- December 4, 2025
Dear Editor:
Decorum at Palm Coast City Council meetings has noticeably been slipping away, especially so within the last nine months. It is apparent in interactions between council members and the mayor with childish name calling, accusations of lying, etc.
We are unfortunately getting used to that. But there is also a decorum breakdown by a disproportionate number of speakers attending the meetings who dwell on misinformation, wild conspiracy theories, incessant innuendo and outright unfounded accusations of corruption directed, often by name, at certain council members and city staff. It has become uncomfortable to watch let alone attend.
Unfortunately there is little, if any, pushback by the mayor or council members, even though the rules pertaining to speakers disallow irrelevant, impertinent (rude) and slanderous comments. Speakers do not have unfettered First Amendment privileges in city council meetings.
According to the city's meeting policies and procedures, the Mayor presides over City Council meetings and is tasked with enforcing rules of decorum. The mayor has the prime responsibility to call out, challenge, correct and caution these speakers on the spot. Council members can do that as well. But that is not happening as it should. It's reasonable to assume, in the case of the mayor, the cause is because the “out of line” speakers are more likely to be his supporters. Why other council members don’t appropriately do their part is unclear.
It’s a duty for good governance to ensure an atmosphere of content accuracy and credibility in council meetings, ensure residents aren’t inundated with falsehoods and misinformation. And that should be a basic requirement of responsible council leadership.
Although silence doesn't always suggest condoning certain behavior, very often it can easily be perceived as such. A strong concerted effort by the council to do much better is certainly needed now along with an apology from the mayor and council for not doing better sooner.
Sally Birch
Palm Coast
