Concerns Mount Over Megan Hayward's Questions and Timing of Her Removal from JTA Board

The recent removal effort targeting Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) board member Megan Hayward has sparked concerns over transparency and potential impropriety within city government. As Hayward raised questions regarding discrepancies in ridership numbers and a financial contribution involving another board member’s employer, the timing of her removal by Mayor Donna Deegan deserves heightened scrutiny.

Discrepancies in Ridership Reporting

At the February 27 board meeting—just two days after Mayor Deegan moved to remove her—Hayward highlighted troubling inconsistencies in JTA’s ridership data. She noted that the numbers reported to the board were significantly lower than those provided to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which ultimately impacts federal funding allocations.

“These numbers aren’t off by 10 or 20 riders; they are off by thousands,” Hayward emphasized, pointing out a discrepancy of roughly 2,000 riders in reported figures. She further expressed concern that JTA appeared to be “retroactively changing” ridership figures, raising questions about the accuracy and integrity of the data submitted to state and federal authorities.

If these discrepancies were intentional, JTA could potentially be inflating ridership numbers to receive more state and federal funding than it actually deserves, which could lead to legal and financial repercussions at multiple levels of government.

JTA CEO Nat Ford assured Hayward that the staff would investigate and report back, but the issue remains unresolved.

$60,000 Contribution Raises Ethical Questions

In addition to the ridership discrepancies, Hayward scrutinized a $60,000 contribution made by JTA to JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber. The contribution, which was not included as a budget line item, was listed as an “investment” in JTA’s sponsorships and memberships report. Another $2,500 contribution to the JAX Chamber was listed as a “board of directors fee” for 2025.

Of particular concern is the fact that Aundra Wallace, the president of JAXUSA Partnership, also serves as vice chair of the JTA board. Hayward questioned whether such a financial arrangement represented a conflict of interest and called for an independent audit of the contribution.

“Look, perception is reality, and even if there is a legal loophole that allows us to directly pay board members, it’s the perception,” Hayward stated. “We all need to appear beyond reproach.”

JTA’s legal counsel, Richard Milian, stated that there was no apparent conflict of interest since the funding did not provide a “special private gain” to Wallace or his associates. However, the ethical concerns raised by Hayward continue to linger.

The Mayor’s Move: A Coincidental or Calculated Removal?

Mayor Deegan’s decision to remove Hayward, replacing her with former City Council president Elaine Brown, has raised eyebrows, particularly given the timing. Hayward, appointed by Deegan in October 2023, was originally set to serve a partial term through May 2025, followed by a full four-year term. However, Deegan introduced legislation on February 25 to remove Hayward just days before her public questioning of JTA’s practices.

Legislative Language and City Council Resolution

The Jacksonville City Council introduced a resolution confirming the appointment of Elaine Brown as a member of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), replacing Megan Hayward during the City Council meeting on February 25, 2025. This appointment was made pursuant to Chapter 349 of the Florida Statutes for a partial term expiring on May 31, 2025, followed by a full term extending to May 31, 2029. The resolution was introduced by Wilson at the request of the mayor, with CM Pittman as a co-sponsor.

Resolution Confirming Appointment to JTA:

• "RESO Conf the Mayor’s Appt of Elaine Brown as a Member of the JTA, Replacing Megan Hayward, Pursuant to Ch 349 (Jacksonville Transportation Authority), F.S., for a Partial Term to Exp 5/31/25, Followed by a 1st Full Term to Exp 5/31/29 (Wilson) (Req of Mayor) (Co-Sponsor CM Pittman)."

This resolution confirms that Elaine Brown was appointed to replace Megan Hayward on the Jacksonville Transportation Authority board under the authority of Chapter 349 of the Florida Statutes. Her term will initially last until May 31, 2025, after which she will serve a full term extending until May 31, 2029.

Hayward’s Role as Treasurer and Whistleblower

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Three members are appointed by the Governor of Florida and confirmed by the Senate, while another three are appointed by the Mayor of Jacksonville and confirmed by the City Council. The seventh member is the District Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation serving the district that includes Jacksonville.

The Board annually elects four officers from its members: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Treasurer supervises the financial affairs of the Authority and performs additional functions as designated by the Board or the Chair.

Recent reports indicate that Megan Hayward held the Treasurer position up until Mayor Donna Deegan proposed replacing her with Elaine Brown. Before Hayward, the role of Treasurer was held by Kevin Holzendorf, who had served in various leadership capacities within JTA before his tenure ended.

Given her role as Treasurer, Hayward’s scrutiny of JTA’s financial dealings and reporting discrepancies effectively positioned her as a whistleblower within the agency. Her removal raises serious questions about whether she was ousted as retaliation for doing her job, snooping around, and ultimately exposing potential financial mismanagement.

What’s Next?

Brown’s appointment must still be approved by the Jacksonville City Council, with a hearing scheduled for March 3 in the Council Rules Committee. Meanwhile, Hayward’s concerns remain unresolved, leaving lingering questions about JTA’s internal accountability and the motivations behind her abrupt removal.

As Jacksonville moves forward, the controversy surrounding Hayward’s removal serves as a stark reminder of the need for governmental transparency and ethical governance. Given the serious nature of the allegations regarding JTA’s ridership reporting and financial dealings, it is imperative that the City Council does not hastily approve Hayward’s removal without conducting a full independent audit of the concerns she raised. Any rush to push this appointment through without further review could undermine public trust in the integrity of local government.

Furthermore, the widespread local and national coverage of this issue highlights the necessity for city leadership to act with the utmost transparency, especially in light of budgetary concerns at all levels of government. Jacksonville residents deserve accountability, and the City Council is responsible for ensuring that ethical concerns within JTA are thoroughly examined before making any final decisions on Hayward’s replacement.

The ethical concerns surrounding the Mayor’s governance extend beyond the JTA board controversy. The recent land swap deal involving the University of Florida campus and Gateway Jax, which has been widely reported in numerous articles here at www.outdoorliving101.com, raises further questions about potential systemic questionable judgement in the administration’s decision-making approach. This pattern of behavior underscores the need for the city council to delay Hayward's removal until a thorough investigation of the matters she's highlighted is completed.