Camacho OK’d for 2 more years

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors unanimously approved Friday to renew the two-year employment contract of Gary P. Camacho as CUC’s executive director.

Board treasurer Matthew Holley made the motion to approve Camacho’s new contract, but subject to verifying approval consistent with the federal court’s stipulated order.

That allowed a 15-day extension of Camacho’s employment contract. That would give time for the Office of the Attorney General to review the federal court’s stipulated orders and communicate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency if there is a need for U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David O. Carter to sign off on Camacho’s renewal.

In February 2017, Carter approved Camacho’s appointment as executive director.

Camacho’s contract supposedly expires today, Monday.

CUC chair Miranda V. Manglona, vice chair Weston Thomas Deleon Guerrero, secretary Jovita SN. Paulino, and Commonwealth Development Authority representative Ignacio I. Perez all voted “yes” to the renewal of Camacho’s contract.

The directors made the vote after raising some questions with Camacho during Friday’s executive session that lasted over two hours. Attorney General Edward Manibusan himself was present as CUC’s legal counsel at the executive session and at the meeting.

Manglona later said in an interview that there is no increase or decrease in the executive director’s salary as there are no changes to the contract.

Under the previous contract, Camacho was receiving $150,000 per annum.

Camacho thanked the board for its vote of confidence in his capacity as executive director.

Camacho also expressed appreciation to the management and all CUC staff, saying he couldn’t have done his job without them, particularly when Typhoon Soudelor, Typhoon Mangkhut, and Super Typhoon Yutu hit the CNMI.

“I totally appreciate everything that everybody does. Everybody. Nobody missed my appreciation,” he said.

Camacho vowed to do his best and become better.

In offering the motion to the board, Holley said he knows that some of the board directors feel that they should merely rubber stamp their approval on Camacho’s contract and move on.

“I think our duty requires us to spend considerable consideration. I hope my words are taken not as an insult but an opportunity to grow,” said Holley.

He expressed concerns over the recent loss of several key management personnel and reports that some staff are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their job.

Holley noted that CUC lost several key personnel in the past few months and expressed hope that CUC will improve on its ability to hold on to key personnel.

“There is no dispute in that. I think there is some dispute as to why they left,” he said. “That is the topic that as a board we need to be mindful.”

Holley said they have seen a lot of letters of support from CUC staff but there is a difference between choosing to write one’s own letter of support to being asked to write a letter of support.

Holley underscored the need for the board to have a better understanding of the relationship between management and staff.

“We, as a board, need to do better,” he added.

Holley acknowledged that the executive director is an extremely difficult position, that managing a corporation with over 400 employees “is a huge task.”

He said the position and every decision is scrutinized.

“I congratulate CUC, the whole team, with Gary Camacho at the helm, for getting us through massive, devastating natural disasters,” he said.

Under Camacho as executive director, Holley said, they have seen an improved relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice, who are also scrutinizing CUC.

“No doubt there have been many achievements—the implementation of the prepaid meter program for government accounts being one of them,” he said.

Holley said CUC needs some improvement on non-revenue water loss, past and current billings with certain government entities, a five-year plan, and to better train and promote the staff.

Although there have been some improvement on non-revenue water loss, “it’s a long way to go.”

He said he has never seen a five-year plan. “For example, what are our ‘renewable energy’ plans? Where do they fit into a five-year plan? How can we better prepare ourselves for the next major disaster?” Holley asked.

He said he believes that approving Camacho’s renewal “is the right decision for the Commonwealth.”

Deleon Guerrero agrees that Camacho is moving CUC forward, but that there are areas that CUC needs to work on in moving CUC forward, getting a five-year plan and ensuring that the CNMI gets the best out of the corporation.

Paulino commended Camacho as she also thanked Deleon Guerrero for the questions that he raised at the executive session.

“The end result is I’m very impressed. Executive director, thank you so much for you vision and thank you so much for leading the CNMI through three typhoons and all the hard work and commitment from your staff and all the support from the community,” Paulino said.

Manglona said that Camacho has proven his leadership and his management style.

“We would like to continue with that partnership and…I do fully support the renewal of the executive director’s contract. And let us continue working together as a team,” she said.