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HomeNewsArchivesExecutive Director Dowe Introduced at VIPA Board Meeting

Executive Director Dowe Introduced at VIPA Board Meeting

V.I. Port Authority Governing Board Chairman Robert O’Conner Jr. on Wednesday introduced and welcomed the board’s incoming executive director, Carlton “Ital” Dowe.

Dowe was immediately addressed by Attorney General Vincent Frazer, an ex-officio member of the group, by citing what his fellow board members agreed was a “tough job ahead.”

“The Port Authority is the gateway to the economy of the Virgin Islands,” Frazer said. “We, as a board, fully support you.”

Dowe officially assumes his role as executive director in February, but spoke Wednesday addressing concerns expressed by the seven present board members.

Of immediate note was the deteriorating physical infrastructure of Port Authority facilities on St. Croix, referenced by board member Gordon Finch, and an inherited deficit from the first quarter of the fiscal year of nearly $3 million.

Dowe expressed his seriousness concerning these issues by inviting all members present to join him and Dale Gregory, director of engineering, for an informal familiarization walk next week through the facilities in question on St. Croix.

He also expressed his agreement with interim Chief Financial Officer Nellon Bowry’s request for a financial analyst to be added to his staff to better clarify all three islands’ financial data to the VIPA board.

Dowe asked for a review of current expenditures and options “for additional revenue enhancement.”

The meeting continued with the re-election of O’Conner and Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty as chairman and vice chairwoman respectively, with the addition of member Allison “Allie” Petrus from St. Thomas as secretary for the new year.

In matters requiring the board’s action, the following motions were passed unanimously by all members present:

– Two motions by St. Croix member Manuel Gutierrez Jr., one calling for a review of the existing budget by Dowe and Bowry in order to afford the additional position of a financial analyst; and a second calling for the completion of an official financial policy statement. A caveat was added that the policy statement would be in place by next month’s meeting.
– A motion approving the hiring of an in-house insurance adjuster to represent the authority’s interests following a fire in March of 2012 which took place on VIPA property at the V.I. Water and Power Authority administration building on St. Thomas.
– A motion to retain the services of marine expert Craig Johnson to analyze comparable salary pay scales in other jurisdictions as it pertains to Port Authority Harbor pilots. The harbor pilots are scheduled for contract arbitration in February.
– A motion to purchase a back-up generator to be used exclusively for baggage carousels at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, which in turn would save additional man power expenses during power outages; as well as a motion allotting $17,507 for the expansion of the exiting baggage handling system at the airport.
– A motion adding $522,000 to an already existing budget of $2.6 million for the renovation of restroom facilities at Cyril E. King Airport and the design and construction of additional restrooms and a baggage belt was also passed unanimously. The motion included an amendment by Public Works Commissioner Darryl A. Smalls that allowed for the project to take place in phases according to funding availability.

The Port Authority Board meets the third Wednesday of the month and is available for observation, but not participation, by the general public with the exception of matters addressed during executive session.

Support staff in the form of legal counsel and engineering, as well as facilities management personnel were present at the meeting. Absent from the meeting were Nicholson-Doty and Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr.

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