Frustrated Port Authority board updated on projects and warned
Published: September 20, 2012
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ST. CROIX - V.I. Port Authority board members aired frustration Wednesday as they approved resolutions to move projects forward during its regular meeting.
Members said information they had been expecting at the meeting was still not available.
Board member Allison Petrus said he hears the frustration and believes the authority needs to develop a system where projects can be tracked on a timeline so there is more accountability.
Board member Gordon Finch agreed, adding that there are too many issues outstanding when meetings are held and something has to be reviewed and addressed.
Member Yvonne Thraen said the same issues have concerned her for some time and said the problem is that there are no consequences when information is not provided in a timely manner.
"We need to tie these requests and performance into personnel ratings and do something," she said. "If we still don't see progress with requests then the chair will have to deal with the executive director to get things done."
Marine revenues
In his financial report, Finch said overall revenues are down, primarily because of a decline in marine revenue because of a reduced amount of port calls.
Finch warned the authority has to closely watch the declines in marine revenue because the Port Authority's aviation operations have had to borrow from marine income to keep things afloat at times.
Petrus said it's important for the authority to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to dredging to accommodate ships, adding that they have to consider if they have enough capacity for borrowing based on how the numbers are trending.
Finch noted cruise lines are requiring the authority to dig three to four feet more in some areas.
Anguilla Landfill
Finch told the board the Anguilla Landfill closing is moving ahead and that two Federal Aviation Administration officials recently inspected the transfer station and were satisfied.
He said one question that persists when discussing the 2020 deadline to close the landfill is the meaning of closure as described by the Environmental Protection Agency and the consent degree and closure as described by FAA.
Board Chairman Robert O'Connor Jr. said a meeting is being scheduled with V.I. Waste Management Authority officials on the matter.
Personnel
Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan heads the Personnel Committee on the board and got authorization from the board to open a selection process for a temporary security monitor for a six-month period and to begin the process to hire a chief financial officer at a salary range of $110,000 to $125,000.
Also, the board is still trying to narrow the list of applicants for the vacant executive director position.
Enighed Pond
Wrapping up the meeting, Port Authority Director of Engineering Dale Gregory said the completion of the Enighed Pond project was expected to be Friday, but work will last at least another week because the utilities are now being installed.
Bournefield
Gregory also gave an update on the Bournefield housing situation, saying that a pre-bid meeting will be held Friday.
- Contact reporter Fiona Stokes at 714-9149 or email fstokes@dailynews.vi.
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