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Micro-management issue spurs debate
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Posted on Sep 28 2004
Members of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors yesterday traded accusations of micro-management, following an order from Gov. Juan N. Babauta for the board to get out of CUC’s day-to-day operations.
The instruction was part of a list of concerns the governor had raised about CUC’s condition, including utility services, finances, and administration. “Get the board completely out of day-to-day management and back to planning and policy direction,” Babauta had said.
The matter was brought up in the board’s special meeting yesterday, spurring a heated discussion among the directors.
Board member Velma Ann Palacios maintained that she does not interfere with day-to-day activities at the corporation.
“There’s always that implication that it’s Velma and [board member] Joe [Torres] who are micro-managing, when I’m only here when there’s a meeting,” Palacios said. She was reacting to CUC chair Francisco Q. Guerrero’s earlier statement that some board members come to CUC to make requests or give orders directly to employees.
Guerrero, however, maintained that no one is accusing anyone. He encouraged board members to study a document he had distributed to the directors distinguishing the role of the board from that of the management.
CUC vice chair Herman P. Sablan hit the management for using the alleged micro-management by the board as scapegoat for the corporation’s problems.
“The problem here [lies] with the sewer, power and water [services]. So don’t use micro-management as an excuse. Don’t say ‘the board is micro-managing and that’s why we can’t do our job.’ The problems have nothing to do with the board members,” Sablan told management officials present at the meeting.
