News4Jax
A Jacksonville City Council investigation into JEA rolled forward May 12 with Council approving plans to commission a survey of current and former employees of the city-owned utility about its workplace culture.
With a 13-5 vote on Ordinance 2026-0268, Council approved a plan for Council President Kevin Carrico to execute a contract with California-based SelectionLink Inc., a human relations firm, for $9,250. Council members Michael Boylan, Matt Carlucci, Tyrona Clark-Murray, Rahman Johnson and Jimmy Peluso cast the no votes, and member Terrance Freeman was absent.
The survey comes as JEA CEO Vickie Cavey faces allegations of fostering a racist and toxic workplace at JEA headquarters. So far, allegations against Cavey have come from Council members and former JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson, who say they have spoken to JEA employees about Cavey’s alleged misconduct. Those Council members include Carrico, Ju’Coby Pittman and Ron Salem.
Cavey denies the allegations.
The claims first emerged in February, after Carrico told The Florida Times-Union that he had heard allegations after discussions with JEA employees. Carrico made the allegations after he came under scrutiny for nominating Paul Martinez, his boss at Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, to replace JEA board member Arthur Adams. Action News Jax revealed texts between Carrico and Adams showing Carrico made Martinez’s nomination as a “big favor” to a friend.
The plan to survey JEA employees came from the Council Special Investigatory Committee on JEA, chaired by member Ron Salem. Salem requested SelectionLink to conduct the survey.
That committee, which has received pushback from some Council members for overstepping Council’s oversight role, will not review the results of the survey itself. Instead, SelectionLink will provide the survey results to JEA board members, who investigatory committee members feel may be misinformed about what is happening with JEA’s culture.
The survey of JEA employees commissioned by Council is one of two ongoing processes to measure morale at JEA headquarters.
JEA has also commissioned an investigation into the allegations of racism and toxic culture, conducting a survey through Jackson Lewis, a law firm JEA keeps on retainer.