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Terminated Tinian directors appeal case to AGO
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Posted on Apr 17 2005
Terminated Tinian resident directors Norberto Hofschneider and Ernie Hofschneider went to the Attorney General’s Office Friday to appeal their case and demand for their immediate reinstatement.
“Everybody on Tinian knows that we were removed for political reasons,” said former resident director for Commerce Norberto Hofschneider.
He said he has been working for the Tinian government for 16 years including his three consecutive terms as Commerce resident director.
“I won’t be appointed for three consecutive terms if I’m not being productive,” said Norberto, who is a younger brother of Department of Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider.
He said that he last reported to work on Feb. 14 after Tinian mayor Francisco M. Borja decided not to renew his contract.
“We want to get an opinion from the AG regarding our situation. We believe that our termination was illegal,” he said.
In an earlier interview, Borja said that his decision to let go of the two Hofschneiders was final.
“I stand by my decision which is not to renew their employment contracts,” said Borja.
The mayor said that he replaced Norbert Hofschneider with parks and maintenance section supervisor Matthew Masga.
Borja said that as mayor, he has the discretion to appoint and dismiss directors because they report to him.
“If I can hire them, then I can remove them,” said the mayor.
He said the non-renewal of the two directors’ contracts was not political. Borja said he undertook some personnel changes to accomplish his pending projects before he ends his last term this year.
