Council liaison says JEA board denied him chance to speak; council calls for review
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Summary
A council liaison told the City Council the JEA board chair refused to recognize him during a board meeting, prompting calls from council members for an external review and broader scrutiny of board conduct and employee treatment.
A council liaison reported to the Jacksonville City Council on Feb. 24 that the chair of the Jacksonville Electric Authority board refused to recognize the liaison during a board meeting when the liaison sought to raise employee concerns.
"The board chair would not recognize me," the liaison told the council, saying he raised his hand twice and was not permitted to speak. He said his intent was to "help them solve a problem" about reported employee dissatisfaction and that an employee who raised similar concerns, Kurt Wilson, was terminated within 24 hours after speaking up.
Council members responded on the council floor. Councilman Dimon said he would "stand up with you every single time" and urged other council members to remind independent boards they serve an oversight role. Several council members described the liaison's treatment as disrespectful and said they would monitor the situation and consider bringing an external review — similar to a prior outside review the council used — to ensure employees can report concerns without retaliation.
Labor and community speakers during public comment backed the liaison's account. Ronnie Burris, a business manager for Local 630, called what he witnessed at the JEA meeting "very unprofessional" and recounted that the board chair ignored motions and curtailed voices during deliberations. "I would still like to be heard," Burris said, describing attempts to raise a procedural concern that he said were dismissed by the chair.
The council did not take a formal vote on any action at the Feb. 24 meeting. Multiple members said they would follow up with legislative services and consider next steps, including whether an independent review is warranted to protect employees and restore confidence in the board's processes.
The council's remarks and public comments repeated concerns about JEA governance, employee treatment, and transparency. No formal finding or referral to outside counsel or an inspector general was recorded on the council floor that night; members said they would "monitor the situation" and pursue next steps if the JEA board did not address the issues internally.