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NMC’s Wyatt criticizes bill placing cap on annual leave
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Posted on Nov 15 2006
Earlier criticized for its vacation leave policy, Northern Marianas College has expressed concern about a bill that would cap the amount of annual leave a government employee may accumulate.
Acting NMC president Danny O. Wyatt, in a Nov. 7, 2006 letter to the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, said that House Bill 15-186 may lead to problems in the future.
H.B. 15-186 would prohibit all government employees from accruing over 360 hours of annual leave. Any unused leave in excess of 360 hours would be converted to sick leave. The bill includes civil service and excepted service employees in all branches of government, municipal governments, and the autonomous agencies.
Wyatt said the bill’s intent is commendable, but “creates a bit of a nightmare for NMC, as employees are unable to take excess leave in spite of the higher ceiling.”
He urged the House committee to keep the bill general and limit the accrual of maximum of two years worth of leave that can be carried forward. This is NMC’s current policy on annual leave.
“The problem of accrued leave has been an audit issue with NMC, and I commend the Legislature in attempting to address that issue. I believe, however, that legislating an across-the-board solution may have negative ramifications unforeseen at this time,” Wyatt said.
NMC drew flak after the college made an improper lump sum annual leave payment to its finance chief. Investigation by the Office of the Public Auditor revealed that the payout was in violation of NMC’s own policy, which only allows lump sum payments to be released to employees if they resigned or had their contract not renewed, and if funds are available.
OPA has urged NMC to ask the finance chief, as well as other employees who received similar payouts to return the money. NMC has yet to comply with this recommendation.
