JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Council’s Rules Committee deferred two JEA board-related items, pausing Council President Kevin Carrico’s appointment of Randy Wyse and Mayor Donna Deegan’s reappointment of board chair Joe DiSalvo as investigations and internal questions surrounding the city-owned utility continue.
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Rules Committee Chair Chris Miller said he marked both items for deferral to “tap the brakes” while multiple reviews play out, including an Inspector General-led effort tied to disputed capacity fees and a council special investigatory committee examining workplace culture allegations.
“My mind as the rules chair, I thought it was smart, prudent for us to tap the brakes,” Miller said. “Let’s slow down a little bit and not affect the changes of leadership until we know a little bit more about what’s going on.”
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When asked, Miller said his intent is to defer the items for one council cycle. But other council members in attendance said they are open to a longer wait period.
The deferred items involve Wyse replacing board member Arthur Adams and DiSalvo’s reappointment.
Miller told the committee there is “a lot going on” with JEA — including questions about leadership, employee surveys and ongoing investigations.
“To say there’s a lot going on with JEA right now is a gross understatement,” Miller said.
Several councilmembers joined the conversation to support Miller’s decision.
Councilmember Joe Carlucci said he supports Wyse but wants more time to get answers.
“We just don’t know until things continue to unfold but I’m going to use that time to get my answers to the questions I have,” he said.
The decision comes as the two nominations were set to go through final review at the Rules Committee ahead of a full vote from city council.
So far, the Special Investigative Committee on JEA has held two meetings to review workplace culture and disputes over capacity fees. A survey is set to go out to employees for review.
“There’s a lot of drama,” Howland said. “I think we should make decisions when we can cut the drama out and decide based on facts and evidence. And right now is not the time.”
Councilmember Michael Boylan encouraged the committee to continue deferring the nominations until the issues are resolved.
“I encouraged that you continue to defer it to such time that we have a solution to the matters at hand,” Boylan said.
Other members said the delay was about timing rather than the nominees.
“I do have full confidence in Mr. Wyse’s abilities,” Councilmember Mike Gay said. “So it’s no reflection on him whatsoever. But I do think it’s wise for us to just take our time.”
The deferral comes after the Jacksonville NAACP asked Council President Kevin Carrico to wait to appoint the next board member until investigations were complete.
It also follows a March 27 statement from Councilmember Matt Carlucci calling for a pause on appointments.
“In light of unfolding issues surrounding JEA, the City Council should pause appointments to the JEA Board until active investigations by the State Attorney and Inspector General are complete,” Carlucci said.
In a statement, the mayor’s office said Deegan supports delaying appointments.
“Mayor Deegan supports a pause on all JEA board appointments until the active investigations are complete, and she looks forward to Board Member DiSalvo serving another term once that process concludes,” the statement said.
News4JAX has reached out to Carrico for comment on his appointment and will update this story when a response is received.