Barbara Grossman, Palm Coast government’s code enforcement manager since 2005, was escorted out of her office and City Hall Friday after her position was eliminated, as were six other employees. The city’s animal control division was gutted.
Grossman was one of seven city employees who were either laid off or resigned as a result of the layoffs, as was the case with Heather Priestap, an animal control officer with the city even longer than Grossman–24 years.
Four people in code enforcement, including an Animal Control officer and temporary animal control officer Kathy Tillman, and two in the Planning Department, including Landscape Architect Richard Picatagi and the land management coordinator, were laid off. A temporary animal control officer was also laid off, as was a temporary staff assistant.
The city attributed the layoffs to a “restructuring” resulting from “ongoing efforts to align operations with the fiscal direction established by the City Council.” The council earlier this week directed the administration to craft a budget that would keep the property tax rate at rollback, meaning that next year’s tax revenue would have to be equal to this year’s, excluding revenue from new construction. City Manager Mike McGlothlin warned that it would result in service cuts. (See: “Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes.”)
The six layoffs affected employees with combined salaries of $490,900, not including benefits. With Priestap’s resignation, the city would eliminate roughly $700,000 from its payroll.
Four employees, including Grossman, who was earning $138,000 a year, and Picatagi, who was earning $107,000, were offered $20,000 severance payouts.
The layoffs took place on a day when both McGlothlin and John Zobler, the director of the Community Development Department that oversees code enforcement and planning, were absent or out of contact. Zobler had begun a weeklong vacation. McGlothlin was in a daylong mediation session at City Hall with attorneys and the developers of Town Center who are suing the city. McGlothlin was later briefed.
The layoffs–which affected employees referred to as firings–took place with no warning, and in drips, rather than in one, organized swoop.
Grossman was in a meeting with one of her animal control officers, discussing the animal control ordinance, when she was called to the Human Resources Department, headed by Renina Fuller. She was handed a letter signed by McGlothlin and dated July 31, informing her of her layoff. “This decision is the result of organizational restructuring and business needs and is not related to your job performance or conduct,” the letter reads.
McGlothlin invited her to apply for other city positions if she wished, and offered her a separation agreement. The letter was ostensibly a 10-day “notice of separation,” as Grossman is to be paid her regular salary through Aug. 9, when her employment would end.
But it ended Friday. Grossman returned from her meeting in HR escorted by a code enforcement staffer, told colleagues her position was abolished and that she’d been fired, according to a person who witnessed the scene.
Employees were in shock. They were aware of the suggestions at the City Council that the code enforcement division’s 11.5 employees could be severely cut by changing the mission of code enforcement to a complaint-only system. But the council had retreated from that approach, and only last Tuesday, McGlothlin and Acting Deputy City Manager Kyle Berryhill had met with code enforcement staffers to let them know that the reduction was the last thing they wanted to do. After that meeting, Berryhill returned to Grossman and told her something along the lines of “we are OK for now.”
On Friday, Grossman was first to be summoned to HR and walked out. Hours passed before Tillman was called and walked out, and yet more time passed before staff assistant Carol Goewey was called then escorted out.
The city’s release muted the shock and manner of the layoffs. “Decisions like these are never easy and are made only after careful evaluation of the organization’s operational needs and long-term financial responsibilities,” the release stated. “We sincerely appreciate the service and contributions of the employees affected by these changes and wish them the very best.” There was no mention of employees being escorted out. Luis Mendez, a code complaint supervisor, walked Grossman out and helped her with her belongings.
“This could have been handled better to say the least,” a person who witnessed much of the day said, asking for anonymity. “The top never talks to the bottom before making critical decisions. They do not really even know the day to day operations or what we sacrifice for the city and no one seems to care but maybe a handful of people.”
Council members had not been briefed about the manner of the layoffs.
“From the briefing that I received from HR,” McGlothlin said this morning, “each employee went through the same exit process, all being equally treated professionally and compassionately, given the circumstances. At the conclusion of their individual administrative procedures, each employee was walked to the nearest exit and offered assistance with anything that they may need in order to get to their vehicles. While I am unaware of the exact number of employees who took us up on the offer, I am aware that several did.”
The near-immediate resignation of Priestap as a consequence means that the city’s animal control division has lost two-thirds of its team at a time when the city is attempting to disengage as much as possible from reliance on the Flagler Humane Society for animal control-related services and stand up a joint operation with the county to that end. The administration moved two code enforcement officers into animal control to fill the gap for now, thus diminishing code enforcement’s ranks of about 11 positions.
“After 24 years working for the City of Palm Coast Animal Control I handed in my resignation,” Priestap wrote on Facebook. “It’s a bit scary. It is a highly stressful job all around from the work [itself], being on call having everyone second guess your decisions. Extreme budget cuts when everything you need is going up in cost to already struggling employees to keep up with the demand of the citizens. To hard working dedicated employees being fired and walked out of the building with not having a clue it’s coming. Leaving everyone else in the department wondering if they were next was the wrong way to go about it. Restructuring should not happen like that. It was a horrible day all around.”
Communications Director Brittany Kershaw said that no other layoffs are planned for now. “I say that with the caveat of other departments are still looking at ways to improve efficiencies in their departments and I don’t want to assume that personnel are not involved,” she said. Code Enforcement Supervisor Luis Mendez will assume Grossman’s responsibilities.
The layoffs in code enforcement may not have been exclusively related to a restructuring. The division had been under internal review over concerning issues involving some code enforcement officers and the public. A window into those concerned opened publicly at the July 1 Code Enforcement Board hearing.
