Board extends Anguilla deadline

ST. THOMAS - During closed session Wednesday, the V.I. Port Authority board extended the V.I. Waste Management Authority's deadline to close the Anguilla Landfill by four months.

The Waste Management Authority leases Port Authority land for the St. Croix landfill on land located next to Rohlsen Airport. Under its lease agreement with the Port Authority, Waste Management could have been fined $1,000 a day for each day the landfill remained open after the original Jan. 31 deadline passed.

The new deadline, May 31, also extends the implementation of the fines, according to Port Authority spokeswoman Monifa Marrero.

Waste Management asked for the extension, citing the weather as delaying construction of the transfer station, which is located in a wetlands, according to Port Authority Executive Director Kenneth Hobson.

For decades, the FAA has demanded the dump be closed because it attracts birds that can clutter aircraft paths and cause accidents. The FAA has withheld from the Port Authority discretionary funds for airport improvements until the landfill is closed.

At Wednesday's meeting, the Port Authority board also discussed settling its tenants' outstanding balances and detailed recent project break-downs that some board members said were avoidable.

Board member Gordon Finch cited concerns that the transition to a new computer system had left the authority unable to charge late fees on late rent payments.

"We should correct that," Finch said. "Or we're going to have an even bigger accounts receivables."

Board chairman Robert O'Connor Jr. asked who is responsible for implementing the computer system, which was contracted to a private vendor.

The technical problem arose while transferring years of data to the new system, said Administration and Finance Director Judith James.

"When we did the transition, there were some numbers that were changed," James said. "I think an accountant put it into the wrong account."

By Nov. 30, 2011, financials showed, four Port Authority tenants were more than $100,000 behind in their rent.

American Eagle airlines, the V.I. Water and Power Authority and Crown Bay Marina are each more than a month late on payments that totalled $749,888.97.

"The aviation division continues to go south," Finch said. "Even on the marine side, which is usually our saving grace, the numbers are down."

The board approved unanimously hiring two temporary parking lot attendants on St. Croix because it has taken so long to install the electronic parking turnstiles.

Election of officers

The board appointed new officers: Robert O'Connor Jr. was named chairman; V.I. Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls was named vice-chairman and V.I. Attorney General Vincent Frazer was named secretary.

"I can now happily give up the chair," said former board Chairwoman Beverly Nicholson-Doty. "O'Connor, welcome back."

The board nominates the officers annually in January.

Board members Finch, Frazer, Nicholson-Doty, Smalls, O'Connor and Yvonne Thraen attended the meeting. Board member and V.I. Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr. was absent.

Finch also announced Wednesday that the Port Authority's Fiscal Year 2011 audit would be ready within a few weeks.

"We should have a draft available soon," Finch said. "At our February meeting the draft can be approved by the board."

"We are finally meeting the deadline required of us," he said.

­- Contact reporter Michael Todd at 714-9104 or email mtodd@dailynews.vi.

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