JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All this week, the new JEA interim CEO Vickie Cavey has been negotiating with the board about her new contract.
On Monday, it should be more clear where things stand.
News4JAX asked to talk to Cavey on Friday about how she plans to run JEA until a new permanent CEO can be hired, but she has decided to wait to do that until after the board meets later this month to discuss and vote on her contract.
JEA said she has been meeting and negotiating with the board chair to discuss the terms.
According to a report from the Florida Times-Union, an early draft of the agreement shows a three-year term with a salary of $575,000. But that will probably change.
Times Union: Draft employment agreement showed three-year term and $575,000 for Vickie Cavey as JEA CEO
Cavey has only been on the job for a few weeks without a contract. She is currently being paid $200 an hour because she was already on board at the public utility as a consultant. She will receive that pay until a new contract is signed.
The board is not expected to search for a permanent CEO until early next year.
“I think it was smart to go back to someone who has kind of experience, decades of experience, if you will, with JEA. I know Vickie Cavey personally long before this time, and I had a chance to work with her while she was at JEA, very competent person. And I think she really gets it. And I think she really will have to support the staff as well,” said Councilman Michael Boylan, liaison to JEA and a former employee.
Boylan said transitions like this are difficult but he thinks this will land well.