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Stalled Senate confirmation delays NMC BOR’s meeting
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Posted on Mar 08 2006
The stalled confirmation of newly appointed regents of the Northern Marianas College is causing a lack of quorum that is delaying the Board of Regents’ discussion on pending issues that must be addressed immediately.
The board was supposed to meet yesterday afternoon but they had to postpone it to another day because newly appointed board member Charles Cepeda has not been formally confirmed by the Senate.
Cepeda replaced entrepreneur Jay Jones as the new board appointee after Jones declined due to “conflict of interest,” as announced earlier by the governor.
BOR chairperson Kimberly King-Hinds said the board only needs one more board member for a quorum to be met. Newly appointed board members Rita H. Inos and Linsa F. Lizama were present at the meeting. Agnes McPhetres had excused herself.
BOR legal counsel Jesus Borja had verified the confirmation of Inos and Lizama.
Cepeda presented Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s appointment memorandum but Borja said this was not enough to officialize his appointment.
Cepeda, together with the other newly appointed BOR board member, decided to head up to the Senate to follow up on their confirmation yesterday afternoon.
With the lack of quorum, NMC remains “board-less” but, according to Borja, NMC president Tony V. Deleon Guerrero remains in charge of decision making for the entire college.
NMC faculty members were also present in the meeting and voiced out that the delay is also holding up their request for actions, as required by several projects at the college.
King-Hinds said the entire board has great faith with the president but there are matters that require a board resolution.
“It’s very frustrating,” said King-Hinds, adding that lawmakers should prioritize NMC and its needs now.
She said the board would be meeting with the governor on March 17 to lobby for the retention of the previous budget for the college. Until a quorum is reached, the regular NMC BOR regular meeting will not resume.
