ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority’s board of directors named Chief Financial Officer Daryl Griffith as the interim executive director of the Authority today following the end of Executive Director Roger Merritt Jr.’s contract.
Prior to joining WMA, Griffith spent over 10 years leading the VI Housing Finance Authority as executive director from 2016 to 2023.
“On behalf of our board of directors, we are excited to have Mr. Griffith accept the position of interim executive director for the next six months,” Derek Gabriel, WMA board chair, said in a statement. “Mr. Griffith brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to this position.”
Gabriel said the board knows Griffith is the right person to lead the Authority for the next six months while it conducts a national and regional search for a new executive director.
Kimmel and Associates, the largest industry-specific executive search firm in North America, has been selected to run the executive search on behalf of the Authority’s board, according to a WMA news release.
As the current term of Merritt’s contract ends today, Gabriel told WTJX that the board felt it would be prudent to conduct a local and nationwide search for a new executive director and see what type of candidates apply.
“The Waste Management Authority, especially with getting the new prudent replacement for the wastewater system on St. Croix, is really at a critical inflection point, and we want to make sure that we are doing the best job that we can as a board to ensure that we have the proper leader that can push the agency forward,” he said by phone.
Gabriel pointed out WMA remains under two federal consent decrees for its wastewater systems and landfills. He said the board wants to make sure the Authority’s next executive director has a plan to satisfy those consent decrees. He said the ideal candidate would be able to work with local regulators at the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and with federal regulators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He said the board wants to hire an executive director who can manage the employees as well as the resources that are now available to the Authority.
“We really want somebody who understands where we are as far as our solid waste and our wastewater issues and can really bring some closure to some of the issues that have been long-standing for quite some time,” he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently approved $989 million for the prudent replacement of the wastewater system on St. Croix, including 14 pump stations and most wastewater lines, the news release stated. While prudent replacement of the wastewater system has been approved on St. Croix, the Authority is going through the same process in the St. Thomas/St. John District. WMA is also eligible for up to $146 million to assist with constructing convenience centers territory wide, the closure of the Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix, and the expansion and closure of the Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas.
“We believe now is the perfect time to conduct a national executive search for an exemplary candidate to lead the Authority into these major projects and initiatives,” Gabriel said in a statement.
Gabriel told WTJX that the board is searching for the most qualified candidate to fill the position of executive director, adding that a qualified candidate could be someone with wastewater or solid waste technical expertise, someone who is an executive manager, or someone who has worked on the regulatory side.
“There are a number of potential fits that can work,” he said. “We’re going to cast a wide net, and we're excited to see what we're going to get back.”
The board notified Merritt in June that his contract would not be renewed in favor of conducting an executive search for qualified candidates.
“We thank Mr. Merritt for his service to the Authority and the territory since 2020,” Gabriel said in a statement. “Undoubtedly, Mr. Merritt has made progress in many key areas during his tenure. We recognize his contributions and remain grateful for his service.”