That day, Edith Marie Victory, a W-Section resident facing repeat parking violations and fines totaling $7,125, accused the code enforcement division of “selective targeted code enforcement on this property” by a particular code enforcement officer who has been writing repeated violations, driving by her house daily.
“This all started years ago when the same officer began trying to pursue me personally,” Victory told the board, “he was asking me if I was married, if I had a boyfriend, and similar personal questions. Even mentioning that both of us had motorcycles and he wanted to go riding. He asked me out. I turned him down. Not longer after that, the tickets started.” She complained to Grossman. Grossman removed the officer from that zone. Two years later, when he was back in the same zone, the problems started again, Victory said.
“That gap is important to me because it shows that when he was gone, the problems with my yard suddenly stopped existing on paper,” Victory said. “This has felt like a personal campaign. This specific officer has weaponized his position against me. When I have spoken up about how I was being treated, the response was more tickets and more pressure, not less.” Further attempts to contact Grossman were fruitless, Victory alleged. She said she was leaving Palm Coast after 25 years.
“I am moving to get away from this situation and not to have it follow me to my new property,” Victory said. “I’m asking that whatever happens here today, my new address not be shared with this officer. For the record, I also want to note that when I called code enforcement last week and mentioned a couple of things about this officer, the woman who answered the phone immediately knew who I meant.”
Mendez, the code enforcement supervisor, told the board that Victory had brought the allegation to his attention only days before, and that it would be independently investigated. “That’s already in the process,” Mendez said.
Asked about internal investigations at code enforcement, McGlothlin today said he may have to await Zobler’s return to accurately address the inquiry.
Grossman, one of the longest-serving employees in Palm Coast city government, moved to Palm Coast in 1992, around the time when ITT established the Palm Coast Community Service Corporation. The corporation hired Grossman in 1993 as the architectural coordinator, who enforced deed restrictions. In 2005, the corporation merged with the city, which had incorporated in 1999. From that point on–the last 21 years–Grossman was Palm Coast’s code enforcement manager.
Shark says
Should have been done a long time ago.
hatchet says
you’re absolutely right shark. I’ve seen this coming. i could Write a book about that place. The city of Palm Coast finally got an enema. The whole place has been constipated for years with salaries and people who done absolutely nothing and titles given out like candy during Halloween.
citizen says
Haha
Matt says
Everyone working any job for a while ends up with a false sense of security, especially in a government role. The truth is that each day that you work could easily be the last day on that job.
Sherry says
@ matt. . . Yes indeedy! How dare you start to relax and be secure in a job you’ve had for over 20 years! How dare you create a family and home based on that income! How dare you expect the respect of severance pay and the respect of an explanation from management for your dismissal!
Yu have always been “nothing”, and you will be replaced by AI, to maximize profits for the oligarchs! All hail to the almighty buck! To HELL with Humanity!
This is the “New Maga- American Way”! Fear, Hate and Cruelty “IS” the point!
Carlos says
Reducing costs by firing people is never an easy thing to do, but the fact that neither the city manager or department director weren’t there during the firings shows a complete lack of professionalism or tact.
Dennis C Rathsam says
When did you ever get tact…. from City Hall. Now there all walking around thinking Am I next?
Carlos says
Every interaction I’ve had with them has been pretty tactful. Hell they even called me to let me know that they noticed my water usage was higher than normal which helped me realize I had a water leak which probably saved me several hundred dollars.
The kids love arbor day celebration and the parks. I don’t see why most people seem to be assholes relating to the city.
lamo says
Try attending a code meeting, and see how they treat people, including the elderly, on a fixed income. You would change your statement.
Leila says
True. Hope we get to keep the parks, but not counting on it.
Pogo says
tRump/duhSantis economics and governance’s final act
…and final performance.
https://www.google.com/search?q=signs+and+symptoms+of+imminent+death
“Après moi, le déluge”
https://www.google.com/search?q=after+me+the+deluge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sWTnsemkIs&list=RD3sWTnsemkIs&start_radio=1
JACK D HOWELL says
Pogo,
Excellent use of Peggy Lee’s Is That All There Is?
Pogo says
Thanks. Coming from you, I receive your message as no small praise.
The god of mammon and profligacy is eclipsing all light; a fool and his knaves are celebrated and placed over us.
The time to change anything for the better steadily dwindles.
We are truly screwed.
Kent says
It’s about time. Residents need to feel some relief. I hope they look at other departments as well.
Taxpayer says
I guess the power that be felt saving $ 700,000.00 in salaries was worth putting a safety burden on the citizens of Palm Coast and Flagler County Sheriff Officers who will be getting additional calls now. The City of PC now will end up probably paying Staly the 700,000.00 the city got from their firing.
Did those that make this decision take a pay cut?
Glad I didn’t turn in my mail in ballot yet.
Leila says
None of the incumbents are up for reelection. Gambaro is running for Congress and Pontieri is running for the County Commission.
Walking someone out who has been there nearly 30 years is horrible. They deserved to be notified in advance. No matter how you paint this, it sucks and speaks to the attitude of the City. Maybe we need to be looking for a new City Manager? How much can we save there?
Voter says
Now that taxpayers in the City of PC no longer will have qualified Animal Control Officers/Code Enforcement Dept. and won’t be providing that safety to the community how much do property taxes go down?
This truly is telling us taxpayers on how little the City of PC Administration has little regard for its citizens and animals’ safety.
TR says
The departments will continue to do the jobs, so there are no worries.
