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CUC down to one potential CFO
The search for a new chief financial officer for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. may very well be over after three long months of screening candidates for the position.
According to board chair Dave Sablan Jr., the agency has finally narrowed its choice to one applicant.
“I believe we are now down to one applicant and we’re just waiting on some information from that applicant,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune.
In an earlier interview with CUC executive director Alan Fletcher, he said: “We have been actively recruiting candidates for this position. Interviews had been held and we have three applicants successfully vetted by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.” Fletcher said they are also looking into possible candidates for a deputy executive director.
As part of stipulated orders no. 1, EPA requires that CUC has a complete management structure for the public utilities agency.
About eight positions are defined in stipulated order no. 1. Three of the eight positions remain unfilled: the deputy executive director, the CFO, and the drinking water and wastewater division manager.
“Although we may lack a CFO, our acting CFO is quite experienced and is handling everything for now and we will be waiting for our new CFO after EPA notifies us,” Fletcher said.
CUC’s former chief financial officer, Charles Warren, resigned on July 18, 2014.
Since that time, Joanne Paraiso a certified public accountant, had been appointed acting CFO. With 10 years of management level of utility experience, Paraiso has been working directly with stipulated order issues and has been responsible for managing about $70 million in grant monies received by CUC.
According to CUC, two qualified candidates are now being vetted by EPA for the deputy director positions.
The drinking water and wastewater division manager is still being recruited for the position.
