As part of the recognition of National Small Business Week, UVI-SBDC will sponsor an open house at First Bank's Sunny Isle Branch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 15.
For more information call 692-5270.
UVI-SBDC SEMINAR ON ESTATE PLANNING
As part of the recognition of National Small Business Week, UVI-SBDC will hold a seminar on individual estate planning, presented by Linda Baxter, Monday, July 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. It will be held at the SBDC training center, Sunshine Mall.
For more information or to pre-register, call 692-5270.
For more information or to pre-register, call 692-5270.
UVI-SBDC RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY
As part of the recognition of National Small Business Week, UVI-SBDC will hold a networking reception and awards ceremony at Gertrude's Restaurant, Castle Coakley from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17.
For more information see the Source article in the Business section.
For more information or to pre-register, call 692-5270.
For more information see the Source article in the Business section.
For more information or to pre-register, call 692-5270.
PONY LEAGUE CARIBBEAN TOURNEY UNDER WAY
July 11, 2003 — Following the opening ceremony Thursday at the Paul E. Joseph Stadium and the opening game, the St. Croix Pony Baseball League is hosting three days of solid baseball for teams with players ages 13 and 14. It's the 2003 Caribbean Zone Tournament.
St. Croix "A" team, with pitcher Ramon Erigue, beat Saba 14-2 in the opener.
The schedule:
Friday, July 11
1 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. St. Martin
4 p.m. St. Croix "A" team vs. Puerto Rico
7 p.m. St. Martin vs. Saba
Saturday, July 12
10 a.m. St. Croix "A" team vs. Bahamas
1 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. Saba
4 p.m. Puerto Rico vs. St. Martin
7 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. Bahamas
Sunday, July 13
10 a.m. Playoffs; teams to be determined
1 p.m.
6 p.m.
St. Martin/Sint Maarten is a combined team from both "sides" of the island.
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St. Croix "A" team, with pitcher Ramon Erigue, beat Saba 14-2 in the opener.
The schedule:
Friday, July 11
1 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. St. Martin
4 p.m. St. Croix "A" team vs. Puerto Rico
7 p.m. St. Martin vs. Saba
Saturday, July 12
10 a.m. St. Croix "A" team vs. Bahamas
1 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. Saba
4 p.m. Puerto Rico vs. St. Martin
7 p.m. St. Croix "B" team vs. Bahamas
Sunday, July 13
10 a.m. Playoffs; teams to be determined
1 p.m.
6 p.m.
St. Martin/Sint Maarten is a combined team from both "sides" of the island.
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.
HUD OFFICIAL HUDDLES WITH GOVERNOR OVER VIHA
July 10, 2003 – A top official from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development paid a call on Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Thursday to discuss the affairs of the V.I. Housing Authority.
Officials at Government House had little to say at the end of the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. On Thursday he said that options less drastic than federal receivership may be available. "The board will decide," he said on Thursday. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
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.
Officials at Government House had little to say at the end of the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. On Thursday he said that options less drastic than federal receivership may be available. "The board will decide," he said on Thursday. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
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.
HUD OFFICIAL HUDDLES WITH GOVERNOR OVER VIHA
July 10, 2003 – A top official from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development paid a call on Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Thursday to discuss the affairs of the V.I. Housing Authority.
Officials at Government House had little to say at the end of the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. On Thursday he said that options less drastic than federal receivership may be available. "The board will decide," he said on Thursday. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
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.
Officials at Government House had little to say at the end of the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. On Thursday he said that options less drastic than federal receivership may be available. "The board will decide," he said on Thursday. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
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.
HUD OFFICIAL HUDDLES WITH GOVERNOR OVER VIHA
July 10, 2003 – A top official from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development paid a call on Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Thursday to discuss the affairs of the V.I. Housing Authority.
Officials at Government House had little to say after the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership. And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. Options less drastic than federal receivership may be available, he said Thursday. "The board will decide," he said. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.
