JEA’s board of directors has called a special meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 7, to consider how to handle ousted General Manager and CEO Aaron Zahn’s severance package.
The board voted unanimously to remove Zahn at its December 17 meeting, suspending him with pay indefinitely while the city's Office of General Counsel continues its investigation into Zahn.
The big question the board faces is whether Zahn should be fired with or without cause.
WJCT news partner The Florida Times-Union has reported if Zahn can be fired with cause, it would save the utility at least $842,000. That number includes the amount he would collect in severance pay and consulting fees that are a part of his contract. Zahn would get paid nothing after his last day, according to the Times-Union.
Related: Archived JEA coverage
Zahn was removed largely for how he handled a potential sale of JEA and a controversial employee incentive plan that the board canceled after details became public.
The board also voted on Christmas Eve to stop exploring a potential privatization of the utility after spending at least $10 million during the process, according to the Times-Union.
Also last month, the area's top criminal prosecutor, State Attorney Melissa Nelson, said she was “looking into matters involving JEA,” after the Jacksonville Civic Council called on Nelson to convene a grand jury investigation.
JEA Chief Operating Officer Melissa Dykes was appointed interim CEO on the same day Zahn was ousted.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
