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CPA holds off on hiring a chief electrician
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has for now deferred action the hiring of a full-time chief electrician. The new position, according to CPA executive director Maryann Lizama, is a “much more detailed job” than the general electricians CPA currently has, and would specifically deal with things like airport runways.
Board member Barrie Toves objected to the motion to defer action on this personnel matter.
“I am having a hard time seeing the logic why we’re going to defer action on this one when we created the position under the fiscal year 2015 budget. It was argued that it was a necessary position,” he said.
He said in the absence of any directive coming from the Inos administration, CPA should proceed with this particular position for now.
For any other new position that is going to come forth, he said, CPA would deal with that when the directive comes out, but in this case “we are counting the chicken when the egg is not even laid.”
Board member Benigno Sablan asked executive director Lizama if it was correct that she met with Gov. Eloy S. Inos who spoke of “not doing anything at this point in time until perhaps the swearing in ceremony.” Lizama said that was correct.
Sablan asked board chair Joe Lifoifoi to defer action until they get a “better reading” from the Inos administration.
“At this point in time, Mr. Chairman, coming from the governor’s instruction—not necessarily in black and white yet—but we need to adhere to it now so that we don’t fall into a ditch now or the next day,” he said.
Sablan said he understood where Toves was coming from.
“It is a transitional period, a new government is coming in January, I think we should hold for now until such time we get a better reading from the administration,” he said.
Toves was the sole “nay” vote when the board approved the motion.