Officials at Government House had little to say after the hour-long afternoon meeting between the governor and Michael Liu, HUD assistant secretary for public and Indian housing. But spokeswoman Rina McBrowne Roebuck said Turnbull would likely bring the subject up at a press briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
Liu had appeared unexpectedly at a Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee hearing on Wednesday night, when he expressed HUD concerns about the Housing Authority's financial records, especially those from Fiscal Year 2002.
A government official with knowledge of the Thursday talks said HUD's concerns extend beyond sloppy bookkeeping.
Federal housing officials have reportedly asked the V.I. government about the status of a $12 million loan dating from 1999. Another issue is some $3.5 million in services rendered by VIHA to the V.I. government for which it is still awaiting compensation. And HUD is seeking repayment of $651,000 expended for the now defunct Housing Authority Police.
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr., who has spent much of his political career focusing on V.I. public housing issues, forecast a dire scenario: VIHA, he said on Thursday, will shortly be placed under federal receivership. And once that happens, he said, the VIHA board of governors "will cease to exist."
Ray Fonseca, VIHA's reform-minded executive director, has been working closely with federal authorities, instituting austerity measures including staff layoffs, the dismantling of the VIHA police and the cancellation of a $6 million contract since taking over the troubled agency last October. Options less drastic than federal receivership may be available, he said Thursday. "The board will decide," he said. "HUD either has to reach a memorandum of agreement or initiate a transfer."
The board is expected to weigh the options at its monthly meeting at the end of July.
Fonseca also said federal authorities may offer some supplementary accounting services to help VIHA sort out its bookkeeping.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.
SCHOOL BOARD CLOSES DOORS FOR LAWYER DEBATE
July 10, 2003 – Discussion was intense at an all-day special meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, but work was slow as the board tried to iron out various issues.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
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.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
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.
SCHOOL BOARD CLOSES DOORS FOR LAWYER DEBATE
July 10, 2003 – Discussion was intense at an all-day special meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, but work was slow as the board tried to iron out various issues.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
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.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
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.
SCHOOL BOARD CLOSES DOORS FOR LAWYER DEBATE
July 10, 2003 – Discussion was intense at an all-day special meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, but work was slow as the board tried to iron out various issues.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.
One of the ongoing bones of contention is the status of Nandi Sekou, hired in February as the board's attorney.
The board voted on June 11 to suspend Sekou for insubordination, police were called to the board offices the next day to escort her from the premises, the board voted on June 18 to continue her on paid leave until it met a week later, and it voted on June 25 to suspend her without pay for one week.
Sekou sent a 15-page document to the board appealing her suspension and alleging discrimination by board personnel against her. She has not been to work since June 26 and faxed a doctor's note to the board on July 7.
The board voted on Thursday to go into executive session to discuss the note and related issues. Board members Harry Daniel, Terrence D. Joseph, Keith Richards, Linda Thomas and Yvonne Williams-Henry — who on July 2 formed the majority that elected former acting chair Harry Daniel permanent chair — voted in favor of moving behind closed doors. The same three who opposed Daniel's election — Liston Davis, former chair Jorge Galiber and Malik Sekou — opposed the move.
The ninth board member, Claudette Petersen, who was off island for the last meeting, was absent due to illness on Thursday.
Malik Sekou, who is divorced from Nandi Sekou, said the board should not question a doctor's note about an employee's health.
One thing the board members did agree upon, unanimously, was to have a search committee start the process of seeking a new executive director to succeed Evadney Hodge, who officially retired on Monday.
"We are going to be looking for the best-qualified applicant," Galiber said, adding that the selection should not be based on political affiliation.
Meantime, the board approved keeping Hodge on as executive director on a day-to-day basis until the next board meeting. Daniel, Davis and Richards voted yes; Malik Sekou voted no; Galiber abstained; and Joseph and Williams-Henry as well as Petersen were not present for the vote.
Davis warned, "The longer you draw out the process, the more it will cost."
The board did not get to or was unable to render decisions on all other items on Thursday's agenda.
One stalemate was on whether to reduce the salaries of the board's exempt employees for six months in keeping with a request from Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
The board's one employee known to be in that category is the executive director; the board did not resolve whether its lawyer also is an exempt employee. Hodge's salary is $80,000 and Nandi Sekou's is $75,000, it was stated.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.
