Along with 15 other elected officials, including all four of his council colleagues, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris is ignoring the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence and the July 4 parade on Friday. He is continuing to abdicate most of his office’s public duties outside of council meetings.
The Declaration ceremony will be hosted by Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, who has been hosting more city events since Norris’ bizarre and irate speech at the State of the City in April. All but one of Norris’s committee assignments have been dropped by the city’s issuing authority. Each of his colleagues is organizing a series of town halls, but he has declined to participate. Even when it comes to getting briefed on city matters or getting ready for meetings, he still won’t meet with Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston.
He protested that the media, and this website in particular, knew more about the city than he did, but was reminded that his self-isolation was the only thing to blame. This was not changed by the brief meeting he requested with Johnston earlier this week. Additionally, Norris has reduced his attendance at City Hall, implying that he was being spied on by employees.
The united United Flagler celebration, which aims to unite the county and all nearby cities in an apolitical birthday festival of patriotism, culminates on July 4 at the airport. Usually, just a select few kids pout because they don’t want to watch Jefferson’s rebuttal to King George before the fireworks.
For the evening Independence Day event at the county airport before the 9 p.m. fireworks, a spokesperson stated, “We invited the local elected officials throughout the county.” Traditionally, the mayor and other elected officials alternate readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Sheriff Rick Staly, three of the five Flagler Beach city commissioners, four of the five county commissioners, a Bunnell city commissioner, and both county court judges, Melissa Distler and Andrea Totten, will be there, along with all four council members. According to the spokeswoman, Vice Mayor Pontieri will be the Master of Ceremonies as Mayor Norris is not available. Three council members will represent the city in the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach’s march down A1A in the morning, but Norris declined to take part.
The spokeswoman, who was referring to the county’s emergency management director, stated, “It might be important to note that we’re working with Jonathan Lord to keep our eyes on the weather.” Although it’s too early to say, we will either have to postpone or cancel the ceremony portion of the event if there are thunderstorms. We’ll probably decide before the end of Thursday. It is not anticipated that fireworks will be affected. The authorities would be standing on a metal stage throughout the ceremony, and the city does not want to put them in danger.
Norris is scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon when Circuit Judge Chris France hears his case against Charles Gambarow, a fellow council member whom he believes is not legally seated on the council.
