Fletcher to leave CUC’s top post

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Alan Fletcher is resigning from his post. His contract expires on July 14.

News of his departure broke after a CUC board meeting lasting late into Tuesday. However, Fletcher and the board could only confirm this yesterday.

In a statement to Saipan Tribune yesterday morning, Fletcher described working for CUC as “a positive experience and one for which I am thankful.”

“I have learned a great deal here and have enjoyed working with the entire staff,” he said. “While CUC continues to struggle financially, I feel the utility is in an enviable position as it retains a very competent and professional staff that has my full confidence. “

On Tuesday, the CUC board came out of executive session and voted unanimously not to renew Fletcher’s contract, Saipan Tribune learned. It was also gathered that Fletcher had asked instead to resign.

But this has been difficult to corroborate, as there have been different accounts of what transpired late Tuesday afternoon.

Fletcher’s resignation letter, copies of which were obtained by Saipan Tribune, was sent in late Wednesday afternoon to CUC board chair Adelina Roberto and other board members.

Asked to clarify whether the board had voted on his contract, Fletcher said he could not speak as to what was heard, but assured that “there was no vote taken during the open meeting.”

“I confirmed this with the chief legal counsel,” he assured.

“I cannot speak for the board, but I believe it is safe to say there is mutual agreement as to my employment engagement concluding at the end of my current contracted term.”

“While I look forward to some new opportunities, my only focus right now is the approaching Typhoon Dolphin. CUC is in full preparation mode. In fact we just concluded a planning session with all three islands.”

When contacted by phone yesterday and asked to confirm if the board had voted not to renew Fletcher’s contract, board chair Roberto said, “Exactly.”

When asked if the decision was unanimous, she said, “It is unanimous.”

When asked if Fletcher had asked to resign instead, she said, “Yes, and we gave him that courtesy, yes.”

“I don’t know what [other] rumors you are hearing,” she told Saipan Tribune.

In his statement and resignation letter, Fletcher disclosed that the term of his employment contract with CUC ends on July 14, 2015.

“At this time, my official last day will be on July 14, although I do plan to take vacation days prior to that date,” he said.

After serving in an acting capacity for months, Fletcher was named executive director in 2013. He was previously CUC’s deputy executive director.

His resignation transpires a little over a month after David Sablan Jr. was voted out as CUC board chair.

Sablan, who lives in Guam, was not present during Tuesday’s board meeting.

Recently, there has been a clear split between CUC management and the board on how to recover losses CUC has accrued from a growing government debt.

This debt sits at an account receivables of $32 million as of April 28.

In April, CUC management had proposed two new rate charges to make up for current and future losses from government non-payment. The board voted this down.

Fletcher was first hired at CUC in February 2011 as deputy executive director and administrator of the water and wastewater division. Prior to this, he worked at the Manchester Water District of Manchester in Washington; the port of Manchester; at the Clackamas River Water Authority of Clackamas in Oregon; and for the Clairmont Water District of Oregon City.

The director’s time at CUC proceeds and has largely avoided the period of insolvency and rolling blackouts CUC dealt with from 2007 to 2010.