Mothersworry says
Really?? Who will do the inspections on new construction or would you rather have the developers/builders do the inspections.
TR says
The same people who has been doing them all along. The entire department was not shut down you know.
DC says
Code enforcement doesn’t do building unspe lions, the building department does.
Sam says
New construction inspections are done by the Building Dept, not code enforcement or animal control.
Joe D says
What ever happened to: 2 weeks advance notice, if a position is being eliminated if there has been no WRONG DOING? At least a $20k severance package is the minimum the City can do! Tossing these (some VERY long term) employees aside as if they were simply numbers on a spreadsheet, just seems HARSH.
As a former NURSING Division Chief, “escorting them out of the building,” is usually reserved for employees being fired for “CAUSE.” Which clearly wasn’t the case here.
Now ALL CITY Employees, come into work each day essentially with a dagger hanging over their heads, wondering if their position is going to be NEXT?!? Such a wonderful MORALE BOOST (that’s sarcasm for those that didn’t get it).
I don’t know the specific personnel rules for Palm Coast, but I would think (especially if there was no wrong doing), that a 30 day notice be given about a position being eliminated, with TIME to either transfer to another City position, or find employment elsewhere, would be more reasonable than how this was handled!
Just wait for the additional drop in City services, if the Homestead tax exemption increase amendment is passed at the next election…”y’all ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
TR says
I have never heard of any company big or small always giving two weeks notice when an employee from that said company is let go. Florida is a no work state and any employee can be let go at any time for any reason.
Joe D says
I’m not talking about technical STATE LAWS, I’m talking about COMMON DECENCY. These people were not “let go” on the spot, for any wrongdoing or abuse of their positions.
And as I mentioned in my prior comment (although it did happen in another state with “at will employment” laws, too), “Escorting someone to the door,” was reserved for those individuals who had committed theft, patient abuse, intentional mismanagement of funds, falsifying records, intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, and those exhibiting violence at the work site.
The way this downsizing/firing was handled ( especially the TIMING of when both upper level manager/decision makers were either on vacation or planned off site for the day), hints at the lack of respect and professionalism these individuals had for those unexpectedly being fired on the spot, despite what “State laws” allow.
PS: When was the last time you were employed in an upper level supervisor position over 200 employees?
Hope you have a great day…this group of employees’ days are not going so well…through no fault of their own.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Ah, you’re applying the term “common decency” to an employer. If employers engaged in common decency then there would be no need for unions or laws protecting employees. Sadly, your employer is not your friend, HR is there to protect the company and not the employee, and without some sort of legal incentive an employer would gleefully have you move around blocks of plutonium or asbestos without protection if they could get away with it.
Just saying says
Yes in is chicken way out for employer’s to let people go any other State that wouldn’t fly.
Madge says
Just saying,
Just look at the comments here. It’s a lynch mob. Makes you proud to be an American, doesn’t it? Good thing those Soccer fans who wrote so glowingly didn’t stop here!
Lois says
A lot of damage can be done by an employee being let go, if they stay around. Best to escourt them out ASAP.
Joe D says
You do have a point…a disgruntled employee can cause system wide damage to a shared database in retaliation ( my experience was with staff who had minimal SYSTEM WIDE data access, only local terminal access …for time reporting, event reports).
I guess the $20k severance package was to compensate for the “on the spot” termination….unfortunately it is still going to feel like a slap in the face by long term employees who have met performance evaluation standards.
New broom says
FINALLY!!
Pogo says
The light at the bottom of the pit
… isn’t the headlights of the Batmobile — it’s hell coming to visit.
https://www.google.com/search?q=net+cost+of+musk+doge
Drink up suckers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t3FSuSJFbQ&list=PLIp8e66RJrrJ46uxZlZoHDLCGsnw0mQVN
Christopher Todd Lemke says
One has only to had one encounter with any of these people to understand why the move was a proper and needed one. Get rid of the useless appendages. Get rid of their government vehicles as well. Next on the chopping block should be the Sheriff’s vanity helicopter. There is no need to have three helicopters in this county. Probably not even two. And that cement mixer the city recently acquired. Better stop now.
T says
Taxpayers funded vouchers take from poor to give to private rich and tax exempt
Cut bait says
I guess the Corrupt County will be next!!
There are a bunch of waste in the Director Positions and the 2 each assistants they need. Let the cuts begin.
Finally! says
OMG PLEASSSSSEEEE LETS GO! County next!!! Have you seen those salaries! To do absolutely NOTHING! Pay cuts to directors. Assistants need to go! TRIM THE FAT ALREADY!
Just saying says
Taxpayers are seeing those in control are the ones that really need to change, all we ever see is the same name and they jump from the City to the County, time for new faces and better management.
Atwp says
Why were they paid so much money plus perks. Don’t understand.
Gabriel says
And Guzman was terrible at her job.
celia says
Gabriel is “Grossman” and she was excellent and probably you are one of those code ordinance violators and maybe one of those that she had to visit with law enforcement given the violence to be encountered. She did a brave and dangerous work for over 30 years that you have no idea about . Those that move here that want to do as their please piling trash in full view, littering our city and trying to store all kinds of items in their driveways as they use their garages for not intended purposes are the one’s attacking our code enforcement and Barbara here. We better be very aware the direction our city is going now and adios the value of our homes and welcome crime with unreported/or enforced unsightly nuisances is called blight! Thanks to unidentified individuals like you .
TR says
She was only the CE manager for 21 years. Do the math.
Madge says
Perks? Employee benefits?
