A special meeting of the V.I. Water and Power Authority Governing Board on Thursday signaled more changes to the utility’s C-suite. According to a WAPA spokesperson, unspecified votes taken during Thursday’s meeting pertained to the chief operating officer of electric systems and chief financial officer positions but did not name names.
The board convened at 11 a.m. and immediately entered executive session for more than two hours to discuss personnel matters. Afterward, Board Secretary Juanita Young reported only that the board took two votes. One matter was approved unanimously and the other was approved 4-1.
Board Chair Hubert Turnbull said during the meeting that the utility’s executive director, Karl Knight, would issue a press release elaborating on the actions. The board then adjourned, and no press release had been issued by Thursday night.
WAPA’s management team has undergone numerous changes since Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. declared a still-active local state of emergency nearly eight months ago amid rolling blackouts and nonpayment to vendors that threatened the stable supply of electricity to Virgin Islanders.
Former Chief Executive Officer Andrew Smith, who assumed leadership of the authority in January 2022, opted not to renew his contract ending on June 30. Interim COO of Electric Ashley Bryan served as the utility’s interim CEO and executive director until the appointment of Karl Knight — Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s former chief of staff — on July 25.
Ashley Bryan announced her resignation several weeks ago, and her final day was Friday, Nov. 29.
On Nov. 21, the authority announced hiring former Property and Procurement Commissioner Anthony Thomas to serve as the utility’s chief administrative officer, responsible for purchasing, inventory control, property and fleet management and “streamlining organizational processes, optimizing resources, and supporting WAPA’s mission to provide reliable and affordable utility services to the Virgin Islands,” according to a press release issued at the time.
WAPA’s last chief financial officer resigned in December 2023. Lorraine Kelly, the utility’s accounting director and comptroller, has been the interim CFO ever since. A WAPA spokesperson did not respond to questions on Thursday evening about Kelly’s current employment status.
To read the update to this story, click here.
