JEA board members are under investigation for potential violations of Florida's Sunshine Law. The city's Office of Inspector General is looking into whether discussions about leadership changes, specifically the transition from former CEO Jay Stowe to Vickie Cavey, followed public disclosure requirements. The Office of Inspector General has now referred the matter to the State Attorney's Office for further inquiry.
A News 4 JAX report revealed allegations that JEA leaders discussed the CEO's resignation, severance arrangements, and the possibility of Cavey taking over at Southern Grounds & Company, a coffee shop in Avondale. This prompted an investigation that found some board members may have communicated outside of public meetings.
Following the findings, the Office of Inspector General has recommended a strong policy against Sunshine Law violations and provided guidelines for board member training. Inspector General Matt Lascell has asked State Attorney Melissa Nelson to determine if any board members' private discussions are criminal violations. The report has been forwarded to her for review, as reported by The Florida Times-Union.
The investigation into JEA board members follows former CEO Aaron Zahn's four-year prison sentence for conspiracy to misuse city funds. A recent Office of Inspector General report indicated that board members, including Robert Stein, held discussions outside scheduled public meetings, raising concerns about compliance with the Sunshine Law. JEA stated, "JEA and its board recognize the importance of the Sunshine Law and their obligations to comply. The OIG report did not determine that JEA violated the Sunshine Law, and nothing in the report suggests that any criminal conduct occurred." As the community awaits the State Attorney's Office's findings, the outcome may impact public trust in JEA's board members, as stated by the Action News Jax.