Atwp says
If the city is saving that amount of money, who will get that money? Will the tax payers see some benefits from the city cost cutting efforts. I will say probably not because tax payers are not important in the eyes of city leaders.
Waste not want not says
Code enforcement, business licensing and and landscape architecture in Palm Coast is a joke and even complaints are ignored on a regular basis (example Wal Mart removing all their required trees)
Been this way since day 1.
There are so many codes that there is a violation on every street in town that is ignored
Eliminate the whole department and shoot for 15% reduction to start in every other department
Darlene Shelley says
Very sad how this was handled. I seem to recall city council not wanting to cut just from one department. This is no way to treat employees, especially those that gave so many years and dedication to the city. Budget cuts must happen, but NOT like this.
Ozzie says
now they should hit the second floor and get the high salaries out and what action was taken against that cold officer that was sexually harassing the woman in the W section. I understand he still is employed , the second floor is also constipated. I remember over 20 years ago an old time down here told me he was against this becoming a city because it’s going to go the same route as other municipal governments in the north go , favoritism hiding things, concealing things he was right it didn’t take Palm Coast long whereas a lot of municipalities up north scandals like this takes decades. All of this is dishonesty that was going on and probably still is going on in the City if you were to check all the departments for overpaid salaries, we will not have a increase in our property taxes for the next 5 , 6 or 7 years
Finally! says
And that third floor of the County building next!
Deborah Coffey says
Right…and you won’t have anything else, either. Tallahassee will take it all from you. It’s what Fascists do.
Capt Bill Hanagan says
Sad for the individuals but a good start. Now do building department and cops
You only as good as your last game says
The changing explanations regarding how the employee’s let go raises questions.. Is Palm Coast dealing with another scandal or is there another active investigation that the public hasn’t been fully informed about?
They didn’t even give Grossman or Priestap the option to retire.
Taxpayers deserve a clear, consistent, and transparent explanation.
Leila says
@Last game,
You are right, this is all a conspiracy. God save us, please.
Chris J says
Isn’t it public record? Make your request.
jim says
this is ONLY THE BEGINNING!!! once property taxes are abolished WATCH OUT!!! also this is a RIGHT TO FIRE STATE!!! there is NO SUCH THING AS A TWO WEEK NOTICE !!!! C YA!! n no big deal PC is ALL NEPOTISM AND BEST BUDDY CITY!!!
Gabriel says
Barbara needed to go 15 years ago. She was not fit for this job. And I am appalled to learn she was getting $138,000! Jeez! Makes me angry that she stated there this long and djd a terrible job, especially apropos animals.
celia says
Grabriel some like you always hate enforcement as if not for it and our good Barbara Grossman this city would look much worse than looks today! Others hate law enforcement too. They only want places were trashy bullies reign based in intimidation. Mrs Barbara Grossman had to have law enforcement at times to visit a home with a code violation and could be an AK 47 in the reception. That now when we complain the violator can request the name of the complainer was not Barbara’s decision but the law’s of DeSantis and Tally! Happened to me in a complaint I made and guess what I called law enforcement at the first sign of intimidating presence in front of my home and problem solved! Same with two tattud gorillas showing at my front door 20 years ago asking door to door if we called code enforcement on them I said no I didn’t (true) but I am calling the sheriff right now on you for harassment of elderlies. They never showed up again. Barbara Grossman did great work cleaned up after I bought my house (and was very aware of it) a Junkyard Yacht Club with six derelict not licensed, not renewed, not working vessels in the backyard and along the seawall. One was a boat house with no plumbing discarding its sewage in the saltwater canal and rented to a couple with a pregnant lady that I caught jumping my backyard fence on their way to it, using a short cut! It took a while but Barbara Grossman and the wonderful just incorporated PC resolved it along the FWC local officer! Finally after so many violations and fines addressed by PC CE this nuisance owner that rented rooms also to undesirables and let his teens to have alcohol infused parties illegally, sold his house in foreclosure. Barbara Grossman, FWC and the Almighty heard our prayers and now we have beauty and peace. From here I want to give my sincere TY to Barbara for her excellent services and I wish we could see her back in our city CE again like we would like to see Mr. Flanagan and excellent director of our PC utility back as well! They get rid of our good first and keep the bad one’s. Those posting here and complaining against Mrs. Grossman probably the violators of our city ordinance and may God help us now without her! They move to a beautiful Palm Coast and want to turn it into what they came from. Unthinkable.
The dude says
Olds gleefully celebrating as 7 long time citizens literally have their lives upended for petty politics is peak MAGA and totally on brand.
It’s like joy is a zero sum game to them, for them to actually feel joy, others must be hurt.
Sad!
Their taxes won’t go down, city services won’t get better.
Just wondering says
If this was done for “budgetary” reasons then why is the City of Palm Coast still advertise open positions on its website ?
FedUp says
They didn’t fire those who allowed the waste for years. Therefore, the cancer will continue to spread.
watcher says
they have to hit all the departments. I used to see that employees who started at 8 o’clock in the morning will go and be walking around the lake by City Hall for their exercise. Shouldn’t you be at your desk working?
Not Shocked says
Can’t help but wonder which department is next? How about reducing City Council pay/ bennies?
Chris J says
Why don’t you lookup their salaries? They are some of the lowest paid people in the city.
Jeffery Cortland Seib says
This was an example of a clumsy and heavy-handed manner of treating long term employees. These folks should have been notified ahead of time that their jobs were in jeopardy. My concern is with the continued operation of the code enforcement and animal control. Perhaps with a shake up of personnel the remaining employees will step up and cover the terminated employees schedules. I hope so. For the planning Department more cuts could be made and probably result in a better relationship with the people of Palm Coast over the developers of Palm Coast.
