The time it takes gravity to slow 40 m/s to zero when it teaches maximum height is
-v(initial) / -g = t
-40 m/s / -9.8 m/s^2 = 4.08 s
The height reached is the average velocity times this time 4.08 s, with v(avg) = [v(initial) + v(final)] / 2 with v(final) = 0. v(avg) = v(initial) / 2 = 40 m/s / 2 = 20 m/s.
A chair at rest on the floor has two forces acting on it its own weight that pulls it downward and the floor pushing upward on the chair, both of these forces are acting on it but the net force is 0, so the chair remains at rest and its velocity stays at 0.