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Saipan council seeks funds to secure office
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Posted on Apr 22 2008
The Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council is lobbying the Saipan legislative delegation for funds to upgrade its office security.
The municipal council, which has been hit by a spate of burglaries, also wants money to replace the equipment and supplies stolen from its Chalan Kanoa office last year.
The previous legislative delegation approved a $38,000 appropriation for this purpose last year, but the governor used his line-item veto authority to strike it down.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial took issue with the language of the bill, which stated the appropriation was “for security purposes of the Saipan Municipal Council.” He said the language would not have allowed the council to expend the funds what they were intended or needed for.
Council chairwoman Antonia M. Tudela, in a letter to the 16th Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, said previous members of the council had asked the 15th delegation to pass another appropriation bill with a clearer language. But the November 2007 election delayed action on the legislation.