Long-time resident says
I’m sorry, Jeffery, you didn’t win the seat on the Palm Coast City Council. Outcomes would have been a lot different. I’m hoping you’ll run for the same office again next time. Ty Miller has been a disaster given his close ties to the Flagler Home Builders Association (which he failed to disclose during the campaign).
FlaPharmTech says
Zero faith in this “city” to govern.
Tony says
They all voted for DeSantis so blame it on him !!!
Cover up says
What exactly are you blaming him for?
He didn’t fire anyone. The proposed property tax elimination amendment hasn’t even been voted on, let alone approved. So again, what exactly are you blaming him for?
As for Palm Coast, the city has a history of turmoil within its Building Department. In the past, major personnel changes have sometimes preceded or followed significant controversies.
TR says
As sad as this is for the people that were let go, I’m a bit releaved that Mrs. Grossman was let go. We have had our differences in the past when I called in a report on a neighbor for the continued weekly habit of their pit bull getting out and running the neighborhood. I found out that my name and personal phone number was put on the website as to me calling in the violation. I’m on the federal do not call list and she published it. I have looked high and low at a bunch of other people that had violation notices on their doors to see if this was now the norm and low and behold I have yet to find one other time where the person who called in the violation had their name and phone number published on the code enforcement website. Lucky it didn’t turn into a civil matter or I definitely would have sued the department.
Chris J says
A published list? What??
TR says
I was talking about looking up any address in Palm Coast for code violations and they will all be listed there for all the see.
JimboXYZ says
Growth that never paid for itself. Inflation, everything Biden-Harris that was unsustainable. Her’es the Biden soft landing crashing like W Bush & Obama-Biden. The developer suing the City ? There’s growth & a Vision of 2050 in litigation. No value added, that lawsuit is over profits, the water & sewage fails that Alfin set into motion for 3.5 years for approvals. And the approvals still exist for construction. The Home builder’s lawsuit over increases impact fees. Eventually it catches up, 4 years of Bidenomics, 1.5 years of Trump 2. If you lived it Bush-Cheney => Obama-Biden, it’s the next crash for history to repeat itself. Hate to say I told you som this was the direction we were heading as far back as 2020-present. Doesn’t take an Ivy League degree to see it. Less than 15% of the State grants to fund projects is spending everyone’s money for decades of future government debt. We are the government as taxpayers & consumers. Some folks need to own up to their overpopulation hobbies just the same. Me, I made sure I didn’t contribute to these issues along the way, I know what I have to live off of. Inflation has made a decent lifestyle into a miserable systematic lifestyle. And naturally those that are the grossest offenders/contributors to the next rounds of inflation are the last to even pay their fair share. Palm Coast is a transient rental community at this point. A proverbial duplex rental property hell of unaffordable housing., how can we thank Biden enough for that. All to placate the DEI types.
And then there are the bad hires for what issues those entail.
celia says
Are you crazy and pissing up the wrong tree? Live the Bidens and Dems at peace as they have nothing to do what is happening in Palm Coast. Is just a new CM without nit knowing our city and firing the wrong employees! Jeez The best animal control officer for being effective and compassionate in a city were animal cruelty is a tragedy 24-7 and her dedicated boss with the experience of 30 years addressing code of ordinances violations while abiding by the difficult laws out of Tallahassee? Is going Palm Coast to turn into a nuisance eyesore without our Barbara Grossman in CE now? If she had one bad apple under her authority she would have resolved it and not reason to terminate her excellent work. This CM cut our services and not the real fat from higher ups that consume our millions needed for street repairs, to benefit developers. Is hard to believe that city council engineered these two ladies firing and the horrible manner done. I know one resigned but probably under duress. Very dark day for Palm Coast and the Biden’s have nothing to do with it! Talking about conspiracies Jimbo!
john stove says
Jesus H. Christ dude….
According to every one of your posts…everything is Biden-Harris fault. Republicans run this state and the local city council. REPUBLICANS are the party of “Drill baby Drill” and to opening Federal lands to strip mining etc etc
Thanks for your bot-like diatribes, it makes for good comedic relief!!
Sam says
Everyone in Palm Coast Gov is a Republican. Has been for a long time. Let’s educate you a bit….Federal government has no say in local government. If they do, it’s called the F word (rhymes with smashism), or the C word (rhymes with pommunism). Biden, Kamala, Hillary, Obama have zero to do with Palm Coast but they do live rent free in your daymares and night ones. Ooooh they were SO terrible. Grow up man. Time to let it go. They just aren’t that into you. 🤣
TR says
You don’t know that to be 100% true. Some are listed as not having a political affiliation. So you’re just guessing to put out false facts.
come on now says
I’m on the same page as those that think cuts have to be made and sometimes that means employees. However, the way this was handled was unprofessional, heartless, and seems to create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. Better ways to punch an employee in the face and remove their livelihood.
ToldYaSo says
Hmm, seems like I’ve heard this somewhere before…that Palm Coast is a cesspool, and it all starts with local government.
Brent Williams says
In Palm Coast, Florida, salary expectations for an office worker with a college degree range between $45,000 and $65,000 per year (approximately $21 to $31 per hour) depending on the exact position, level of responsibility, and field. The salaries of the towns terminated employees are ridiculously high. I bet replacements could be could be filled for 50% of the compensation, and vast pools of candidates would line up to apply. Just the benefit packages are a huge incentive. Sorry they lost their jobs, but nothing in life is guaranteed. I am sure they can find new jobs with their experience, an manage to live well on more realistic salaries.
