Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Inos extends Fletcher's contract at CUC

A few hours after being sworn in as the islands' top official, Gov. Eloy S. Inos directed Alan W. Fletcher to remain at the helm of the troubled utilities corporation, both as its deputy executive director of water and wastewater and as acting executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Inos indicated Fletcher's retention in his declaration yesterday, approving a 30-day extension on Fletcher's contract. Fletcher was supposed to leave his post on Feb. 20 after the non-renewal of his two-year contract by resigned governor Benigno R. Fitial.

“Alan W. Fletcher shall have his employment contract, number 11-037, extended for 30 days, and this declaration shall constitute that extension,” stated the declaration.

CUC has been under a state of emergency since May 2012. It has had no permanent executive director since June 2012 when Abe Utu Malae quit.

Inos said that CUC must continue to operate under some form of management until an executive director can be appointed.

“A failure to appoint an acting executive director will prejudice the CUC in its ongoing operations, activities and litigation which will in turn impact the people of the Commonwealth,” said Inos.

Fletcher has yet to comment on his contract's extension.

Both deputy director and executive director posts are requirements of federal stipulated orders for CUC. A few months ago, Fitial submitted the top 4 candidates for executive director position to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for concurrence. No decision has been issued to date. The deputy director post was announced last week.