Palacios says he wanted to hire Davis, but…

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said on Thursday he actually wanted to hire for his office Shalee M. Davis, a consultant for the Munis system, to train government employees on the system, but Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita convinced him otherwise.

Palacios said in an interview that Norita cited several conflicts in hiring Davis. Apparently, Davis was also working for the Senate and that there’s certain confidentiality in some of the data in Finance that has to be confined to the department, Palacios said.

“So it’s all good,” said the governor, adding that he hopes that Norita and her staff and Davis “all kissed and made up” before the consultant left the CNMI.

Davis is consultant/owner of Davis ERP Consulting.

She was set to depart from the CNMI last Friday. Saipan Tribune learned that Davis provided Munis training services through the Legislative Bureau for both House and Senate, and LB employees.

Munis integrates finances, payroll, human resources, purchasing, fixed assets, revenue streams, and other government processes.

Davis recently shared her observations and recommendations to Palacios about her consulting work for the Munis system with the CNMI government over the past year.

Davis stated, among other things, that despite the Munis system being implemented to modernize processes in the CNMI government, many tasks are still being carried out using paper-based methods—even if Munis already offers digital alternatives—and moves to improve the system is being hindered by the lack of support from Norita and her staff.

In her response, Norita recently sent a memorandum to Palacios stating that Davis was actually part of the Tyler Munis implementation team and, although she is leaving after failing to secure a consulting contract with the Office of the Governor, they (Finance) still maintain support services of other Munis experts from Tyler Technologies, which is the Munis software company that assists thousands of other government offices.

Norita said Davis has invaluable historical knowledge in the implementation decisions of former Finance secretary David DLG. Atalig and management during that period.

Norita said, however, the shift in priorities to build local capacity did not align well with Davis and the difference in personalities and cultures did not “fit.”