JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced Tuesday that all six members of the JEA Board of Directors will leave their posts by the end of February.
“I’ve talked to Fred Newbill, Camille Lee-Johnson, Dane Grey and Henry Brown and each informed me it is their desire to end their service with the JEA Board of Directors. I have asked all board members, including April Green who resigned earlier Tuesday, to continue to serve until the end of February, and all agreed. Kelly Flanagan will also continue her service until her term expires on February 28th,” Curry wrote in a prepared statement.
Curry said he will work with City Council to appoint a new executive Board of Directors as soon as possible.
“To the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your dedication and service throughout your individual terms. I am grateful for your time, contributions and the incredible commitment this has required,” Curry said.
Board Chair April Green announced her resignation at the end of the board meeting Tuesday following the board’s unanimous decision to terminate former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn with cause.
“Understanding that among their first orders of business will be rebuilding public trust and strengthening the future of this vital and valued community asset,” Curry wrote. “In conclusion, I am confident there is a positive path forward and I am focused on working together for the best interests of all citizens.”
All JEA board members who are resigning were appointed by Curry and approved by City Council.
“It’s a decision that they make on their own if they’re resigning,” said City Council President Scott Wilson. “They’re going to stay on until February, which will gives us an opportunity to pick new members to serve, so I’m grateful for that.”
On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution regarding so-called “golden parachutes," which are essentially agreements made between a company and an employee. In the case of JEA, city records show 14 senior JEA leaders were promised hundreds of thousands of dollars each if they were terminated without cause, but that number more than doubled if JEA was sold.
Councilman Danny Becton said the resolution focuses on executive contracts and ensures everyone is on a level playing field.
“It’s a resolution that looks to hopefully have the Council communicate to the citizens of Jacksonville out there that we would like to see all of the benefits that were provided to employees, that were provided to groups," Becton said.
In 2015, Curry asked the entire JEA board to submit their resignations after controversy surfaced regarding Sunshine Law violations at a board meeting.
