CPA hires consultant; proposes revision of personnel regs

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has hired a new consultant tasked to complete a cost allocation plan for the agency.

Ports authority executive director Efrain F. Camacho reported to the board that Charles W. Hester, a certified public accountant, was hired last March.

Saipan Tribune learned that Hester agreed to provide professional services to the agency to establish a cost allocation plan for Federal Administration Aviation grants, guidelines, forms, record keeping, and all requirements pursuant to FAA rules and regulations.

The professional contract agreement was set in the amount of $23,000 until the completion of the scope of work.

Hester has attended the board’s recent meeting and had provided updates on the project.

Camacho said the cost allocation plan is vital in the agency’s effort to completely addressed concerns of the federal agency, based on Office of Inspector General report that identified some unaccounted administrative costs.

According to FAA manager for airport division for western pacific, Mark McClardy, the cost allocation plan would be a “vital factor” in the complete removal of CPA from “risk status.”

The official also formally notified the ports management on its removal from “high-risk status” to now moderate.

“I am pretty sure it will soon be removed to the risk status until it goes back to business as usual [because of the cost allocation plan],” McClardy said.

Camacho, on the same meeting, had endorsed for board action management’s proposal to revise the personnel rules and regulation of the agency.

He said changes are necessary to be made to “reflect” the current condition of the ports authority.

Camacho described the regulation as “outdated” and “very complicated.”

Saipan Tribune learned that the regulation mandates the CPA management to provide merit and salary increase to employees who have been in the service for 30 years.

“We need to change that…because I believed that whatever adjustment is made should be based on performance evaluation. Besides, the availability or status of the funds must be considered,” he told the board.

Camacho said the management wants to simplify, especially the hourly wage scale, mandated in the present rules and regulation.

“The rules and regulations need to be based on performance as a means for staff advancement in the organization,” Camacho added.

The proposal is now under the board’s review and expected to be acted upon in its next meeting.