Sept. 11, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull issued the following statement at noon Tuesday in response to the mainland attacks.
Fellow residents of the Virgin Islands, as you must know by now, the nation and its territories are under attack by vicious terrorists. We must all take precautions to safeguard lives and property here in the territory.
Today is a day of national catastrophe of unparalleled dimensions. The worst nightmare of civilized people around the world has become reality. The people of the United States Virgin Islands join all Americans and the people of the civilized world in expressing our outrage and absolute repugnance at the heinous attack against innocent people in Washington and New York and elsewhere in the nation this morning, bringing with it a human tragedy of immeasurable extent.
We pray for all who have been wounded or suffered loss of precious life this day. We ask Almightly God to have mercy on the souls of those who have died and pray for comfort of the loved ones, friends and families.
As a result of the horrifying events of this morning, without a clear idea of the extent of the terrorist attack against our great nation, I have directed Police Commissioner Franz Christian and the adjutant general of the Virgin Islands National Guard, Maj. Gen. Cleave McBean, to take the necessary precautions to safeguard all public buildings and facilities throughout the territory.
I have been in contact with Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II, Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd and the chamber of President Judge Maria Cabret to insure we are all working together to protect lives and property.
I have also contacted Mr. Alexander Moorhead of Hovensa, who has assured me that he is taking all precautions to protect the refinery and its associated properties. Similar discussions have taken place with Mr. Edward Thomas and Calvin Wheatley of West Indian Company Ltd. to safeguard the West Indian Company dock, and the Port Authority to increase security on all Port Authority facilities across the territory.
I urge everyone in the territory to take the necessary precautions to safeguard yourselves and your loved ones as we await further information of this tragedy.
As we witness the horror of the events that continue to unfold across our nation, let us ask God to continue to bless our great nation, our president and the leaders of our nation and pray that God may guide and bless their decisions and actions in the days and weeks ahead.
Additional comments
After the governor read his statement on WVWI Radio, he told news director Jean Greaux that the Coast Guard was "making sure" the two cruise ships in port at St. Thomas Tuesday were safe. "The seaports aren't closed," Turnbull noted.
The governor said that Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, had issued a list of buildings and installations to be secured "to the highest degree." They include the Hovensa refinery and the Divi Carina Bay Casino on St. Croix, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort on St. Thomas, and The Westin Resort on St. John; Government House, the Water and Power Authority plants; the Finance Department offices; the Crown Bay container port; and the airports and hospitals on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
"We can't announce everything we are doing now," Turnbull said. "This is a very serious matter. Never has a vicious attack like this happened in the history of the world."
Lt. Gov. James, and Maj. Gen. McBean stood with Turnbull as he issued his message. At its conclusion, James cautioned residents to be calm. "We can help each other just by talking with those who have family members working in New York," he said.
McBean, who is in charge of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said the territory had been placed on a heightened state of alert, and "we are taking appropriate actions. I can't name them, but the V.I. key assets are protected."
Turnbull said action was being taken to coordinate efforts of the Tourism and Human Services Departments to assist visitors who are unable to leave the territory until flights resume. He said he was meeting with the Coast Guard, FBI and Police Department officials.
The governor cautioned all residents to "look with great scrutiny at everything."

Sept. 11, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull issued the following statement at noon Tuesday in response to the mainland attacks:
Fellow residents of the Virgin Islands, as you must know by now, the nation and its territories are under attack by vicious terrorists. We must all take precautions to safeguard lives and property here in the territory.
Today is a day of national catastrophe of unparalleled dimensions. The worst nightmare of civilized people around the world has become reality. The people of the United States Virgin Islands join all Americans and the people of the civilized world in expressing our outrage and absolute repugnance at the heinous attack against innocent people in Washington and New York and elsewhere in the nation this morning, bringing with it a human tragedy of immeasurable extent.
We pray for all who have been wounded or suffered loss of precious life this day. We ask Almightly God to have mercy on the souls of those who have died and pray for comfort of the loved ones, friends and families.
As a result of the horrifying events of this morning, without a clear idea of the extent of the terrorist attack against our great nation, I have directed Police Commissioner Franz Christian and the adjutant general of the Virgin Islands National Guard, Maj. Gen. Cleave McBean, to take the necessary precautions to safeguard all public buildings and facilities throughout the territory.
I have been in contact with Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II, Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd and the chamber of President Judge Maria Cabret to insure we are all working together to protect lives and property.
I have also contacted Mr. Alexander Moorhead of Hovensa, who has assured me that he is taking all precautions to protect the refinery and its associated properties. Similar discussions have taken place with Mr. Edward Thomas and Calvin Wheatley of West Indian Company Ltd. to safeguard the West Indian Company dock, and the Port Authority to increase security on all Port Authority facilities across the territory.
I urge everyone in the territory to take the necessary precautions to safeguard yourselves and your loved ones as we await further information of this tragedy.
As we witness the horror of the events that continue to unfold across our nation, let us ask God to continue to bless our great nation, our president and the leaders of our nation and pray that God may guide and bless their decisions and actions in the days and weeks ahead.
Additional comments
After the governor read his statement on WVWI Radio, he told news director Jean Greaux that the Coast Guard was "making sure" the two cruise ships in port at St. Thomas Tuesday were safe. "The seaports aren't closed," Turnbull noted.
The governor said that Dean Plaskett, Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, had issued a list of buildings and installations to be secured "to the highest degree." They include the Hovensa refinery and the Divi Carina Bay Casino on St. Croix, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort on St. Thomas, and The Westin Resort on St. John; Government House, the Water and Power Authority plants; the Finance Department offices; the Crown Bay container port; and the airports and hospitals on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
"We can't announce everything we are doing now," Turnbull said. "This is a very serious matter. Never has a vicious attack like this happened in the history of the world."
Lt. Gov. James, and Maj. Gen. McBean stood with Turnbull as he issued his message. At its conclusion, James cautioned residents to be calm. "We can help each other just by talking with those who have family members working in New York," he said.
McBean, who is in charge of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said the territory had been placed on a heightened state of alert, and "we are taking appropriate actions. I can't name them, but the V.I. key assets are protected."
Turnbull said action was being taken to coordinate efforts of the Tourism and Human Services Departments to assist visitors who are unable to leave the territory until flights resume. He said he was meeting with the Coast Guard, FBI and Police Department officials.
The governor cautioned all residents to "look with great scrutiny at everything."

