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Manpower lack threatens CPA compliance with federal regs
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Posted on Jul 22 2008
The Commonwealth Ports Authority says it needs to hire new employees to meet federal requirements, but a lack of funds is preventing it from doing so.
Acting CPA executive director Lee Cabrera, in a report to the Fitial administration and the Legislature, said that four airport firefighters and one ports police officer had left for military deployment last week. The departure of the five servicemen, as well as the recent resignation of several other staff members, have left the ports authority with a staff shortage that could jeopardize CPA’s operations and ability to receive federal funding.
“Personnel are needed with CPA ports police and ARFF [aircraft rescue and firefighting] to ensure compliance with the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Aviation Administration safety requirements,” Cabrera said.
“However,” he added, “funding remains a significant challenge. CPA must raise the revenue to pay for this critical staff.”
Cabrera said consultations concerning CPA’s personnel needs are ongoing with the Fitial administration and Bank of Guam, which serves as trustee for CPA’s airport revenue bond.
“Replacement hiring is currently being considered with a view on the financial impacts of such hiring,” he said.
CPA has been plagued by resignations in the past year and a half. In May 2007, Clyde Norita resigned as executive director. Airport fire chief Stanley Torres took over Norita’s post for eight months before quitting in January 2008.
Cabrera, who officially heads the seaport division, was named to serve as acting executive director. He also is poised to go on early retirement at the end of this month.
The ports authority has been without a comptroller since the resignation of George Palican in February 2007. Other key positions that are currently vacant are deputy director, airport manager, and seaport manager. The latest to leave is CPA’s staff engineer; his resignation went into effect last Saturday, July 19, 2008.
