Latest news with #St.JohnsCountyAirportAuthority
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State investigating St. John's County Airport Authority executive over use of tenant planes
Controversy is once again surrounding the St. Johns County Airport Authority, with questions now centering on former Interim Executive Director Jaime Topp. The State Attorney's Office investigation and subpoenas are all detailed in this April 14th meeting agenda for the airport authority board. It lists demands for: 'Any and all account records pertaining to the following personnel and expenditures: 1. Timesheets and salary information for interim executive director Jaime Topp; 2. Travel vouchers, expense vouchers, reimbursement receipts, for fuel, rental, lease and/or use of any airplane owned by Modern Aero or any of its subsidiaries used by Jaime Topp; 3. Flight log/plans for Jaime Topp flying Cirrus Planes owned, leased, managed or otherwise operated by Modern Aero or any of its subsidiaries.' However, Topp said in an interview with Action News Jax Wednesday morning he has no knowledge of these subpoenas. 'I did interview with the state's attorney, but there was never any mention of a subpoena,' Topp said. Current airport authority board member Jennifer Liotta told Action News Jax this inquiry comes after it was brought to light Topp may have used those Modern Aero planes to fly to Miami for personal business during working hours. Liotta said, if true, it could be a violation of his employment contract. Related: New details in claims of unethical conduct by St. Johns County Airport Authority board members 'I found out through speaking with the staff at Modern Aero that Mr. Topp had been renting an aircraft for Modern Aero during business days, sometimes multiple days in a row,' Liotta explained. 'And records show that aircraft was going down to South Florida. It's my understanding that Mr. Top has a business interest in the Miami area.' Topp denied the claim of violating his contract, although he admitted to using the plane as Liotta mentioned. 'Did you use those planes - I guess even if you were working remotely - during your scheduled work day with the airport authority? Because I guess that's the issue Liotta was raising,' Action News Jax Logan MacDonald asked. 'Yeah, but I paid for it myself, the airport didn't pay for it,' Topp replied. 'But her assertion is that it violated your employment contract,' MacDonald added. 'No,' replied Topp. Liotta, however, said she's not aware of any remote work agreement ever being permitted by the board. Action News Jax also reached out to the State Attorney's Office for more background on the reason for these subpoenas as well as the ongoing investigation at hand, but have yet to hear back. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Johns Co. Airport Authority meets Monday after Sunshine violation allegations
The St. Johns County Airport Authority is set to meet on Monday to discuss its policies and the withdrawal of its legal representation. The meeting comes after Action News Jax told you about allegations that two board members violated Florida's public meeting laws, known as Sunshine laws. Those allegations against Reba Ludlow and Len Tucker were first revealed in a letter Action News Jax obtained last month from the Douglas Law Firm – in which it informed the board it would be withdrawing as the airport authority's legal team. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: First Alert Weather Day Two sources with inside knowledge of the board's operations and the allegations told us that during the airport authority's last board meeting, Ludlow and Tucker were the driving forces behind introducing a policy change that would directly benefit them financially as airport tenants. The airport authority meeting is Monday at 4 p.m. Count on Action News Jax for continuing coverage. Read: 2025-2026 bus registration opening for Duval County Public Schools students [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Johns County Airport Authority board member wants policy review after claims of statute breaches
Board member Dennis Clarke is calling for a special meeting of the St. Johns County Airport Authority board of directors after new allegations sent in a recent email from Matt Liotta, the husband of fellow board member Jennifer Liotta. The email to Clarke claims the authority has violated Florida public meetings laws and even its policies, which require at least five days' notice with relevant details before authority meetings. Liotta also mentioned other allegations of policy violations. 'Somebody should have that set up on a tickler system and just get those notices out and you know, so I can't disagree with that,' Clarke told Action News Jax on Tuesday. 'But I don't have any firsthand knowledge as to when it was actually, when the notices were actually published and versus when the meeting was held.' Action News Jax was also the first to tell you about the allegations of Florida public record law violations by board chair Reba Ludlow and board member Len Tucker. Those claims were raised by the authority's former legal team, which withdrew its representation of the authority after raising the ethical and legal concerns. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Now, in light of those recent and new allegations, Clarke is calling for the board to have a third-party review of what he said have been long-outdated policies related to operational procedures and transparency. 'We have policies and procedures that are published on our website that are, by and large, still valid, but they're dated from 1997,' Clarke said. 'There have been many changes in everything since that time.' Clarke is also calling for greater transparency after the allegations against his two fellow board members by the board's former attorney Joshua Blocker. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'I've saw Mr. Blocker's letter … if he has a concern, then that worries me,' Clarke said. 'But on the other hand, let's put it on the table, and let's deal with it.' Action News Jax reached out to Blocker for a response and in a statement he said: 'As per Florida bar rules and Florida statute, all information that is pertinent to this matter has been disclosed to the appropriate law enforcement agency for review.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New details in claims of unethical conduct by St. Johns County Airport Authority board members
Action News Jax is now uncovering new details behind the allegations of Florida open meeting law violations, voting conflicts of interest, and retaliation from St. Johns County Airport Authority board chair Reba Ludlow and board member Len Tucker. Those allegations against Ludlow and Tucker were first revealed in a letter Action News Jax obtained Friday from Douglas Law Firm – where they informed the board they'd be withdrawing as the airport authority's legal team. Withdrawal Letter by ActionNewsJax on Scribd Two sources with inside knowledge of the board's operations and the allegations now reveal that during the airport authority's last board meeting, Ludlow and Tucker were the driving forces behind introducing a policy change that would directly benefit them financially as airport tenants. Despite that alleged voting conflict of interest being pointed out by the board's former attorneys at Douglas Law, the vote proceeded anyway. Those two sources also tell Action News Jax that Ludlow and Tucker also repeatedly discussed that policy change privately and outside of Sunshine Law. RELATED: Law firm drops St. Johns County Airport Authority over allegations of law violations The sources add Tucker also reportedly threatened to fire a member of Douglas Law's team in retaliation for them pointing out the alleged violations. The airport did release the following statement Saturday regarding the allegations: 'The staff of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport remains focused on the safe and orderly operation of the airport while the board of directors addresses this matter at their next regularly scheduled board meeting. This matter has no impact on the day-to-day operations of the airport.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Fellow board member Jennifer Liotta is calling for a stronger response, after only hearing of that press release when Action News Jax told her about it. 'Unfortunately, I learned about that press release from a journalist instead of through proper channels,' Liotta said. 'And to me, that raises some serious concerns about how this is being handled internally.' On Monday morning, Action News Jax Logan MacDonald also attempted to reach Ludlow for comment at her home, but the community was gated off. MacDonald then knocked on the door of Tucker's home looking for a response to the allegations, but no answer. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Neither accused board member responded to Action News Jax's requests for comment over email. The Florida Ethics Commission also tells Action News Jax they have no complaint filed against Ludlow, Tucker, or the board. However, Action News Jax learned the State Attorney's Office was notified about the allegations and could review the case for possible criminal charges. That office has not responded to our request for comment. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
