Ethics Commission to hear complaint against ex-Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland

News-Journal (Daytona Beach, FL)

The ethics complaint against former Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland's ethics is on the agenda Friday for the Florida Commission on Ethics in Tallahassee, according to sources who spoke to The News-Journal.

Holland's case is scheduled to be discussed during the closed portion of the Ethics Commission meeting, which is not open to the public. Because the hearing is closed, those who spoke to the newspaper asked that their names not be used.

Holland could not be reached via a phone call and texts from The News-Journal. In the past, she has declined to discuss the particulars of the complaint against her, citing the confidential nature of Commission on Ethics investigations. However, she has denied any wrongdoing.

The Commission on Ethics reviews complaints and decides whether there is probable cause. Once it makes its decision, the complaint becomes public. Complaints can become public before reaching that stage if they are dismissed or if the person who is the subject of the complaint waives confidentiality.

The complaint against Holland was filed last year by the city's former compliance manager Jay Maher, who alleged that Holland misused her office and violated the city's charter to benefit her employer, Coastal Cloud.

"On many occasions over the last year the mayor has interfered with the performance of City of Palm Coast employees in violation of section 11 of the city charter," Maher wrote in his April 2020 ethics complaint. "On other occasions it appears that she potentially misused her position in attempts to garner special consideration for her and her employer Coastal Cloud."

Holland initially responded to a request for comment from The News-Journal in a July text in which she said she would cooperate with the ethics inquiry.

"I am aware a complaint has been filed with the Commission on Ethics," Holland wrote in the text in July. "It is, as you know, a process, one in which I have great respect for an will cooperate fully if and when the complaint progresses as I have yet to be contacted by them. So let's let the ethics commission do its job and not try the case in the newspaper."

Coastal Cloud hired Holland in 2017 as a director of "public sector" business. In mid-2018, the company began providing pro bono help to the city to improve its communication with citizens, which gave the company experience developing communications tools for a municipality.

But the deal also required the city to lease software for a $108,000 annual fee. Former city manager Jim Landon has told The News-Journal that he expressed opposition to the lease. Weeks after that, Holland moved for Landon's dismissal. Matt Morton replaced him.

Holland is currently listed as director of healthcare project management for Coastal Cloud, according to LinkedIn.

She suddenly resigned as mayor on May 18, saying she needed to focus on taking care of her daughter who was experiencing health challenges. Holland's daughter previously underwent a liver transplant.

Holland had just won reelection in November to a second four-year term after beating back a challenge from Alan Lowe in a bitter campaign. A special election takes place Tuesday to fill the mayor's seat.

Morton resigned only nine days after Holland's resignation.

A string of high-level employees either resigned, were forced out or were fired after Morton was hired in 2019.

Maher, the former city compliance manager, retired in September 2020, but that didn't stop the ax from falling. Morton fired Maher retroactively a week after he retired.

One of the things Morton accused Maher of doing was providing records without city approval to a former News-Journal reporter. But Dennis McDonald, a citizen, actually provided the information to the newspaper.

Members of the Commission on Ethics are: Joanne Leznoff, chair, Fernandina Beach, R, retired; John Grant, vice chair, Tampa, R, attorney; Travis Cummings, Fleming Island, R, employee and insurance benefits services; Michelle Anchors, Fort Walton Beach, D, attorney; Antonio Carvajal, Tallahassee, D, foundation executive; Glenton "Glen" Gilzean Jr., Orlando, R, non-profit executive; Jim Waldman, Fort Lauderdale, D, attorney; Don Gaetz, R, Niceville; William "Willie" N. Meggs, Tallahassee, D, former state attorney.