Senator, citizen raise concerns about Manglona exit from NMC

Sen. Paul Manglona and private citizen Crispin Ogo aired their concerns yesterday over the recent unceremonious departure of Cooperative Research and Extension Services dean and director Ross Manglona from the Northern Marianas College.

Appearing at yesterday’s Board of Regents meeting, Ogo spoke first but was unable to deliver his intended address due to procedural matters. Instead, he submitted documents for the board’s consideration.

Manglona acknowledged board procedure but asked for a short time to share his concerns on behalf of citizens of Rota who have called him on the issue.

“At least five people have called me up. I know that you all sympathize with our farmers down [on] Rota because you’ve seen the economic situation down there. You see people really suffering,” he said.

Manglona pointed out that whatever economic activity Rota has is agricultural.

“[Ross Manglona] has been a tremendous help to many of these farmers and they just want to know what’s going on,” he said.

He said he has talked with the mayor of Tinian and that the same concerns are being raised there.

“With any program it really does matter who the individual is, that the person knows the island, knows the people,” Manglona said.

He said it is critical for the board to let the public speak on the issue.

“On Rota and Tinian, NMC hardly has any major program [other] than CREES. We want to have what’s left there of your main program to succeed and to flourish and to help our farmers and our people there,” Manglona said.

Board chair Frank Rabauliman opened the meeting’s public comments section by making it clear that while any individual or group may address the board, comments should focus only on items that are on the agenda.

He recommended that Ogo write a letter to the board instead, seeking for the issue to be included in the next board meeting.

“[I have] the ability to call a special meeting if this warrants a special meeting,” Rabauliman said.

While Ogo acknowledged procedure, he asked the board to give him an opportunity to present his case.

“This issue today requires immediate attention because it pertains to employees, not an employee, but employees of Northern Marianas College. I need this time to share my thoughts on the policy of [the college],” Ogo said.

He asked board members to revisit the agenda and possibly pass a motion to include it for discussion.

Regent John Lizama said the board would not take the matter lightly but that discussion should be moved to a later meeting due to possible sensitive information.

“The individuals here should recognize that there is a procedure, they should cautiously learn how to do [so they are not] jeopardizing also the interest of the individual that they are here for,” Lizama said.

Another regent, William Torres, asked the board to discuss the issue in an executive session as it deals with policy concerns.

“This board cannot blindly shove [the issue] aside so for that reason I’d like for the matter to be discussed today in an executive session because it involves personnel,” Torres said.

In a later interview, Ogo said the documents he submitted were his own personal testimony, a copy of the grievance filed by Ross Manglona with the college in 2012, a letter from the college’s legal counsel, and citizen testimony from a James Matsumoto.