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Jacksonville housing authority rejected CEO proposal tied to development fees
A proposed compensation plan for Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Cheron Corbett Waller would have meant about $973,000 from the Franklin Arms project alone, based on its estimated developer fee. The board rejected the plan, while its chair questioned the timing of a settlement that restored a tenant’s housing voucher but required her to leave the board.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Housing Authority board rejected a compensation proposal that could have given CEO Cheron Corbett Waller nearly $1 million from one redevelopment project, as the board’s chair raised concerns about a settlement involving a tenant and board member shortly before the pay plan came up for consideration.
The proposal called for Waller to receive 12% of developer fees generated by JHA projects, along with a $30,000 bonus, on top of her $300,000 annual salary. It also proposed setting aside 13% of developer fees for eligible senior staff.
Board Chair Daniel Blanchard said the board quickly turned down the plan, describing the proposed amounts as excessive.
The potential payout drew particular attention because of Franklin Arms, a roughly $50 million redevelopment that would replace a former apartment complex with 130 affordable homes. Jacksonville City Council has approved $1 million for the project. Its developer fee is estimated at about $8.1 million; 12% of that amount would be approximately $972,626.
“That’s not going to happen,” Blanchard said of a payout of that size. Waller has said developer fees can range from 1% to 12% and described her proposal as consistent with industry practices.
The board chair also questioned the timing of a settlement with Harriet Brock, a JHA tenant and board member who sued the agency, including Waller, after losing her housing voucher. The agreement, reached three days before the board considered the compensation proposal, restores Brock’s voucher but requires her to repay disputed housing assistance and resign from the board.
Blanchard said Waller was involved in settlement negotiations. Brock had been expected to oppose the proposed pay increase, he said, adding that the timing created poor optics.
Mayor Donna Deegan appoints JHA board members. Her office said Brock made a personal decision to accept the settlement, which was negotiated by her lawyer and the city’s Office of General Counsel on behalf of the housing authority. The statement did not say whether Deegan knew about or approved the agreement before it was finalized.
The housing authority and Waller did not provide comment in response to requests. Blanchard said the board intends to evaluate Waller before considering any pay increase. JHA does not post its board agendas and meeting packets online, and no date was identified for a future evaluation or compensation discussion.