The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors unanimously approved Friday to renew the two-year employment contract of Gary P. Camacho as CUC\u2019s executive director. <\/p>\n
Board treasurer Matthew Holley made the motion to approve Camacho\u2019s new contract, but subject to verifying approval consistent with the federal court\u2019s stipulated order.<\/p>\n
That allowed a 15-day extension of Camacho\u2019s employment contract. That would give time for the Office of the Attorney General to review the federal court\u2019s stipulated orders and communicate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency if there is a need for U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David O. Carter to sign off on Camacho\u2019s renewal.<\/p>\n
In February 2017, Carter approved Camacho\u2019s appointment as executive director. <\/p>\n
Camacho\u2019s contract supposedly expires today, Monday.<\/p>\n
CUC chair Miranda V. Manglona, vice chair Weston Thomas Deleon Guerrero, secretary Jovita SN. Paulino, and Commonwealth Development Authority representative Ignacio I. Perez all voted \u201cyes\u201d to the renewal of Camacho\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n
The directors made the vote after raising some questions with Camacho during Friday\u2019s executive session that lasted over two hours. Attorney General Edward Manibusan himself was present as CUC\u2019s legal counsel at the executive session and at the meeting.<\/p>\n
Manglona later said in an interview that there is no increase or decrease in the executive director\u2019s salary as there are no changes to the contract.<\/p>\n
Under the previous contract, Camacho was receiving $150,000 per annum.<\/p>\n
Camacho thanked the board for its vote of confidence in his capacity as executive director.<\/p>\n
Camacho also expressed appreciation to the management and all CUC staff, saying he couldn\u2019t have done his job without them, particularly when Typhoon Soudelor, Typhoon Mangkhut, and Super Typhoon Yutu hit the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cI totally appreciate everything that everybody does. Everybody. Nobody missed my appreciation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Camacho vowed to do his best and become better.<\/p>\n
In offering the motion to the board, Holley said he knows that some of the board directors feel that they should merely rubber stamp their approval on Camacho\u2019s contract and move on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our duty requires us to spend considerable consideration. I hope my words are taken not as an insult but an opportunity to grow,\u201d said Holley.<\/p>\n
He expressed concerns over the recent loss of several key management personnel and reports that some staff are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their job.<\/p>\n
Holley noted that CUC lost several key personnel in the past few months and expressed hope that CUC will improve on its ability to hold on to key personnel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no dispute in that. I think there is some dispute as to why they left,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is the topic that as a board we need to be mindful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holley said they have seen a lot of letters of support from CUC staff but there is a difference between choosing to write one\u2019s own letter of support to being asked to write a letter of support.<\/p>\n
Holley underscored the need for the board to have a better understanding of the relationship between management and staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, as a board, need to do better,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Holley acknowledged that the executive director is an extremely difficult position, that managing a corporation with over 400 employees \u201cis a huge task.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the position and every decision is scrutinized.<\/p>\n
\u201cI congratulate CUC, the whole team, with Gary Camacho at the helm, for getting us through massive, devastating natural disasters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Under Camacho as executive director, Holley said, they have seen an improved relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice, who are also scrutinizing CUC.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo doubt there have been many achievements\u2014the implementation of the prepaid meter program for government accounts being one of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Holley said CUC needs some improvement on non-revenue water loss, past and current billings with certain government entities, a five-year plan, and to better train and promote the staff.<\/p>\n
Although there have been some improvement on non-revenue water loss, \u201cit\u2019s a long way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he has never seen a five-year plan. \u201cFor example, what are our \u2018renewable energy\u2019 plans? Where do they fit into a five-year plan? How can we better prepare ourselves for the next major disaster?\u201d Holley asked.<\/p>\n
He said he believes that approving Camacho\u2019s renewal \u201cis the right decision for the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deleon Guerrero agrees that Camacho is moving CUC forward, but that there are areas that CUC needs to work on in moving CUC forward, getting a five-year plan and ensuring that the CNMI gets the best out of the corporation.<\/p>\n
Paulino commended Camacho as she also thanked Deleon Guerrero for the questions that he raised at the executive session.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end result is I\u2019m very impressed. Executive director, thank you so much for you vision and thank you so much for leading the CNMI through three typhoons and all the hard work and commitment from your staff and all the support from the community,\u201d Paulino said.<\/p>\n
Manglona said that Camacho has proven his leadership and his management style.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to continue with that partnership and\u2026I do fully support the renewal of the executive director\u2019s contract. And let us continue working together as a team,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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