CUC board members clash on personnel directives
A Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board member questioned his fellow board members yesterday over a recent decision to open up five new positions each on Tinian and Rota and two for Saipan, urging that a cost-benefit analysis be completed first to determine the positions’ long-term need.
But board members fired back at David Sablan Jr.—a former board chair who is from Guam—saying he “wasn’t here” and wouldn’t know.
The debate centered over the board’s directive in August to open five new positions each on Rota and Tinian, and two on Saipan, in the wake of Typhoon Soudelor.
Sablan, during a meeting yesterday, urged that a cost-benefit analysis be done to see the need for the positions. The ongoing advertisements for the positions could still go forward to create a list when a need appears for the long term, he said.
In terms of “need,” Sablan appeared to be questioning board members on whether there was an increase in power generation or revenue generating capacity on Rota and Tinian that would warrant this need.
To his points, board director Alberto Taitano, from Rota, said they have already advertised the positions and should move forward “instead of trying to stall.”
“This discussion should have been made on the floor,” Taitano said. Sablan was not at that previous August meeting, where Taitano also made a motion to hire a Velma Palacios to a top management position, drawing legal and management objection.
For his part, board director Eric San Nicolas, from Tinian, said he does consult with Tinian and its line crew. Pointing to growing multi-million hotel-casino developments on the island, San Nicolas urged they not wait for three to five years to open a position.
But Sablan said the positions they opened are “not what’s needed on Tinian and Rota.”
After further exchanges, San Nicolas appeared to grow more frustrated, urging that discussion move on.
“This discussion is over, it’s done,” he said, before walking away from the conference table.
“Listen to me, I have the floor,” Sablan said. “Under Robert’s rules I have the floor.”
That remark drew a loud groan from board director Joe Torres.
Sablan went on to say the positions “must be assessed now to make sure we are not spending money or hiring people that we don’t really need.”
“Director Sablan, we need the positions in Rota,” Taitano fired back. “You have no business with Rota’s business.”
Board chair Adelina Roberto then urged that they discuss the matter in an executive session.
“We are not a Rota power company,” Sablan said. “We are the CUC power company.”
“I don’t care!” Taitano retorted. “Stop trying to answer about Rota.”
“Madame chair, any discussion we have on this issues must be had with reason and decorum,” Sablan urged. “You are attacking me because I am trying to be reasonable about how we spend our funds here at CUC. You people are just trying to hire people left and right. It seems like [that] is the most priority for you rather the system and that has to be addressed.”
Taitano noted that CUC’s chief financial officer had said that funding for personnel decisions was no issue, but Sablan said the question is if the need is there.
Board members motioned for and went on recess shortly afterwards.
It is very humiliating reading shallow excuses on board members who are clueless what policymaking entails. By the way, the NMI must cease and desist from appointing clueless juveniles who only complicate issues because of their obvious shortcomings. Disgusting!
Fruit Bat Poacher stop acting like you run a Colony!! David Sablan is making sense here and you are just as incompetent as the rest of the Board Members!! Dave stick to your guns! Mr. Taitano does not have the capacity and knowledge that you possess period! He is just a political hire!!
It seems that Sablan is very educate and also practical. I am impressed that he understands “Robert’ rules” That is the first time I have ever heard of ANY of our political figures referring to those rules.
The rest of Sablan’s argument also have merit.
I am curious as to just whom thes board members family members they have earmarked for these ‘fabricated’ “jobs” to further employnon needed family members. Especially on Tinian as this power plant is run by a private contractor who also on the whole has to be contracted on a separate agreement to handle the distribution, along with a former retired CUC individual that is also contracted to do field work as the existing CUC employees are incapable.
“You are attacking me because I am trying to be reasonable about how we spend our funds here at CUC. You people are just trying to hire people left and right. It’s seems like [that] is the most priority for you rather the system and that has to be addressed.”
….and that, my friends, is a true statement made by Mr. Sablan.
Fine, hire your mali and your pari and your yetnu and your yetna. Corruption in the CNMI. When will it ever end?????
WHAT A SHAME!!
Maybe Albert Taitano will pay peoples utility bills on Rota? How did he get on the board anyhow?
By campaigning and going house to house for IT!! that my friend is why he got a seat on the CUC board nothing about qualification or knowledge he has none!!
Ahhh shut up and turn on my power damn it like you guys are playing a game zig zaging and skipping places here to fix the power line and connect drop lines instead of arguing about nonsense shit why don’t you all CUC personal that are working get your head together and fix the island up by getting shit done all i see is your mouths moving and less work motion being served you people are all useless in our island if all you’re going to do is argue for nothing and not try and make our islands better and i might also add NOT A SHAME WHY YOU MAKING OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES WORK HARD FOR US IN FIXING OUR POWER AND NOT DO THE JOB UGH EMBARASSING MAKING OTHER PEOPLE YOU DISS DO THE JOB FOR YOU GET YOUR ASS OUT THERE AND FIX THE LINES AND POLES AND WATER PIPE SO WE CAN ALL HAVE POWER AND GREAT RUNNING WATER ! -_-
Guam-1 and CNMI-0. Don’t Hate! You embarrassed yourselves all on your own, stop whining and do something about it Board members!. All you can do is point fingers and run your potty mouth and yet nothing is resolved. To Mr. Sablan stay strong,if anyone is making a difference,its you!
Bunch of little Kids!!
We only need Sablan , fire everybody else for sitting and doing nothing.
If David Sablan is so good then why can he not hold a regular paying job other than being the mouth piece for such environmentally and financially sound enterprises such as the GRRP incinerator project on Guam. Also chairman of the board for an Government of Guam agency that is under federal sanctions for misuse of funds to the tune of millions and never been able to get elected to a public office despite numerous attempts.
This is pretty standard in the corporate world. The only time you hire without any due diligence is if you’re running a mom & pop shop or you own the company.