DC says
And they should all drive 20 year old cars and live with there parents too. This isn’t 20 years ago, cost of living has gone way up.
joe says
the security guard Who is armed and is stayion at the front door for eight hours makes his rounds around the building inside and out get $17 an hour and may have to lose his life if anything ever happens as far as an active shooter $17 an hour and he has to protect all those people in City Hall what a joke. Remember, it’s not what he is doing. It’s what he might have to do.
john stove says
Code Enforcement is a joke….lets see how Luis Mendez does now that he most likely will have to assume the leadership duties.
Not impressed with past interactions and I have now resorted to doing everything via email because emails are documentation moving forward. The City can be sued for negligence if something happens from an unresolved code violation issue and they cannot claim governmental immunity because you will have all the emails in which they were made aware of the issue beforehand.
Lets hope that ALL EMPLOYEES realize that they are AT WILL employees and can be fired for non-performance of their duties.
Don’t want to get fired? Do everything your job description says you are supposed to do and to the Supervisors and Managers you had better be watching your employees to make sure they are responsive to the citizens.
If and when budget cuts come, top performers will stay and the “I’m here arent I?” workers will be the first to go.
Laurel says
The more I learn about the people in Flagler County, and the City of Palm Coast, the more disappointed I am. What a selfish, mean spirited group of crybabies! I’d bet anything they are the same snowflakes who voted for the felon grifter to run our country. They are actually thrilled at the position these employees are put in. Wow!
“Jobs, jobs, jobs” the Republicans cried, all through the Biden’s administration. I didn’t know they meant to remove people from their jobs.
The City of Palm Coast shows its total lack of class on how this was handled. This shows me they are the ones who should have been let go. You don’t escort people out, and yes, my heartless neighbors, you do give severance pay to those who have good evaluations. You escort out people who are a threat, not 24 year veterans., and for you to be gleeful about this is definitely not admirable.
Are some of civil servants not worthy? Oh,yeah. But here’s the thing: interestingly enough, the worst people in the group tends to stay forever. This is because they suck up, dramatically, to their bosses. They put on a totally different front to their bosses, while they f*ck with others. I’ve seen it over and over. People who are horrible remain, while the good people, who don’t play by the deceptive rules, leave.
So enjoy your little glee fest, and stay oblivious. Y’all seem to think you actually know what’s going on. You don’t have a clue.
Gina Weiss says
Absolutely spot on Laurel. Mean people who thrive off the misery of others from most
of the comments. Look at the vicious firing of Denise Breven in public view, no need for
that, a nice hardworking person who brought out our waste water capacity dilemma just
one week before her firing, and the nasty removal of Heidi Petito, again in public
view completely unnecessary , drawn out at a public meeting and Pennington wanted to continue
with the clown show at another meeting but Heidi socked it to her real good and put her in her
place and told Pennington how disrespectful she and the rest of her crew are and was not going to
take it! A bunch of BULLIES. You are right the butt kissers remain
Laurel says
Gina Weiss: I agree with you on most, but not all. Both my husband and I worked the private and public sectors, and I can tell you the crybabies here are flat out jealous. That’s clear. Pure and simple.
Where I don’t agree with you is on Petito. She failed, yet an unneeded position was created specifically for her. That’s not right. That, she did not deserve. She not only got a severance, but immediately got a new position.
People were let go, not because of lack of merit, but because they were not favored. That is a real problem, and, unfortunately, common.
I have no respect for that.
TR says
I agree with what you’re saying about Petito. When she was on the council she had some people scattered around in different departments throughout the county that she protected. (puppets if you will) She also helped to get one of her friends sons hired in a leadership roll in the one department that handles a lot of stuff. The guy isn’t qualified and doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing. Maybe they aught to let him go and eliminate Petito’s unnecessary made up position and get her out of the county Government. then we’ll see which of her puppets has what it takes to run their departments. If they fail, escort them out also.
Ed P says
Hello Laurel,
Back in 1993 when our parent conglomerate sold the company I was running, all 11 officers including me we individually assigned an armed agent who immediately upon closing the deal, walked us out, suit coat in hand, to a waiting limo to send us home. Happens all the time.
They even posted 8×10 color photos at the first floor security desk to insure we stayed out. We occupied 5 floors at the head office.
Subsequently all but 12 of the 7,000 remaining were terminated over the next 12 months.
It’s called right sizing.
Laurel says
Interesting. I have been a jack of all trades in my working life. I have always stuck up for myself and had no problem burning bridges. I’ve been fired, (asked to come back but when I’m done, I’m done), layed off, quit and even once was given a two weeks severance by the company owner after I quit! He told me he’d probably work for me some day! But I have never once been escorted out. Never. One city kept my name on my locker for two years after I left. Good terms, bad terms, it didn’t ever cause a scene.
Palm Coast was shameful in its behavior.
TR says
Well if you think you could do better and make a change, then run for a seat on the county or city council and start making changes if you get elected. You’ll find that it’s not as easy as you think. You could also go to county and city meetings and get your three minutes to express your feeling, thoughts, ideas and maybe it will start to change things. But typing your displeasure here will not do anything. But if you do run for any seat, I suggest you clean up your vocabulary or you will not have a chance in hell of winning. Good Luck.
Taxpayer says
Luis should be out next, him and grossman both have been a waste for the city of palm coast for years… Luis for sure, he will look you straight in the face and tell you a lie….
