into money, money, money…..
Critical Eye says
Celia Pugliese I feel sorry for you. You obviously are very lonely and dissatisfied with your own live. Always driving around looking for trouble Delusional at best. Breathe Celia and mind your own business. It will do you good. Poor lonely thing. Bless your little heart!
Critical Eye says
Celia Pugliese
BooHoo! I know it’s hard for you but Try not to be such a crybaby! 😭and try making sense with your words. Your English leaves a lot to be desired. There are classes available right here in Palm Coast.
celia pugliese says
Alias Distorted Critique Eye, still punching and hiding? In which local government payroll are you, meaning we are forced funding your mouth piece? Otherwise why bother!