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VOTER REGISTRATION ON SATURDAY

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The St. Croix Board of Elections will be conducting voter registration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at Schooner Bay Market Place in Gallows Bay.
Documents necessary for registration are:
U.S. Birth Certificate or
U.S. Passport or
U.S. Naturalization Certificate and
Social Security Card.
Additional information can be obtained by calling Elections at 773-1021.

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VOTER REGISTRATION ON SATURDAY

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The St. Croix Board of Elections will be conducting Voter Registration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Schooner Bay Market Place in Gallows Bay.
Documents necessary for registration are:
U.S. Birth Certificate or
U.S. Passport or
U.S. Naturalization Certificate and
Social Security Card
Additional information can be obtained by calling Elections at 773-1021.

AGAPITO BELARDO ROMERO FUNERAL SERVICES

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Agapito Belardo Romero, age 94, of #62 Est. Concordia passed away on May 5 at his residence.
He is survived by his daughters Gloria Pina and Carmen Vega; son Gilberto Belardo; stepdaughter Patricia Christian; stepson Cyril Nielsen; 7 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
There will be a viewing at James Memorial Funeral Home on Friday, May 10, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, with viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will take place at Frederiksted Cemetery.
Professional arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.

SENATORS SET 'OFFICE HOURS' FRIDAY ON ST. JOHN

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May 8, 2002 – Two St. Thomas-St. John district senators have scheduled "office hours" on St. John on Friday to meet with constituents.
Sens. Donald "Ducks" Cole and Carlton Dowe will be at the St. John Administrator's Office in the Battery between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Constituents are invited to drop by to discuss problems and concerns or to ask questions, according to a release.

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ST. THOMAS ATHLETE TOPS V.I. FIELD IN HALF IRONMAN

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May 8, 2002 – Patrick O'Donnell, who lives on St. Thomas and is the director of capital programs at the University of the Virgin Islands, isn't a triathlete. But he has friends on the island who are — friends who include David Jones, a Chase Bank employee, and Maurice Kurg, president of Seaborne Airlines.
O'Donnell was on St. Croix on Sunday for the 14th annual triathlon to cheer his friends on.
And he knows who finished in what order among the fastest U.S. Virgin Islands contenders: Jones of St. Thomas was first, and Kurg was third.
O'Donnell contacted the Source on Tuesday to say the online account of the Virgin Islands finishers at Sunday's Half Ironman was incorrect — it showed Kent Bradbury of St. Croix first, followed by Sue Brown of St. Croix, and then Jeff Miller and Jude Woodcock of St. John.
The Source reported the results as posted on the triathlon web site under the Virgin Islanders results section. On Tuesday, race director Tom Guthrie said what's posted are "the official results" and that as far as he knew, they were correct.
However, that listing does not jibe with the same triathlon site's Overall results listing of 520 triathletes who completed the course in the alloted time.
The long list clearly shows Jones finishing first among Virgin Islanders, in 5:33:09. Bradbury, of St. Croix, who's shown as first in the Virgin Islanders list, had a total time of 5:44:22. And in between the two, if you include British Virgin Islanders in the count, is Christian Spencer of Tortola, with 5:36:56. Another BVI entry, Christopher Ghiorse, is shown as fourth, with 5:52:20, followed by Kurg, with 6:03:51, and then Brown.
"Apparently they didn't calculate the St. Thomas and Tortola runners in the 'Virgin Islanders' list," O'Donnell said. "The list shows only St. Croix and St. John."
He's right. None of the St. Thomas triathletes — Jones, Kurg, Kimberly Fitzpatrick, Chris Haig, Kevin Lenahan and Sylvie Scott — are listed at all. Actually, the V.I. list leaves out St. Croix's Rachel Witty and Roger Hatfield, too, and St. John's Adam Thill and Kathleen McMurtrie.
Guthrie said all results are entered into a computer and as far as he was aware, what's posted on the web site is what's official. He added that he was unable to contact the triathlon "guys who do the timing and results" on Tuesday, as they were en route to Chicago, but that he would get in touch with them Wednesday morning. "We'll look into it," he said.
Here's the order in which 23 Virgin Islands triathletes finished, according to the Overall web list:
1. David Jones, St. Thomas, 5:33:09.
2. Christian Spencer, Tortola, 5:36:56.
3. Kent Bradbury, St. Croix, 5:44:22.
4. Christopher Ghiorse, Tortola, 5:52:20.
5. Maurice Kurg, St. Thomas, 6:03:51.
6. Sue Brown, St. Croix, 6:06:27.
7. Kimberly Fitzpatrick, St. Thomas, 6:11:49.
8. Jeff Miller, St. John, 6:12:09.
9. Jude Woodcock, St. John, 6:16:27.
10. Rachel Witty, St. Croix, 6:16:37.
11. Adam Thill, St. John, 6:18:26.
12. Kathleen McMurtrie, St. John, 6:31:58.
13. Chris Haig, St. Thomas, 6:47:22.
14. Todd Newman, St. Croix, 6:48:45.
15. John Riggs, St. Croix, 6:49:29.
16. Leopold Fredericks, St. Croix, 6:55:17.
17. Roger Hatfield, St. Croix, 7:14:48.
18. Jamie Bate, St. Croix, 7:19:06.
19. Robert Bartle, St. Croix, 7:33:31.
20. Kevin Lenahan, St. Thomas, 7:37:12.
21. Mario Graham, St. Croix, 7:37:50.
22. Sylvie Scott, St. Thomas, 7:49:50.
23. Lorraine Durand, St. Croix, 9:10:27.

