In its first meeting since deciding to fire former Executive Director Carlton Dowe, the V.I. Port Authority board briefly addressed on Wednesday the need to begin searching for a new agency head but said that the matter would remain in the board’s personnel committee until ready for final action.
The VIPA board issued walking papers to Dowe in late December, voting at a meeting to terminate his contract without cause.
Dowe, a former senator, had been the Port Authority’s executive director since early 2013.
The governor’s brother, David Mapp, due to his previous position as assistant executive VIPA director, was appointed to serve as interim executive director. Mapp
served at least once before as interim director before Dowe was hired.
Several projects pending before Dowe’s departure were not discussed in open session during Wednesday’s board meeting on St. Thomas. Instead, the board:
– approved revisions to VIPA’s procurement and policy procedures manual. Board members said Wednesday that the revisions would make sure that best practices are used for VIPA purchasing and to make sure those purchases are made in compliance with the board’s financial policy.
– approved the role and responsibilities of the board’s finance committee.
– and authorized VIPA to extend a contract with Energy Systems Group, which is working with the authority on energy improvements at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix.
Discussion on the project – which included an update on the Rohlsen photovoltaic system project and Energy Systems’ proposed efficiency plan – was moved to executive session but board members said that no decisions were made.