Lack of staff, hours impede Zoning Office

The lack of enforcers at the Zoning Office is “really hurting” the implementation of their programs and enforcement of regulations, according to acting administrator Therese T. Ogumoro.

Ogumoro said in an interview that the lack of enforcers is compounded by the limited hours that the enforcer has to be in the field and do inspections and enforcement.

She said their only enforcer only spends about two hours of field work, posing a big challenge for the implementation of public nuisance and other zoning regulations.

According to Ogumoro, their office hopes to hire one more enforcer which is why they are trying to work on their budget so they can proceed to hire additional staff.

“We can’t work on hiring if we don’t have the required funding,” Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune.

As of Nov. 30, Ogumoro disclosed that they have issued a total of 30 violation notices to households and mostly businesses on Saipan that do not comply with the requirements of the Public Nuisance and Signs under the zoning law.

Under the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008, public nuisance is defined as “an unreasonable interference with a right common to the general public.” It “does not change its character by reason of its location on private or public property, occupied or unoccupied property.”

While Zoning Office has yet to identify the number of those who complied with the notices and those who will have to pay penalties, Ogumoro noted that the compliance percentage “was very high.”

The acting administrator said that with the implementation of the public nuisance regulation, the Zoning Office is also set to revive its junk car removal program efforts, particularly in Garapan area and major thoroughfares.

According to Ogumoro, the junk car removal program was discontinued due to several issues, including lack of working equipment and management changes in the Saipan Triple Star recycling company, which is one of Zoning’s partners in the program together with Ericco Enterprises and the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

“It’s just a matter of reactivating our connection and joint efforts. We hope it’s going to continue given the implementation of public nuisance requirements,” she said.

Ogumoro urged businesses and individuals to comply with zoning regulations as they plan to strengthen their implementation efforts and be out in the field this holiday season.