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ST. THOMAS ATHLETE TOPS V.I. FIELD IN HALF IRONMAN

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May 8, 2002 – Patrick O'Donnell, who lives on St. Thomas and is the director of capital programs at the University of the Virgin Islands, isn't a triathlete. But he has friends on the island who are — friends who include David Jones, a Chase Bank employee, and Maurice Kurg, president of Seaborne Airlines.
O'Donnell was on St. Croix on Sunday for the 14th annual triathlon to cheer his friends on.
And he knows who finished in what order among the fastest U.S. Virgin Islands contenders: Jones of St. Thomas was first, and Kurg was third.
O'Donnell contacted the Source on Tuesday to say the online account of the Virgin Islands finishers at Sunday's Half Ironman was incorrect — it showed Kent Bradbury of St. Croix first, followed by Sue Brown of St. Croix, and then Jeff Miller and Jude Woodcock of St. John.
The Source reported the results as posted on the triathlon web site under the Virgin Islanders results section. On Tuesday, race director Tom Guthrie said what's posted are "the official results" and that as far as he knew, they were correct.
However, that listing does not jibe with the same triathlon site's Overall results listing of 520 triathletes who completed the course in the alloted time.
The long list clearly shows Jones finishing first among Virgin Islanders, in 5:33:09. Bradbury, of St. Croix, who's shown as first in the Virgin Islanders list, had a total time of 5:44:22. And in between the two, if you include British Virgin Islanders in the count, is Christian Spencer of Tortola, with 5:36:56. Another BVI entry, Christopher Ghiorse, is shown as fourth, with 5:52:20, followed by Kurg, with 6:03:51, and then Brown.
"Apparently they didn't calculate the St. Thomas and Tortola runners in the 'Virgin Islanders' list," O'Donnell said. "The list shows only St. Croix and St. John."
He's right. None of the St. Thomas triathletes — Jones, Kurg, Kimberly Fitzpatrick, Chris Haig, Kevin Lenahan and Sylvie Scott — are listed at all. Actually, the V.I. list leaves out St. Croix's Rachel Witty and Roger Hatfield, too, and St. John's Adam Thill and Kathleen McMurtrie.
Guthrie said all results are entered into a computer and as far as he was aware, what's posted on the web site is what's official. He added that he was unable to contact the triathlon "guys who do the timing and results" on Tuesday, as they were en route to Chicago, but that he would get in touch with them Wednesday morning. "We'll look into it," he said.
Here's the order in which 23 Virgin Islands triathletes finished, according to the Overall web list:
1. David Jones, St. Thomas, 5:33:09.
2. Christian Spencer, Tortola, 5:36:56.
3. Kent Bradbury, St. Croix, 5:44:22.
4. Christopher Ghiorse, Tortola, 5:52:20.
5. Maurice Kurg, St. Thomas, 6:03:51.
6. Sue Brown, St. Croix, 6:06:27.
7. Kimberly Fitzpatrick, St. Thomas, 6:11:49.
8. Jeff Miller, St. John, 6:12:09.
9. Jude Woodcock, St. John, 6:16:27.
10. Rachel Witty, St. Croix, 6:16:37.
11. Adam Thill, St. John, 6:18:26.
12. Kathleen McMurtrie, St. John, 6:31:58.
13. Chris Haig, St. Thomas, 6:47:22.
14. Todd Newman, St. Croix, 6:48:45.
15. John Riggs, St. Croix, 6:49:29.
16. Leopold Fredericks, St. Croix, 6:55:17.
17. Roger Hatfield, St. Croix, 7:14:48.
18. Jamie Bate, St. Croix, 7:19:06.
19. Robert Bartle, St. Croix, 7:33:31.
20. Kevin Lenahan, St. Thomas, 7:37:12.
21. Mario Graham, St. Croix, 7:37:50.
22. Sylvie Scott, St. Thomas, 7:49:50.
23. Lorraine Durand, St. Croix, 9:10:27.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice… click here.