JimboXYZ says
Over a career, I’ve had my share of recessionary reboots for layoffs. It’s never easy to layoff anyone. But to say iot was unprofessional, employment attrition isn’t a soft game. I worked for a healthcare non-profit in Miami, FL at the transition from Bush-Cheney => Obama-Biden. Let’s see, they hired a new director & CFO to restructure for IT. They spent over a $ 1/4 million in annual salaries to implement the restructure, systematically target employees that, I was the last of a department of 4 staff to be targeted. They kept me round as a lead senior staff of that department to transition the new Director on every project. One woman got knocked up, took 3 months maternity & all of her accumulated PTO to be away from the new Director. 45 months she didn’t want to be around him. I can name the names too. And all the while, they claimed poverty as nobody got a raise. Every day the new director came in at 9 AM and expected 8-5 employees that he was discharging to stick around until at least 6 PM for his 8 hour shift. And along the way, the new Director built his empire. 5 years later, I got the news the fired the new Director & all of his hand picked new staff. His empire crumbled. I only have one regret, not being there personally to see him fired. Not to worry, one of the contracted corporations found a place for him to land safely with another cushy job and he didn’t last 3 years there per his Linked In experience profile. And that was the 2nd restructure, the 1st happened in 2007, where I was the last employee of 1 for the department.
End of the day, you have co-workers, they aren’t your friends, just some that you get along with better than others. If layoffs for every recession is good enough for me, it’s good enough for anyone that ever held a position Corporate or Government. Going back to another layoff at another Healthcare Insurance Corporation, that was transition of Clinton => Bush. Trust me, I have the scars of a career of lowball salary, treated like a used tampon when they’re done with you. Covid was a process of 16 million labor being evaluated as essential & non-essential. And under Biden-Harris a lot of them systematically rebooted from 2021-2024-ish. Even Biden’s labor reports were restated lies of BS for 70K employees in a rolling year that were taken as new jobs for jobs that never existed & filled.
I used to be the employee that arrived early to work, stayed late, even remotely logged in to work from the apartment. shared knowledge transfers. They turned me into a guy that won’t lift a finger beyond the labor contract I have. A healthcare insurer based in Jacksonville understands that. I had my contract, if their FT staff didn’t do their end of the work I sat around until they did their jobs as a pre-requisite to me doing my contractor’s job. That POS employer, was calling me to fill Monday of Thanksgiving week to the Friday after New Year’s Day. Hey, they reap apathy, apathy is what they bought & paid for & will get. Those are the contract deliverables. They aren’t the only one’s in Jacksonville that have a crappy job that doesn’t pay very well. My motto, if I do the work, I’m the one being paid for it for what my rate is. The SQL development code & reporting is mine for proprietary, they get a working copy of the code. They need it updated, I charge for that separate. With contracting like that, there are 3 parties, a client, an agency and then there’s me. I’m the CEO of me, I make sure I get paid first, especially when I have to provide my own benefits, don’t get PTO or vacation or healthcare. What’s left over for the client & agency, not my concern whether they make or save money. See the scope of work is their corporate problem, not mine. I have yet to see an employer come back and say, hey, here’s more money we lowballed you. Years of that accumulate really. I already know what they saved on me, one of their relatives or cronies got paid for a promotion & raise. It’s really no different than the NFL for the business end of it for players. How many players get dumped when he team is done using their bodies up. Military is no different, they only wanna know you when they have a war that needs fighting & they’ll get cheap on taking care of the victims for the scars of war. sorry to be graphic, but if anyone hasn’t been paying attention we’ve seen it post-Covid. Biden got his $ 250K-400K pay raise in 2021. That 4 years, he was never worth $ 250K as Onama’s sidekick. Too busy making big pay jobs for his drug addict son Hunter Biden. How else does a coke head sit on Burisma’s board of directors. If there’s such a job market for Hunter Biden, USA oil companies need to hit up & recruit from the homeless camps for pedophiles, alcoholics & drug addicts to sit on their Board of Directors.
Yep, I have a “Paul Bunyan sized axe to grind” with the bloated payrolls & inflation the rest of us are expected to eat that sh*t sandwich as marginally employed from recession to recession. when I read about that FCSO officer suing the City of Ormond Beach, what a POS that guy is, they should have fired him going 88 mph in a 45/55 mph zone as late for work that day. Just like Staly pulled over the super speeder on I-95 last Friday evening going 115-125 mph.
Just saying says
Whether someone deserved to be let go or not the way this was done was very unprofessional especially to hear the two that did the hatching ran out of town or were not in the office.
What’s wrong with the State of Florida is this discriminating Right to Work State, that gives employees free rein to do whatever they want to a human being’s living hood. NOT RIGHT.
The County and City Officials in Flagler County never seem to listen to the taxpayers and personally I feel they are the ones that need to go. Look around the area its out of control with the building and allowing developers to run the county. They came in built the same model houses, not selling them but renting them out at high rents. Why is that being allowed? Traffic is out of control. You can tell services are going down the tubes, why all the negative things, POOR MANAGEMENT. None of it benefits the citizen’s.
Land of no turn signals says says
Just goes to show that is this new homestead exemption gets pass we all will be ok.
Laurel says
No, it has nothing to do with it.
Jessica says
Practically removing an entire department (animal control) that already heavily relied on the assistance of local nonprofit animal rescues, seems irresponsible at best! Budget vs reality is going to be obvious very soon! Palm Coast already had a huge issue with strays in the community and now I don’t even want to think about what this community will look like without these employees. The repercussions of this decision is going to be enormous!
