Senate to vote on vacancies certified by governor today

The Senate will make a choice today whether or not to act on the decision of outgoing Gov. Juan N. Babauta to certify 71 vacant positions and nominate eight individuals to various boards.

The agenda for today’s Senate session shows that Babauta issued 52 messages to the upper house between Oct. 28 and Dec. 7.

These messages include certifications for 70 vacant positions, nomination of eight people to different boards, and actions on measures passed by the Legislature.

“It’s up to the members to decide what to act on,” Senate floor leader Paul Manglona said.

Certifications for vacant positions allow agencies to recruit additional employees despite the government’s hiring freeze policy.

On Oct. 28, Babauta certified that the Office of Personnel Management was in need of a personnel specialist trainer and the Department of Labor in need of an executive secretary.

On Nov. 1, the governor certified vacancies for two project coordinators, fiscal specialist, accountant II, accounting technician I, assistant housing officer, and trades helper at the Department of Public Works.

A vacancy was also certified for a program officer at the Council on Development Disabilities.

The following day, the governor said that Labor also needed a labor law enforcement trainee, labor law enforcement technician/trainee, clerk/trainee, senior hearing office clerk, and a labor law enforcement specialist I.

Three days after the election, Babauta certified 28 vacancies at the Tinian Mayor’s Office for the positions of 14 community workers, community worker III, administrative officer, two receptionists, two medical attendants, mechanic, park and maintenance worker, two public relation officers, public information specialist, equipment operator, assistant to the CEO, and community service representative.

On Nov. 10, the governor issued a certification that the Tinian Health Center needed a medical referral assistant.

This was followed by certifications of vacancies for arts coordinator at the Arts Council, and an electrical engineer and supply specialist at Public Works.

Babauta has also issued a certification that there were vacancies for a record assistant and a survey and forestry trainee at DLNR; a communications operator at the Emergency Management Office; a personnel specialist and a personnel assistant at OPM.

Vacancies have been certified for the positions of secretary II and investigator at the Office of the Public Defender; a customs officer I at the Customs Service Division, and two physician assistants at the Department of Public Health.

On Dec. 7, Babauta also certified that the Tinian Health Center needed a nursing assistant and accounting technician; the Arts Council an administrative assistant; the Rota Department of Public Works a building maintenance supervisor; the Superior Court a records assistant; the Attorney General’s Office a legal intern; and Public Works a project coordinator, staff archeologist, safety officer, and administrative specialist.

Furthermore, Babauta has nominated eight individuals to serve as members of different boards.

The government re-nominated Benita Manglona to the Marianas Public Lands Authority board of directors; Galvin Deleon Guerrero and Jose C. Sablan to the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents; and Herman R. Guerrero and Juan S. Torres to the Marianas Public Land Trust.

He also named William S. Torres to the Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors; Felicidad T. Ogumoro to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors; and David M. Cing to the Commonwealth Election Commission.

The incoming Fitial administration has already called on the outgoing leadership to refrain from making any more personnel actions that would bind the government beyond Babauta’s term.