ST. THOMAS ATHLETE TOPS V.I. FIELD IN HALF IRONMAN

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May 8, 2002 – Patrick O'Donnell, who lives on St. Thomas and is the director of capital programs at the University of the Virgin Islands, isn't a triathlete. But he has friends on the island who are — friends who include David Jones, a Chase Bank employee, and Maurice Kurg, president of Seaborne Airlines.
O'Donnell was on St. Croix on Sunday for the 14th annual triathlon to cheer his friends on.
And he knows who finished in what order among the fastest U.S. Virgin Islands contenders: Jones of St. Thomas was first, and Kurg was third.
O'Donnell contacted the Source on Tuesday to say the online account of the Virgin Islands finishers at Sunday's Half Ironman was incorrect — it showed Kent Bradbury of St. Croix first, followed by Sue Brown of St. Croix, and then Jeff Miller and Jude Woodcock of St. John.
The Source reported the results as posted on the triathlon web site under the Virgin Islanders results section. On Tuesday, race director Tom Guthrie said what's posted are "the official results" and that as far as he knew, they were correct.
However, that listing does not jibe with the same triathlon site's Overall results listing of 520 triathletes who completed the course in the alloted time.
The long list clearly shows Jones finishing first among Virgin Islanders, in 5:33:09. Bradbury, of St. Croix, who's shown as first in the Virgin Islanders list, had a total time of 5:44:22. And in between the two, if you include British Virgin Islanders in the count, is Christian Spencer of Tortola, with 5:36:56. Another BVI entry, Christopher Ghiorse, is shown as fourth, with 5:52:20, followed by Kurg, with 6:03:51, and then Brown.
"Apparently they didn't calculate the St. Thomas and Tortola runners in the 'Virgin Islanders' list," O'Donnell said. "The list shows only St. Croix and St. John."
He's right. None of the St. Thomas triathletes — Jones, Kurg, Kimberly Fitzpatrick, Chris Haig, Kevin Lenahan and Sylvie Scott — are listed at all. Actually, the V.I. list leaves out St. Croix's Rachel Witty and Roger Hatfield, too, and St. John's Adam Thill and Kathleen McMurtrie.
Guthrie said all results are entered into a computer and as far as he was aware, what's posted on the web site is what's official. He added that he was unable to contact the triathlon "guys who do the timing and results" on Tuesday, as they were en route to Chicago, but that he would get in touch with them Wednesday morning. "We'll look into it," he said.
Here's the order in which 23 Virgin Islands triathletes finished, according to the Overall web list:
1. David Jones, St. Thomas, 5:33:09.
2. Christian Spencer, Tortola, 5:36:56.
3. Kent Bradbury, St. Croix, 5:44:22.
4. Christopher Ghiorse, Tortola, 5:52:20.
5. Maurice Kurg, St. Thomas, 6:03:51.
6. Sue Brown, St. Croix, 6:06:27.
7. Kimberly Fitzpatrick, St. Thomas, 6:11:49.
8. Jeff Miller, St. John, 6:12:09.
9. Jude Woodcock, St. John, 6:16:27.
10. Rachel Witty, St. Croix, 6:16:37.
11. Adam Thill, St. John, 6:18:26.
12. Kathleen McMurtrie, St. John, 6:31:58.
13. Chris Haig, St. Thomas, 6:47:22.
14. Todd Newman, St. Croix, 6:48:45.
15. John Riggs, St. Croix, 6:49:29.
16. Leopold Fredericks, St. Croix, 6:55:17.
17. Roger Hatfield, St. Croix, 7:14:48.
18. Jamie Bate, St. Croix, 7:19:06.
19. Robert Bartle, St. Croix, 7:33:31.
20. Kevin Lenahan, St. Thomas, 7:37:12.
21. Mario Graham, St. Croix, 7:37:50.
22. Sylvie Scott, St. Thomas, 7:49:50.
23. Lorraine Durand, St. Croix, 9:10:27.

