Reyes disappointed over choice of new zoning chief

Senate President Pete P. Reyes expressed “disappointment” yesterday over the Zoning Board’s choice of an “outsider” to become the new administrator, instead of an individual who is already on the islands.

“It doesn’t matter whether the appointed one is a Chamorro, Carolinian, or a white American or any other, as long as he or she has made the CNMI his or her home…I am very disappointed that the Zoning board chose to recruit someone from outside,” Reyes told Saipan Tribune.

Zoning Board chair Henry S. Hofschneider, in a separate interview yesterday, said the board has not made a final decision yet but an offer has already been made to Victor Barrett, from Arizona, to become the new administrator.

Hofschneider said Barrett’s air fare and all his expenses while on Saipan this week are his personal expenses, and the board has not and will not pay for anything.

“Victor Barrett wants to meet with the board and staff, the regulatory agencies [including the Historic Preservation Office, the Coastal Resource Management, and the Division of Environmental Quality], and also to see Saipan,” he said.

Hofschneider said the board evaluated the applications submitted “fair and square.”

“And how did Mr. Reyes know that Mr. Barrett will not make Saipan his home?” he asked.

Reyes said former CNMI Resident Representative to Washington, D.C. Pete A. Tenorio, who was also one of the negotiators of the Covenant between the Northern Marianas and the United States, was one of those who applied for the post of zoning administrator.

“Mr. Pete A. Tenorio is qualified for the job. …Who’s going to say he’s not qualified? It’s very insulting for qualified people like Mr. Tenorio to be chosen over those who are from outside the CNMI,” Reyes said.

Hofschneider earlier said of the 20 applications they received, all except for one were from the U.S. mainland.

The Zoning Office’s administrator post has been vacant since April when Steve Tilley relocated to the U.S. mainland.

The Zoning board decided on Victor Barrett during its May 7 board meeting.

After the meeting, Hofschneider said Barrett’s strengths include new urban master planning, creative planning solutions, project permitting and approval, client and vendor relations, authentic architectural design, and public relation. He added that Barrett has a background in sustainable design, and has extensive experience in development of sensitive coastal, flood plain and remote sites, and helped towns and cities draft proposed zoning and land use control ordinances, regulations and laws.