JEA Board Reappointment
At a glance
- What: Bill 2026-0203, the mayor's reappointment of DiSalvo to the JEA board of directors. He asked to speak at the Rules Committee even though he was not on the agenda.
- Where it stands: the Rules Committee approved it 6-1 on 2026-10-19 (Dr. Salem against). It goes to the full council.
- Why it is contested: Dr. Salem, the council's former JEA liaison, faulted how the board handled employee complaints about the then-CEO's management in February, the nominee's handling of the officer slate, and a press conference with the mayor calling the council's investigation political. Supporters said the nominee brings institutional knowledge, attends meetings and is protected by the Article 21 line between the council and JEA.
- Official minutes (2026-10-19, Rules): 2026-0203 (second full term to February 28, 2030) approved 6-1: Gay, Amaro, Boylan, Lahnen, Pittman and Clark-Murray in favor; Salem opposed. Salem listed objections about events at JEA under the previous CEO; Boylan cited his work on rewriting Article 21 of the Charter; the nominee attended 34 of 36 meetings (94 percent) of his first full term (March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2026). The companion bill 2026-0192 (confirming Randy Wyse to replace Arthur L. Adams Jr., first full term to February 28, 2030) was deferred.
Arguments
- Against: Dr. Salem said a board member must keep a professional distance from the CEO, that employees avoided the JEA human resources office and went to the inspector general, and that he was not recognized twice when he sought to propose a confidential employee survey. He compared the episode to the removal of a Jacksonville Transportation Authority board member (see Jacksonville Transportation Authority Financial Condition). This is his account, from auto-captions.
- For: Boylan, a four-year liaison who helped rewrite Article 21, said the nominee met the raised qualification standard, had a major role in two executive transitions and that comparing JEA with the JTA was out of bounds. Amaro, the new liaison, valued the nominee's character and focus on doing what is right. Clark Murray cited attendance at 34 of 36 meetings and said hearsay and the press conference were not shown to breach any rule. Pittman supported him because he acknowledged lessons learned.
- Gay, the chair, said the earlier board meetings and the treatment of Council President Howland at a JEA meeting were troubling, but that he valued the nominee's remarks and the lessons he described.
- Liaison role: Dr. Salem said council liaisons should be recognized and able to ask questions at JEA, which the city owns; Boylan said the liaison is a conduit and should not interject personal opinions.
Sources
- 2026-10-19 - Rules Committee (meeting of 2026-10-19; auto-captions)
- Council agendas and legislation: https://jaxcityc.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
- Related: JEA Community Advisory Council
- Rules Committee minutes, October 19, 2026: https://jaxcityc.legistar1.com/jaxcityc/meetings/2026/10/3724_M_Rules_Committee_26-10-19_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
- 2026-10-19 - Rules Committee
Discussion time
About 31 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 - Rules Committee | 31 |
Log
2026-10-19 - Rules Committee
The nominee spoke; Dr. Salem opposed, Boylan, Amaro, Clark Murray and Pittman supported; approved 6-1.
Minutes: 2026-0203 approved 6-1 (Salem opposed); 2026-0192 (Wyse) deferred.
2026-11-02 - Rules Committee
Resolution 2026-0192 confirming Randy Wyse to the JEA governing body (replacing Arthur L. Adams) is listed for deferral on the 11/2 Rules draft agenda.