DLNR chief confirms hiring Hofschneider

Land and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Seman yesterday confirmed that he is in the process of hiring former Marianas Public Lands Authority commissioner Henry Hofschneider as his special assistant.

“It’s very timely for me for him [Hofschneider] to be available,” Seman said. “I would like to use his expertise.”

Seman said that he does not have any special assistant until Hofschneider’s employment is formalized. As of yesterday, Seman said Hofschneider’s employment documents were still being processed, but the secretary expressed optimism that the process would be completed within the week.

Once the employment is finalized, Seman said Hofschneider’s salary range would be between $38,000 to $40,000 per annum.

No job vacancy announcement was made for the special assistant position, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Seman said Hofschneider would occupy the position once held by Tim Thornberg, who worked as special assistant to then DLNR secretary Tom Pangelinan.

“There is a request for a waiver of announcement,” said OPM director Juan I. Tenorio. “I have to review the findings of my staff.”

Tenorio said that the hiring agency has the option to request for the JVA waiver. He added, though, that the request would be subject to his approval or disapproval.

As of yesterday, Tenorio said the OPM’s Classification and Compensation Division were reviewing Hofschneider’s employment documents.

The DLNR secretary said Hofschneider would be an asset to the department in implementing several major projects, including the planned acquisition of wetlands for wildlife projects.

Seman also said Hofschneider could facilitate sourcing out funds from Managaha landing fees that go to the MPLA’s coffers, to help implement additional conservation measures for the island.

The secretary said he would task Hofschneider to work with the department’s Division of Land Survey, particularly in setting aside public land that has been designated for the DLNR for use by the CNMI’s boy scouts. Other major projects that Hofschneider would be involved in are the Garapan Central Market and the Grotto Rehabilitation project, Seman added.

The processing of Hofschneider’s possible employment with the DLNR came amid a recent controversy on the prospective employee’s departure from the MPLA’s top executive post.

MPLA board chair Ana Demapan-Castro had already appointed a new commissioner for the agency, Edward Deleon Guerrero, sometime last month.

Demapan-Castro initially suspended Hofschneider on July 9 for alleged insubordination. The chair accused the commissioner of wrongdoing when he allowed the Commonwealth Development Authority to alter a requisition document without the board’s approval.

The suspension, which was supposed to end on July 29, was extended indefinitely.

Hofschneider reportedly filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging Demapan-Castro’s actions.

Hofschneider was scheduled to visit the DLNR yesterday to meet with staff and familiarize himself with the department’s offices, Seman said.