Partisan politics take centerstage at meeting on Palm Coast ethics investigation
Contentious bordering on hostile might be the words to describe the tenor at Palm Coast City Hall on Thursday afternoon.
But as the query into Mayor Mike Norris' alleged ethics misconduct made its way well past three hours, one thing was clear to the small group in the room — from Norris' supporters and opponents, to fellow council members and to residents — most seemed embarrassed that the situation had reached this point.
The purpose of Thursday's meeting was to review the 57-page report released April 21 investigating Norris' alleged ethical misconduct, unprofessional behavior in dealing with city staffers and an attempt to force two top city employees to resign, which is not allowed under the city charter.
On April 22, after reading the report, the City Council unanimously approved a vote of no confidence for the mayor and agreed to censure him.
That report was based on an investigation into the allegations — prompted by the Palm Coast City Council — by Tallahassee attorney Adam Brandon, who was on hand Thursday to summarize his findings.
However, the proceedings quickly devolved into partisan name-calling, including a speaker who compared Councilman Charles Gambaro to a puppet and brought his own toy to the dais to make his point.
Brandon appeared before the council Thursday to summarize his report and explain its methodology, including how people were chosen to be interviewed.
'The investigation speaks for itself,' Brandon said, describing Norris as someone who 'speaks authentically, sometimes without a filter," referring to one circumstance where the mayor called the live stream of the city's Christmas parade "garbage," and twice when he openly criticized the appearance of two female employees.
On the allegation of trying to force acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and City Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo to resign, Norris said he did "not mean" for the way he handled the situation.
Norris' supporters at the meeting accused the council and administration of ganging up on the mayor for a building moratorium he earlier supported. Others suggested that Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri was trying to "dirty" Norris' reputation so she could take his seat by default. Pontieri flatly denied the accusation.
Brandon said that while Norris can be abrasive, those the laywer interviewed who know him well said that he had the right intentions.
"He speaks very candidly almost without a filter," Brandon reiterated.
At one point during the meeting, Norris, who is retired from the U.S. Army, made a claim that he was 'personally credited with killing 75 terrorists' in Iraq, and in the same breath described himself as 'a passionate human being' whose team "rescued 26 malnourished children, special needs children, in Iraq."
The News-Journal was unable to confirm Norris' statements.
After Brandon's presentation, Gambaro motioned for the council to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove Norris 'for malfeasance." Pontieri persuaded her colleagues except Gambaro, to hold off on "asking the governor to remove a duly elected official, at least at this time."
City Attorney Marcus Duffy tried at many turns to redirect the discussion in order to focus on next steps.
"We are not rehashing this investigation,' Duffy said, looking at the mayor. 'I do not want this to be an interrogation. I do not want witnesses being asked questions right now."
The discussion will continue 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 160 Lake Ave., Palm Coast.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ethics investigation of Palm Coast mayor devolves into partisan attacks
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