Docs: GRU Authority appointee resigned from city job after visiting adult website at work

There appears to be more issues with at least one of the new appointees to the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board that have nothing to do with residency requirements.

Documents obtained by The Gainesville Sun show that Robert “Chip” Skinner, one of the new appointees set to be sworn in Thursday, was forced to resign from his job as spokesperson for the city of Gainesville in 2019 in lieu of termination after it was found he printed material that was "inappropriate" in nature, from a city computer while at work.

On Aug. 19, 2019, an inappropriate document was retrieved from a printer, his employee citation reads. The document contained a website used for finding adult singles and swingers for dating and sex. Skinner’s file states that an interview with human resources verified the document was his and that he had been on the website during work hours using a city computer.

“Skinner's actions and decision making during work hours has affected his relationship with management and cannot be overlooked,” his employee citation said. “In addition, management does not feel confident in his decision making and requirement to make independent decisions in his role as a Media Relations Coordinator.”

More: Ed Bielarski among five appointed by DeSantis to new GRU Authority board

Skinner was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week to serve on the GRU Authority board, but he isn't the first GRU Authority appointee with a conflict.

The Sun first reported that many of the board’s previous members were ineligible to hold their positions because they did not meet residency or application requirements in September. In March, following a lawsuit filed by a citizens group, a judge ordered the members could resign or be removed.

In the governor’s press release announcing the board's latest appointees, Skinner was credited as an active member of the community, a coach and volunteer for Alachua County Public Schools, and the President of Gainesville Area Lacrosse, Inc.

When reached for comment Wednesday, Skinner said he never would have applied to the authority if he knew the information about his resignation would be released publicly, but that he will not resign from his position. He also said he would have attorneys contact The Sun as well as the city.

"I don't feel that this has any bearing whatsoever on the work that I would be doing on the board," he said. "Fiscally, I'm very conservative, and that's what I'm looking at."

He said he applied for the board in hopes of helping residents and being a voice of reason as a non-party affiliated member.

The official employee citation, which was rendered void after Skinner resigned, recommended he be fired and suspended without pay. According to his file, Skinner’s employment was terminated August 23, 2019, the same day the employee notice of misconduct was filed.

The employee notice stated Skinner violated city policies which prohibit "immoral, unlawful, or improper conduct or indecency, whether on or off the job,” and one that states “no employee shall request, use, or permit the use of, whether directly or indirectly, any publicly owned, public-supported property… for the personal convenience or the private advantage of said employee or any other person."

Skinner also was disciplined in 2016 while he worked for the Regional Transit System for “making inappropriate comments about a fellow employee in front of others that were not welcomed,” the file states.

According to the 2016 employee citation, Skinner realized a mistake made by another employee and said something close to “that f****ing Cuban idiot can't spell,” in front of two other employees. The infraction forced Skinner to serve a short suspension.

“Therefore, given the severity of his improper conduct in this case, the fact that Mr. Skinner has been disciplined and counseled for other incidents that he did not make good judgment decisions, termination is appropriate,” his 2019 citation concluded.

Skinner said the comment was nothing more than friendly locker-room talk and that he is still friends with the person he made the comment about.

The GRU Authority was created following a bill filed by Florida Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, and stripped Gainesville’s all-Democrat commission of its power over the utility. The authority is tasked with making all GRU-related decisions including rate increases, fund transfers and more.

Four others are expected to be sworn in along with Skinner on Thursday evening including Ed Bielarski, the former general manager of GRU who was fired in 2022 by the Gainesville City Commission before attempting a failed bid for mayor, former Authority members Craig Carter and Eric Lawson, as well as newcomer David Haslam.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: GRU Authority appointee resigned from city over inappropriate site