Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander submitted his resignation letter Jan. 29 to the board of commissioners, more than a month after he came under fire following the release of a city investigation into the agency.
“I feel like the new administration is improperly pushing me out through the BOC based on the comments made by some of the BOC in the past two months and its actions. Nevertheless, I still found a way to make my job both rewarding and memorable,” Alexander said of the office of Mayor Donna Deegan.
Alexander added that he feels like he is “being pushed out in a manner not consistent with the law,” he said in a resignation statement he read at the end of the board of commissioners meeting.
His resignation follows the resignation of two housing authority board members this month.
A city Office of Inspector General report released in December said the agency wasted government funds when it loaded money onto Jacksonville housing tenant utility reimbursement payment cards but the money wasn’t spent on utility expenses.
The investigation found that nearly $2 million was loaded onto the cards but less than $270,000 was spent on utilities.
The cards also gave the ability to use an ATM cash option.
Before and after the report, Alexander was under scrutiny and there were calls for him to resign, but he defended himself and said he planned to stay in his position.
The Jacksonville Housing Authority board of commissioners later voted to approve a $20,000 performance bonus for Alexander and offered to extend his contract for six more months without a pay raise.
Alexander said in his resignation letter he now has the option to take on another venture with a longer contract.
“I have been pleased with the accomplishments at JHA, such as obtaining the A Plus Bond Rating, purchasing new homes, acquiring Franklin Arms and the total rehabilitation of more that 600 units. In addition to successfully navigated the process of the soon to be purchase of the Westwood development with bonds (the first in this agency’s history), and I have also managed the other deals this agency has on the horizon,” Alexander wrote in his resignation letter.
“I have consistently given JHA my full attention and commitment to providing leadership in achieving their goals as an agency during this affordable housing crisis. Our goal at JHA is to be reliable partners with non-profits, stakeholders, and local government.”
In a statement, Deegan’s office said Alexander wasn’t forced out.
“The Deegan Administration did not force Mr. Alexander out. He resigned of his own volition, and any leadership decisions are up to JHA’s board of directors. It is also our understanding that there are still ongoing investigations into the organization,” a spokesperson said.
“Mayor Deegan promised to reactivate all of Jacksonville’s boards and commissions. To accomplish that goal, she has made it a citywide effort to appoint board members who bring a greater sense of transparency, accountability, and good governance that has been lacking in the past.”
Alexander has been working without a contract since September because a pay raise was put on hold after Deegan raised concerns about how the housing authority is working to address the affordable housing crisis in the city.
Alexander was named interim CEO of the agency in 2018 and took over permanently in 2021.
The resignation will take effect 30 days from Jan. 29.
The authority posted a notice that the board of commissioners will hold a special meeting in person at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at its administrative office at 1300 N. Broad St. “to discuss and/or take appropriate actions regarding Personnel Matters including CEO replacement, and any other JHA business.”
It said the public is invited to attend the meeting and speak during the public forum.
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