Governor’s Office transfers Water Task Force to CUC

The Office of the Governor delegated yesterday the responsibilities of the CNMI Water Task Force to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., which will now oversee and manage its remaining projects, according to a memorandum of agreement signed by acting governor Ralph DLG Torres and utility officials yesterday.

The MOA also notes that the Office of the Governor will remain the expenditure authority for contracts and fund accounts of the Water Task Force, and that the CNMI has delegated to CUC its powers over the direction of current task force projects.

The CNMI Water Task Force has operated under a previous MOA and amendments since 2003.

In 2003, the CNMI and CUC entered an agreement to create a task force to carry out a plan to achieve a water system that would supply 24-hour water to the residents of Saipan.

The MOA signed yesterday states that the CNMI now desires to dissolve the task force and transfer its employees, assets, and functions to CUC, including management of pending task force projects.

Through the agreement, CUC acknowledges it is willing to assume this task of overseeing the remaining projects.

According to the MOA, CUC and the CNMI agree, among several others, to the following:

CUC will assume responsibility of managing three current task force projects through completion: the Puerto Rico 1 Million Gallon Reservoir, the Gualo Rai Reservoir Replacement, and the Lower Base Water Distribution Improvement. CUC will assign an engineer to oversee the project, attend all progress meetings, oversee payment processes and purchase orders, and oversee related activities and services;

The CUC executive director, or acting director, is authorized by the Office of the Governor to act on its behalf in the role formerly held by the task force program manager. The Governor’s Office, though, remains the expenditure authority for contracts and fund accounts for the task force projects;

Water task force employees will now be assigned to CUC, who will be responsible and supervise existing task force office employees and re-assign them within CUC according to needs at its discretion. CUC will also mange task force office operations beginning Dec. 7 until transition of office personnel and records to CUC offices are completed.