Security guards escort CREES chief from NMC

Ross Manglona, dean and director of NMC’s Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service, was escorted by security from the college’s campus yesterday morning after being told that he was being put on administrative leave.

An NMC employee who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity confirmed what transpired.

In an interview, Manglona took issue with his treatment, calling it “embarrassing” and a “humiliation”—to be treated as if he had committed a criminal act.

He noted that the college had technically not terminated him as his contract is set to expire in August. He said he would have left without a fuss if the college had simply decided not to renew his contract. However, he said they were trying to avoid terminating him outright, which would have required the Northern Marianas College to show cause.

When asked for comment, the college issued a statement: “As a general policy, [NMC] does not publicly comment on specific personnel matters. [NMC] will be appointing an interim dean of CREES in the meantime to ensure that critical services to the community and to students are not interrupted in any way.”

Manglona’s main concern, though, is that he is being put on administrative leave with pay. Essentially, he said, they have turned him into a “ghost employee.”

“How am I being compensated when I didn’t put any work in? Now that becomes a question of legality,” he said.

Manglona claimed that several college employees have been subjected to the same process—being placed on administrative leave instead of outright termination. But unlike them, as a dean and director, he felt the need to speak rather than “being swept under the rug.”

Manglona cited two employees whose contracts were not renewed and were let go in the same manner. He said he refused to sign their timesheets as if they had been working, and that if a college official instead signed the sheets, then fraud would have been committed.

“I’m one of three people that has been relieved and will be continuing to get a paycheck without showing up to work. I think it’s illegal. You’re going bill the federal government for someone who is not working,” Manglona said.

He declined to identify the other two employees.

“The employees did not work those hours. [The college] is using administrative leave too loosely. The public should know because it’s their money,” he said.

When asked why the college would proceed in this way, he said he has had issues with NMC president Dr. Sharon Hart since she first arrived at the college. He claimed that despite the success of CREES during his tenure, he was let go because of his disagreements with the president.

According to Manglona, he filed a grievance against the college two years ago in 2012. Since then, he said he has been expecting this day to come.

Another concern he raised is NMC’s conflict of interest when it comes to grievances filed by employees. According to NMC’s website, Christopher Timmons is both the college’s legal counsel and Human Resource director.

Manglona said this “double-duty” is a conflict of interest. “This is the guy that you’re supposed to put your grievances through,” he said.

While he regrets no longer being the head of CREES, Manglona said he does not doubt his staff’s ability to succeed even more.

“If there’s a message I’d like to give, to my staff and our stakeholders, it’s that CREES is here for the people. I believe that the professional staff of CREES will continue to provide good services to the community. I thank the community for all these years of support and believing in our programs and making us a household name.”