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NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Robert J. Rodi, CEO of the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission steps down May 28.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Utilities Commission CEO and General Manager Robert J. Rodi is resigning, effective May 28, according to a letter he signed, which was obtained by NSBNEWS.net under a public records request. NSBNEWS.net broke the story Monday night that Rodi had resigned earlier in the day for unspecified reason and that his resignation would take effect sometime in May.
In his two-page letter dated March 24, Rodi wrote in part, "Dear Utilities Commissioners, I am writing to you, with due reflection and under my sole initiative, to officially and voluntarily convey my resignation from the Utilities Commission, City of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, effective May 24, 2010."
Rodi, who has been at the helm of the utility giant since mid-2005, in the wake of a failed telecommunications division that had some residents calling for an FBI investigation.
Rodi wrote at length about the achievements and ptogreess of the utility under his watch, but gave no direct reason for stepping down, which took some people by surprise, including Mayor Adam Barringer, who confirmed earlier in the day Tuesday that, he, too, had heard rumors that Rodi had been the recipient of personal threats.
The mayor said he had no other information other than to say, "Yes, I can confirm those rumors about threats," and that he planned to speak with Rodi later in the day Tuesday.
New Smyrna Beach resident Bob Tolley, who has followed the goings-on of the Utilities Commission meetings over the years, said those threats are longstanding, but he declined to elaborate further.
NSBNEWS.net contacted Utilities Commission spokeswoman Ellen Fisher for comment, but she said she was not aware of such issues and she said Rodi would not be available for a media interview.
NSBNEWS.net also contacted New Smyrna Beach police to see if Rodi had filed any complaints and police spokesman Sgt. Michael Brouilette said there were no reports on file related to the name Robert J. Rodi, with the exception of a 2008 traffic accident report.