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Council votes unanimously to censure mayor, refer malfeasance finding to state Ethics Commission
Summary
After an independent investigation concluded repeated charter violations and malfeasance by the mayor, City Council voted unanimously to record a formal censure and to refer a malfeasance complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics; staff will also schedule the investigator to present findings to council.
Palm Coast City Council voted unanimously at a workshop to issue a vote of no confidence and censure of the mayor and to refer an ethics complaint over alleged malfeasance to the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Councilmember (Gambaro) moved for a formal vote of no confidence and censure; the motion received a second and passed on a unanimous roll call. Council discussed the independent investigator’s findings, which staff said had substantiated repeated violations of the city charter, including actions the report characterized as interference and other conduct the investigator described as rising to the level of malfeasance.
Following the censure vote, the council voted — again unanimously — to file a formal ethics complaint with the state commission and to ask that the investigator present his full findings and recommended next steps to the council. The council discussed several procedural steps: the immediate referral to the state ethics body, staff review of internal policy gaps and recommended charter clarifications, and scheduling the investigator to appear to answer questions and propose follow‑up options.
Council members said the steps were necessary to restore public trust and to put an independent body between the city and any disciplinary determinations. Council also directed staff to ask the investigator to present at the earliest available date; staff reported the investigator's next available dates for a presentation were April 30 and May 1, with May 6 as a fallback business meeting date.
Votes at a glance - Motion 1: Motion of no confidence and censure of the mayor (mover: Councilmember Gambaro). Outcome: approved unanimously (4‑0). Vote record (roll call): Gambaro — yes; Miller — yes; Sullivan — yes; Vice Mayor Panieri — yes. - Motion 2: File formal ethics complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics for alleged malfeasance and refer investigation findings for review (mover: Vice Mayor). Outcome: approved unanimously (4‑0). Vote record (roll call): Gambaro — yes; Miller — yes; Sullivan — yes; Vice Mayor Panieri — yes.
Ending: Council instructed the city attorney and manager to forward the complaint to state authorities and to return with proposed charter and policy revisions so the council has clearer disciplinary options available in future cases.