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JAMES FAULTS INSURORS FOR SPIRALING CONDO RATES

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May 7, 2002 – Property insurance premiums for condominiums across the territory have risen 100 to 150 percent, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said at a meeting Monday on St. John that he called to discuss that very subject.
"Even though they've retrofitted, they still do not get the credit," James said of condo associations, referring to improvements made to help buildings better withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.
Since 1992, James charged, condominium owners have had to pay commercial rates for insurance. But he said the underwriters who charge those commercial rates have not filed for them with his office. James, who as lieutenant governor also is the territory's insurance commissioner, did not say what he planned to do about that issue.
The meeting, held in the Territorial Court room in the Boulon Center, was the last of three James hosted to discuss condo insurance. He told those at Monday's meeting that condominium owners on both St. Thomas and St. Croix had told of escalating property insurance costs.
Jack Russell, head of the Gallows Point owners' association on St. John, added his experience to the documentation. He said that the liability insurance alone went from $27,000 to $78,000 a year for the condominium complex overlooking the Cruz Bay harbor. "That's for the whole property," he said.
Gallows Point has 60 units and is by far the largest condo complex on St. John. Most others have a small number of units. Russell was one of three condominium owners who attended the meeting.
In response to a question from a woman who lives at the Sapphire Beach condominiums on St. Thomas, James said that he would try to get insurance companies to give 60 days' notice before raising rates. "They wait until a few days before, then you're so pressured, you take what they offer," he charged.
A 60-day lead time would give condominium owners a chance to shop around for a better deal. The Sapphire Beach resident, who did not want to be identified, said her the condo association has gotten bids from insurance companies willing to insure the property at a lower rate than the association now is paying. The problem, she said, is that the companies are not registered to do business in the territory. "The prospect of dealing with the government apparently scared them off," she said.
James said that insurance companies must register with the Banking and Insurance Division of the Lieutenant Governor's Office to provide proof that they are able to pay claims.
He said one idea being discussed is for condo associations to join forces for self-insurance. This would reduce the cost of premiums, he said.
James also warned residents that a severe earthquake could hit at any time, so they should be prepared. "We're overdue 10 to 15 years for a big one," he said.
The territory sits in the same earthquake zone as California,

