Ed Bielarski speaks at the June 12 meeting when the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority voted to fire Tony Cunningham.
Photo by Seth Johnson
In a memo to Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) employees, new interim CEO Ed Bielarski announced a reorganization at the top, including the removal of the chief sustainability officer and the chief telecommunications officer. Bielarski wrote in the memo—obtained by Mainstreet on Thursday—that the changes promote the importance of affordability. “Earlier this week, I sent a message emphasizing the importance of becoming the utility our community can afford,” Bielarski said. “In accordance with that mission, I have made the following difficult but necessary organizational changes, effective immediately.” Mainstreet does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible. See Member Benefits Chief Sustainability Officer Eric Walters has been removed from his position, which will be eliminated as the Office of Sustainability and Reliance changes into Operational Planning and Support. Chief Telecommunications Officer Lewis Walton will also leave the utility, Bielarski announced. GRU Communications will now report to Walter Banks, the chief information officer. Banks will analyze the department in the coming months to see how it “can best serve the utility.” Chief Operating Officer Brett Goodman will take a new position within the water/wastewater department, the memo also announced. All changes will be effective immediately. All three men are featured on the executive leadership page of the utility. “Operating under the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority affords us a generational opportunity to run the business differently than we have in the past,” Bielarski said. “I will continue to review our practices and procedures and make changes where necessary.” Bielarski took control of the utility last week after the GRU Authority reversed course and fired then General Manager Tony Cunningham. Bielarski voted in the affirmative to fire Cunningham and then resigned from the authority in order to take his position. Cunningham was appointed to the general manager position in early 2022 after the Gainesville City Commission fired Bielarski. Bielarski said employees have continued to provide services despite a turbulent and stressful few years. The turbulence hasn’t ended either. The City Commission finalized a vote to place the GRU Authority’s existence on the upcoming November ballot, letting Gainesville citizens decide who should control the utility. The GRU Authority has called the ballot referendum illegal and sent a letter to the supervisor of elections asking for its removal from the ballot. Become A Member
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Tags: Brett Goodman ed bielarski Eric Walters Gainesville City Commission Gainesville regional utilities Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority Lewis Walton Tony Cunningham Walter Banks
Seth Johnson Seth Johnson is a Mainstreet Daily News reporter based in Gainesville. He earned a degree in journalism and mass communication and served as editor-in-chief of his school newspaper. Seth is a bookworm and chess nerd, but he tempers these activities by playing sports and biking. View all posts
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Rob
14 hours ago
Sounds like a wonderful place to work. (Not).
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Raymond Mellott
9 hours ago
I’m still waiting for rates and debt to go down. So far, its beenorganizational chaos, starting with a board appointed by the governor, it’s composition not according to the law he signed, followed by 2-2 votes and temper tantrums, followed by a mass resignation… Since Ed B. ran the utility before and since he called adding to our debt by buying out that stupid trash plant…. and it appears he’s approving of sending the City bills for IT services of some number, I’m doubtful the chaos will ebb.
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Salary cap needed
9 hours ago
In articles like this, media like MSDN would do the public a great service by listing the salary of the people fired. Instead of feeling sorry for people losing their job, the public would realize why GRU is broke: The pay for these burrocrats can only be described as insanely obscenely too high. The top 25% of GRU and City of Gainesville needs a massive pay cut to make these people face reality.
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