JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The JEA Board of Directors on Tuesday addressed a concern regarding some of the utility’s leadership who make important decisions about the operations but do not live in Jacksonville.
News4JAX learned in February that four JEA executives received massive raises but didn’t live in the area.
Laura Dutton, formerly JEA’s chief strategy officer, was one of the four. But in late February, the utility company announced she was released from her position, leaving the remaining execs who live in New Jersey and other parts of Florida that aren’t in the JEA district in charge.
According to Dutton’s separation agreement, she will still get her salary as well as $2,000 a month for business expenses until July.
Most of the company’s 2,000 employees live and work in Jacksonville.
“It’s something that [I] would like to see. The key executives in this organization live in the service area. This is one of the greatest territories in the country,” JEA Board Chairman Bobby Stein said. “While we can’t get talent in this community, it’s just something that I think would be worthwhile making all efforts to head in that direction.”
As of now, any workforce changes would come from JEA leadership. CEO Jay Stowe said they are reviewing the idea.
City Council President Ron Salem said the city council is keeping an eye on the issue.
“I think you were one of the first reporters that brought that to my attention and to the council’s attention,” Salem said. “We had so many people that were living outside the greater Jacksonville area.”
For now, Salem believes JEA can handle the issue but the council will keep tabs along the way, especially since the council has stepped in and changed JEA operations in the past few years after the attempted sale debacle.
The remaining JEA execs are still working for the company. JEA said it is currently reviewing its “Work Where We Work Best” policy and will wait until that review is complete before making any changes.