SUBPOENAED WAPA OFFICIALS GET SENATE GRILLING

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May 7, 2002 – Tuesday's seven-hour session was only the beginning of the Senate Finance Committee's probe into the Water and Power Authority's financial status and management practices, the committee chair, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, made clear.
Hansen stated that after an April 16 hearing where WAPA board chair Carol Burke was the only "invited" witness to appear, questions had been left unanswered. She showed a videotape segment of that hearing in which Burke responded to questions about the moving expenses of chief financial officer Robert Vodzack and about an impasse between WAPA employees and then-executive director Joseph R. Thomas Jr.
Hansen asked Burke Tuesday how the board plans to recoup "mismanaged" funds from Thomas for what she termed unauthorized personal amenities and the moving expenses in excess of a $6,000 cap that were paid to Bob Lynch Trucking & Shipping to ship Vodzack's car and household belongings from Pennsylvania.
"At the last special session called by the board, Mr. Thomas offered that he and the board come to a settlement based on his tenure and suggested that we come to amicable terms." Burke said. She said Thomas presented a six-page document but that the board did not use it to formulate the settlement plan.
Burke said the severance agreement covered six areas: termination, severance compensation, additional compensation, covenant, entire agreement and severability.
The agreement provided that Thomas was to receive two lump-sum payments of $150,000 and $19,538, as bonus and leave pay, by the close of business on May 6, 2002, and that he would have the same or a similar health and benefits package for one year. The agreement was signed by Thomas, Burke and the board secretary, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik.
"Mr. Thomas isn't doing bad," Hansen said Tuesday. "He spends without authorization, he goes beyond his limit, the board determines it's a violation and the board rewards him with compensation."
When Burke could not detail the board's plan to recoup the funds, several senators compared Thomas's actions to those of former V.I. Lottery commissioner Alec Dizon, who was sentence to prison for defrauding the government, and former Public Works Commissioner Ann Abramson, who is serving time for making false claims and statements regarding federal funds.
Strong suggestions for a successor
Hansen set the tone Tuesday in saying the Legislature has oversight for WAPA as a public utility. "What kind of mocko jumbie type of attorneys that we have that can tell you that the legislature has no jurisdiction? These are serious times for serious business," she said.
Burke said Glenn Rothgeb as acting executive director is currently the official spokesman for WAPA.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "I believe it's a V.I. company, and we in the V.I. have qualified individuals to mange this company." The comment brought applause from the audience in the chamber. Several senators made it clear they want to see Rothgeb, a 24-year WAPA veteran, as the next executive director. "We must make up our minds that even if errors are made, we must make sure jobs go to people here," Dowe said. "This kind of madness has got to stop. We can't continue to do this." He said he was thankful to former governor Juan Luis, who appointed him as fire chief at the age of 25 with a degree in fire services.
Senators also questioned Vodzack's employment agreement. WAPA legal counsel Cathy Smith said it is a binding contract, but Burke said it was not authorized by the board or signed by Thomas. Burke said Vodzack will remain on the payroll for the time being.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 25, 2001, by a WAPA human resources employee on behalf of human resources director Glenworth Byron. In testimony, Byron said one of his tasks is the recruitment of and negotiation with personnel based on the director's initiative. "You can't be blamed, Mr. Byron," Hansen said. "The board should be the ones to review and refuse."
Hansen said Rothgeb has been in charge of WAPA in an interim capacity about a dozen times over her 16 years in the Senate. "If this WAPA board does not elect you this time, this Legislature will have to do something," she told him. "Don't make that mistake again," she advised Burke who had pushed for Thomas's confirmation a little over a year ago.
Subpoenas bring people and paperwork
Except for Thomas, all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday were present: Rothgeb, Vodzack, Smith, Byron, comptroller Maurice Sebastien and systems planning director John Christian. Burke was "invited" to testify, not subpoenaed.
The committee also had subpoenaed 30 items of WAPA documentation in April. Post auditor Kris Ramkissoon told the senators the documents had been submitted Tuesday morning, but he could not confirm the content of the four large 3-inch binders.
The items requested were for the period April 1, 2001 – April 6, 2002. They include contractual agreements for goods and services, insurance policies, invoices, checks issued to officials and board members, reimbursements, financial reports, leases, audits, a curriculum vitae for Thomas and one for Vodzack, "private plate motor vehicles" and other documents.
Sebastien submitted documents including detailed meter-reader tasks and contractual arrangements with J.R. Thomas Associate Inc. and J & R Thomas Associates. Byron submitted a list of WAPA employees eligible for early retirement at hazardous duty pay that was originally submitted to the Government Employees Retirement System last Nov. 15. Smith said that all requested documents were submitted.
"I personally cannot review those documents and intelligently pursue the issues," Cole commented. Then he asked Rothgeb, "How is our cash flow at WAPA? My concern is the financial stability of WAPA and its bonding capacity."
In response to Cole's request to have copies of documents in advance of hearings, Hansen commented: "That's why we have a continuation meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] on St. Thomas." And, she added, "Certainly tomorrow will not end it."
Other issues discussed included meter-reading procedures and staffing, energy consumption and rates, the status of a temporary restraining order requested by Thomas after the April employee unrest, and fuel conservation methods. Hansen asked for a detailed listing within 30 days of all WAPA equipment and its energy loss and output capacity.
Present for the roll call were Sens. Cole, Dowe, Alicia Hansen and Norman Jn Baptiste. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg was absent. Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Douglas Canton Jr. were excused.

