JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In their very first board meeting, the newly appointed board of JEA fired Melissa Dykes.
Dykes, now the former interim CEO of JEA, was fired without cause in today’s meeting in order to create a fresh new start for the utility company.
According to Dykes’ contract, she would get 30 days notice of any termination without cause. She would also get six months with pay being a consultant and a twenty-weeks lump sum of severance pay.
After the board voted on the termination, Dykes gave her last interim CEO report.
“While leading JEA through this transition, I have fully cooperated with all investigations. In late 2019, I reached out to the state attorney’s office and told I was willing to assist in the investigation. In January I did the same with U.S. Department of Justice, the United States Attorney and the FBI. I am proud that I have fulfilled that commitment without wavering.”
Last week JEA received a federal grand jury subpoena. Dykes, along with former CEO Aaron Zahn, Herschel Vinyard and Ryan Wannemacher, were mentioned in the subpoena.
Caren Anders will be interim CEO until the next board meeting where a new interim CEO will be announced while the board looks for a permanent position.