Cynthia Keasler says
I am extremely concerned about the cuts to animal control. How will this effect the animal shelter? Well, I guess city council is paving the way to give themselves another raise!
There does need too be more oversight on code enforcement. I have noticed bias in my own neighborhood.
why no uppers get fired juts little guys says
Doge cuts! No one needs animal control anyhow! Gas up that saw and keep it up – right? Not really….Meanwhile, cutting 7 employees saves about one salary of the uppers who have no clue what they do except how to sell to developers for kickbacks … HMMM..
Just saying says
When I witnessed the developers take over of the City of Palm Coast my thoughts also, there are City Officials here on the take. Those are the ones that need to be fired for ruining this town over greed.
Sam says
When will the city look at their roads and all the congestion,
instead of OK’ing more housing developments and apartments…. that no one is buying?
Long-time resident says
“Palm Coast Wrecking Ball”, Theresa Pontieri, had been pushing for gutting animal control and restricting the activities of code enforcement for several weeks.
So, this sickening turn of events with the firing of Barbara Grossman and others and the gutting of animal control is on Theresa Pontieri.
I’ve seen Barbara Grossman many times in my vet’s office with her rescues. She’s a true animal lover and protector. She always worked within the confines of the codes of Palm Coast.
Theresa Pontieri never fails to show up at every animal rescue and animal welfare event, all in a calculated effort to garner votes and curry favor. One would think she’s actually an animal activist and an animal lover. NO. Were she truly an animal lover, she would never have gutted animal control. She couldn’t care less about what’s going on with animals in this county, which was evidenced on Friday by the firing of many animal control officers.
Barbara Grossman also helped me several years ago when I took my new rescue out for his first walk down the street from my house when 2 unsecured (continually) dogs from newly moved in neighbors ran out from behind the house 3 doors down, jumped my poor new rescue dog and proceeded to tear his hind legs to shreds. Only through the grace of God were my legs spared. I had to get my injured new rescue back home and into the back of my Volvo wagon and rush him to Flagler Animal Hospital where he had emergency surgery and was hospitalized for two days. The owners of the running loose dogs were vicious and lied and refused to pay the vet bill, which was almost $2000.00 so I had to file a small claims case,which I won. Horrible people. That’s just one of the several issues with nasty new move-in neighbors Barbara Grossman helped me with.
Down the street there’s a house where the yard hasn’t been mowed for 3 or 4 years. You can barely see the front door. Vines growing up over the house to the garage. 4 dead cars parked in the driveway for years, one up on blocks, one without an engine, another junker and another car on the swale as well as one or two trucks parked in the tall grass in the backyard. That guy in that house is most likely one of the vicious commenters on this website about these firings. On one of the numerous occasions over the years when neighbors have complained and code enforcement has gone to the house, the 50 year old man who lives in the house (his father’s house), has gotten up into the code enforcement officers face and threatened him. This is really what code enforcement officers deal with on a daily basis.
I’m willing to bet that all the vicious and vile comments above are all from the numerous loudmouth complainers who are constantly causing problems in neighborhoods. They are continual problems wherever they go in life.
Normal people who’ve invested a lot of money into their homes usually have no problem with code enforcement.
Animal lovers rarely have any problems with animal control.
Just a few stories about code enforcement and animal control.
I have found that the biggest and most vicious commenters on this site are exactly the people causing the most problems in neighborhoods. It’s all about what they want to do with their property. They’re not intelligent enough to realize that their junk piles and unkempt houses lower the property values for all residents in the neighborhood.
So, getting back to “Palm Coast Wrecking Ball”, Theresa Pontieri, she’s the one who wanted the animal control division gutted along with the firings of Barbara Grossman and others in code enforcement. You can go back and look at the YouTube videos for the City Council meetings for the last month and you’ll see she’s been pushing hard for just this action.
I’m voting for Greg Feldman.
We don’t need “Palm Coast Wrecking Ball”, Theresa Pontieri, on the county commission. She’s been a disaster for Palm Coast.
Concerned says
Wasteful cutbacks should always be made. However, sometimes politicians just want to cut dollars without thinking of the impact to the public. With the latest cuts, all of Palm Coast now only has 1 (one) State certified animal control officer. To cover the entire city – 24/7.
Robjr says
Keep that cost cutting knife sharp for the 9 additional deputies that the sheriff claims to need.
Taxpayer says
Finally Palm coast is doing something productive for the taxpayers…. Hopefully they will clean up public works next.. Marvin covers up a lot of underhanded corruption that Jeff hearse does… Jeff is one of the main reasons the turnover is so high… He is a major problem within public works, that’s when he is there and the workers you see out working is misarble up under his supervision… There were guys working in my neighborhood and I offered them water because of the heat and they rushed to drink it… I asked wow no break, they said Jeff doesn’t allow breaks before lunch… Jeff kissed his way up to his position years ago after backstabbing Ken Dawson.. These workers deserve better and the higher officials let Jeff does what he wants….
celia pugliese says
Barbara if you are reading this I want to tell you how sorry I am of what done to you and also the loss of our compassionate Animal Control officer Priestap. I apologize to you on behalf of all those Palmcoaster’s that you helped to keep Palm Coast beautiful and safe for the manner this CM and HR have treated you! You deserved a farewell retirement event with cake and all after over 30 years of working for Palm Coast when you started as manager with the Palm Coast Architectural Committee Board before we
(PC) incorporated and making sure that ITT strict beautification standards were maintained in our new ITT founded beautiful Palm Coast! I wish you very Happy Trails! Sad day for Palm Coast!