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SUBPOENAED WAPA OFFICIALS GET SENATE GRILLING

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May 7, 2002 – Tuesday's seven-hour session was only the beginning of the Senate Finance Committee's probe into the Water and Power Authority's financial status and management practices, the committee chair, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, made clear.
Hansen stated that after an April 16 hearing where WAPA board chair Carol Burke was the only "invited" witness to appear, questions had been left unanswered. She showed a videotape segment of that hearing in which Burke responded to questions about the moving expenses of chief financial officer Robert Vodzack and about an impasse between WAPA employees and then-executive director Joseph R. Thomas Jr.
Hansen asked Burke Tuesday how the board plans to recoup "mismanaged" funds from Thomas for what she termed unauthorized personal amenities and the moving expenses in excess of a $6,000 cap that were paid to Bob Lynch Trucking & Shipping to ship Vodzack's car and household belongings from Pennsylvania.
"At the last special session called by the board, Mr. Thomas offered that he and the board come to a settlement based on his tenure and suggested that we come to amicable terms." Burke said. She said Thomas presented a six-page document but that the board did not use it to formulate the settlement plan.
Burke said the severance agreement covered six areas: termination, severance compensation, additional compensation, covenant, entire agreement and severability.
The agreement provided that Thomas was to receive two lump-sum payments of $150,000 and $19,538, as bonus and leave pay, by the close of business on May 6, 2002, and that he would have the same or a similar health and benefits package for one year. The agreement was signed by Thomas, Burke and the board secretary, Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik.
"Mr. Thomas isn't doing bad," Hansen said Tuesday. "He spends without authorization, he goes beyond his limit, the board determines it's a violation and the board rewards him with compensation."
When Burke could not detail the board's plan to recoup the funds, several senators compared Thomas's actions to those of former V.I. Lottery commissioner Alec Dizon, who was sentence to prison for defrauding the government, and former Public Works Commissioner Ann Abramson, who is serving time for making false claims and statements regarding federal funds.
Strong suggestions for a successor
Hansen set the tone Tuesday in saying the Legislature has oversight for WAPA as a public utility. "What kind of mocko jumbie type of attorneys that we have that can tell you that the legislature has no jurisdiction? These are serious times for serious business," she said.
Burke said Glenn Rothgeb as acting executive director is currently the official spokesman for WAPA.
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "I believe it's a V.I. company, and we in the V.I. have qualified individuals to mange this company." The comment brought applause from the audience in the chamber. Several senators made it clear they want to see Rothgeb, a 24-year WAPA veteran, as the next executive director. "We must make up our minds that even if errors are made, we must make sure jobs go to people here," Dowe said. "This kind of madness has got to stop. We can't continue to do this." He said he was thankful to former governor Juan Luis, who appointed him as fire chief at the age of 25 with a degree in fire services.
Senators also questioned Vodzack's employment agreement. WAPA legal counsel Cathy Smith said it is a binding contract, but Burke said it was not authorized by the board or signed by Thomas. Burke said Vodzack will remain on the payroll for the time being.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 25, 2001, by a WAPA human resources employee on behalf of human resources director Glenworth Byron. In testimony, Byron said one of his tasks is the recruitment of and negotiation with personnel based on the director's initiative. "You can't be blamed, Mr. Byron," Hansen said. "The board should be the ones to review and refuse."
Hansen said Rothgeb has been in charge of WAPA in an interim capacity about a dozen times over her 16 years in the Senate. "If this WAPA board does not elect you this time, this Legislature will have to do something," she told him. "Don't make that mistake again," she advised Burke who had pushed for Thomas's confirmation a little over a year ago.
Subpoenas bring people and paperwork
Except for Thomas, all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday were present: Rothgeb, Vodzack, Smith, Byron, comptroller Maurice Sebastien and systems planning director John Christian. Burke was "invited" to testify, not subpoenaed.
The committee also had subpoenaed 30 items of WAPA documentation in April. Post auditor Kris Ramkissoon told the senators the documents had been submitted Tuesday morning, but he could not confirm the content of the four large 3-inch binders.
The items requested were for the period April 1, 2001 – April 6, 2002. They include contractual agreements for goods and services, insurance policies, invoices, checks issued to officials and board members, reimbursements, financial reports, leases, audits, a curriculum vitae for Thomas and one for Vodzack, "private plate motor vehicles" and other documents.
Sebastien submitted documents including detailed meter-reader tasks and contractual arrangements with J.R. Thomas Associate Inc. and J & R Thomas Associates. Byron submitted a list of WAPA employees eligible for early retirement at hazardous duty pay that was originally submitted to the Government Employees Retirement System last Nov. 15. Smith said that all requested documents were submitted.
"I personally cannot review those documents and intelligently pursue the issues," Cole commented. Then he asked Rothgeb, "How is our cash flow at WAPA? My concern is the financial stability of WAPA and its bonding capacity."
In response to Cole's request to have copies of documents in advance of hearings, Hansen commented: "That's why we have a continuation meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] on St. Thomas." And, she added, "Certainly tomorrow will not end it."
Other issues discussed included meter-reading procedures and staffing, energy consumption and rates, the status of a temporary restraining order requested by Thomas after the April employee unrest, and fuel conservation methods. Hansen asked for a detailed listing within 30 days of all WAPA equipment and its energy loss and output capacity.
Present for the roll call were Sens. Cole, Dowe, Alicia Hansen and Norman Jn Baptiste. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg was absent. Sens. Norma Pickard-Samuel and Douglas Canton Jr. were excused.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

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