PALM COAST
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VOLUME 16, NO. 13
Flagler Executive Airport Director Roy Sieger
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‘We essentially have a brand new airport’ Flagler Executive Airport’s $11M terminal aims to be the ‘capstone’ of $56M in upgrades PAGE 3A
Five votes to nowhere
Take it from the top New FPC coach Patrick Turner introduces the Bulldogs’ schemes to a young squad. PAGE 5B
Palm Coast City Council deadlocks on city manager candidates PAGE 2A INSIDE NO MORE CRAs?
Florida bill seeking to end CRAs passes at the House; what would that mean for Ormond, Palm Coast? PAGE 3A
TUNNEL TO TOWERS
More than a race: Over 500 participate in Tunnel to Towers 5K in Palm Coast PAGE 1B
ROUNDABOUT
Improvements underway at Hammock Dunes toll bridge. PAGE 5A
PRESSURE PUTT
‘It hasn’t sunk in yet:’ Q+A with Florida State golfer Alexandra Gazzoli PAGE 6B
New FPC football coach Patrick Turner demonstrates a running play on the first day of spring practice. Photo by Brent Woronoff
SPEECH WINNER
Kennedy McMillan wins districtwide 4-H speech contest PAGE 4B
County, city want one-year contract with Humane Society Officials want the contract to include a position on the FHS board. Staff will also evaluate growing need for shelter services. JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
INDEX
Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner............... PAGE 4A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters.........................PAGE 7A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 5B Tributes .......................PAGE 7C Real Estate................. PAGE 6A Your Schools.............. PAGE 4B
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As Flagler County and the City of Palm Coast begin negotiations for a new contract with the Flagler Humane Society regarding animal sheltering services, local elected officials want a seat at the table. During a joint workshop on Tuesday, April 29, officials from both government bodies directed staff to pursue a one-year contract with the FHS that would include seats on the board for elected officials, the publicizing of the nonprofit’s bylaws, required background checks for employees and volunteers and statements regarding nepotism and conflicts of interest. The elected officials are also asking the FHS to provide more in-depth monthly reports regarding expenses, animal intakes and surrenders. The joint workshop comes after Palm Coast City Council members asked for collaboration with the county to find alternate animal sheltering solutions, in light of previous criticism by some in the community of overcrowded conditions and lack of transparency regarding finances and euthanasia. “I feel very much at a crossroads at this point because I feel that
there does need to be some type of change,” Palm Coast City Council Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri said. “Doesn’t mean there needs to be an entire overhaul of what we’re currently doing, but at this point, I don’t feel like we have the resources to build another shelter right now.” A one-year contract, she explained, would give the council time to look at possibly constructing a supplemental shelter or using other services because of the need. Her biggest concern with the FHS has been the lack of capital planning and long-term outlook, particularly as Flagler County’s population continues to grow. “It’s hard to plan for the future when you don’t know what the entity that you are giving tax dollars to is planning for,” Pontieri said. “So I think that needs to be a wholly separate discussion with the Humane Society and the city.” The FHS has been providing animal sheltering services to the City of Palm Coast since 1982, and states on its website that the majority of its funding comes from donations and thrift store sale proceeds, accounting for about 30% of its operating income. Flagler County allocated almost $300,000 to the FHS for Animal Control services in its recent budget, with up to $90,000 set aside for shelter services. County officials said they were interested to explore whether the county should enter into an interlocal agreement with the City of Palm Coast for animal control services, or bring it in-house.
Officials also expressed doubt on the way the FHS operates. “The county or government should not be funding property purchases, appraisal services, relocation services, building expansion,” County Commissioner Kim Carney said. City Councilman Ty Miller said he shared the same concerns about oversight and that a one-year contract would allow them to evaluate how to proceed in the future — and whether that would mean working together on a joint Capital Improvement Project plan for a new facility. “Whether it’s an overflow facility or a temporary facility, or whatever the case may be, but we know in its current state, it’s not working,” Miller said. Over the past year, things “have come to light,” leading to the conditions they now want placed in the FHS contract, County Commission Chair Andy Dance said. “Under the current leadership, is there a vote of confidence moving forward in the current structure?” Dance said. “... I don’t know that I have that vote of confidence moving forward and have to be convinced that existing leadership can carry out those goals.” FHS Director Amy Carotenuto said there’s a lot of misinformation in the community. “I feel like we’re playing whacka-mole trying to get the truth out there,” she said. Over 75% of the cost for caring for animals is covered by the FHS, not government funds. She also
spoke about the expertise of her staff, which was called into question, as well as the fact that bylaws have been provided to the officials. On the anti-nepotism and conflict of interest statements, FHS Board President Linda Lester said she found it “ironic” that the elected officials didn’t see their involvement on the board as a conflict of interest. (FHS has been accused of nepotism because it has two husband-and-wife duos on its sixperson board of directors). “When deciding for the organization, clearly you’re representing the city and the county, and that will factor into any decision you make while you’re on our board,” said Lester, whose husband is also on the board. “The Humane Society will not be your priority.” Pontieri disagreed with her view. “These are taxpayer dollars that are going to the Flagler Humane Society, so to say that it’s a conflict of interest, you could make that same argument for anything that we’d vote to dedicate taxpayer dollars to,” she said. Dance said he appreciates the community’s feedback, and that he always thought, from a costbenefit analysis, that the FHS was their “best bet.” “But we’ve got some issues to work through,” Dance said. “... So I would just ask that we look at these with open minds for the best interest of the county, for the animals — that’s where we’re coming from, for transparency with the taxpayers.”