The Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority passed three motions Wednesday regarding the future of GRU leadership.
Following a 2-3 failed vote to terminate GRU General Manager Tony Cunningham in a special meeting Monday, Craig Carter, a member of the governor-appointed board who had previously voted down the motion, presented a new one calling for Cunningham to be fired.
The decision comes after a series of disagreements between Cunningham and GRU Authority Chair Ed Bielarski, who previously served as general manager until he was fired by the city commission in 2022, concerning the fiscal year 2025 budget.
Carter said he put forward the motion with a “heavy heart” on “one of the most shameful nights of my life.” However, he said Cunningham’s termination is ultimately in the best interest of GRU.
“There is a divide in this utility,” Carter said. “We need to move forward.”
Nine people weighed in on the motion during public comment.
Nancy Deren, a GRU customer, said she returned Wednesday to thank Cunningham for his professionalism at the meeting two days prior and was surprised by Carter’s motion.
“Mr. Carter I’m really taken aback. I think this is appalling,” she said. “I think this throws us into an instability and is so unjust.”
GRU customer Chad Roth said Carter’s behavior was “really erratic.”
“Two days ago, you scold Mr. Bielarski, and rightfully so, for the way he browbeat Mr. Cunningham and his senior team, and now you’re saying he ought to be the general manager,” he said. “That is really strange.”
Both Roth and Deren advocated against Cunningham’s termination.
However, GRU customer Ernesto Martinez commended the decision as falling in line with House Bill 1645, which established the governor-appointed GRU authority in 2023. Firing Cunningham was in the best interest of ratepayers, he said.
In a 4-1 vote, Cunningham was removed as GRU General Manager.
Carter presented two additional motions. The first proposed Bielarski resign as chair of the GRU authority and become interim GRU General Manager, and the second aimed to appoint Eric Lawson as GRU Authority chair while David Haslam remained vice chair.
Both motions passed unanimously.
The authority permitted Cunningham to speak during chair comments. There is a need for stability within the utility going forward, he said.
“We’re having a hard time with that, and I think that needs to be a priority,” Cunningham said.
He said the utility defined the last 22 years of his life and thanked his fellow employees.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if I’m supposed to come to work tomorrow or not,” Cunningham said.
The next GRU meeting is scheduled for June 26.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year Political Science major and the Fall 2024 Politics Enterprise Reporter. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting, and watching theatre!
