Overview
- The utility announced Wednesday that CEO Vickie Cavey is on an immediate leave expected to last more than 14 days but fewer than 60 and that Chief Administrative Officer Jody Brooks will serve as interim CEO.
- A JEA spokesperson told reporters the leave is not related to Cavey’s performance and the board appointed Brooks under the utility’s succession plan to keep operations steady.
- The City Council special investigative committee is probing allegations of a toxic workplace, claims of racism, and disputed commercial capacity fees and JEA says it has identified about $25 million in potentially owed fees dating to 2003.
- JEA has opened two internal investigations into employee complaints, and Cavey previously testified to the council that she first learned of some workplace allegations from news reports and often responded 'I don’t recall' to questions.
- Discussion of a contract with Ballard Partners has been restricted because statewide prosecutors and the state attorney are conducting a criminal investigation, a constraint that could limit the committee’s public review and extend the timeline for accountability.