Sept. 11, 2001 – The V.I. Source publications will continue to report local news as we closely monitor events related to terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.
We are gathering pertinent local information on airline flights and seeking statements from local government officials and organizations and will continue to update as we receive information.
American Airlines flight 655, direct from New York's JFK Airport, has landed on St. Thomas as scheduled. Private vehicles are not being allowed to travel into Cyril E. King Airport. An American spokesperson said taxis will transport passengers to designated areas of the island.
One of those areas will be the cargo area of the airport, where private vehicles will be allowed to await passengers, who will be led to the area.
Continue to monitor the Source for updates on information pertinent to the Virgin Islands. And please e-mail us with any information you may have about Virgin Islands people or institutions affected by the terrorism incidents on the mainland.

Sept. 10, 2001 — A man who escaped from St. Croix’s Golden Grove Detention Center on Sunday night was captured Monday afternoon after about 18 hours on the run.
St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis said his department received a call at about 9:30 Sunday night from the Bureau of Corrections that Jeffery Darkins, 34, was missing from the detention center, located on the grounds of the Golden Grove prison. Darkins was booked at the detention center last Thursday on weapons charges.
Corrections Bureau Director Horace Magras said Darkins was reported missing after a routine head count Sunday. Police and Corrections officers immediately began a search, which culminated in Darkins’ capture at about 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Frederiksted area. Darkins was taken to the Charles Sweeney Headquarters and charged with escaping from custody.
Magras said that Darkins apparently scaled a 20-foot wall and then cut or worked a section of fencing apart at the detention center. He then climbed a second fence that encloses both the detention center and the prison.
"We are conducting a full investigation into the incident," Magras said, adding that staffing issues in Corrections didn’t play a part in the escape. "We have filled most of our vacant positions. . . It’s my opinion that Mr. Darkins’ escape wasn’t an issue of staffing."
About a year ago, convicted murderer Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell escaped from the Golden Grove prison. It was determined that Maxwell hacksawed through the bars of his cell and then made his escape after a Corrections guard left the prison with keys to an open cell block in his pocket.
Maxwell was on the run for 11 days until he turned himself in to authorities in early September of last year.
At that time V.I. Attorney General Iver Stridiron said that understaffing at the prison could have played a role in the escape.
Magras said the latest escape proves that no facility is perfect. The detention center and prison were recently expanded to ease overcrowding. The new facilities were opened in February.
"Man designed and built these facilities," he said. "And given time, man will find ways to work their way out."

Sept. 11, 2001 — Frederiksted business owners are hoping that upcoming U.S. Navy port calls will help ease the economic damage caused by the loss of a third of cruise ship arrivals to St. Croix during the winter season.
The Frederiksted Economic Development Association, a private-sector business group, has been assured of 40, and possibly as many as 70, military vessels calling on Frederiksted over the coming year, according to Hugh Dalton, FEDA vice president. Dalton said the first ship is scheduled to arrive Sept. 24 for a four-day stay.
"FEDA would like St. Croix to be known to the international naval community as the port of choice for R&R in the Caribbean," he said. "We need the help of the community to make this a reality."
Dalton is urging businesses to provide FEDA with information so it can distribute "welcome" brochures to military guests that detail activities, services and military discounts.
The hope is that the military port calls will make up some of the projected losses projected from the decrease in cruise ship port calls on St. Croix from 154 last year to just over 100 for 2001-02. The losses occurred because the Holland America line dropped the island from its itinerary and because the Nordic Empress will call every other week rather than weekly.
St. Thomas-St. John has 719 calls scheduled in the coming season, which runs from October to April.
Dalton said that FEDA is projecting that the 18,000 to 20,000 military personnel who will visit St. Croix could generate about $1 million in revenue during the projected 160 to 200 in-port days.
But for that to occur, the safety of the visiting sailors must be assured. About a year ago, Gov. Charles Turnbull met with U.S. Navy officials after a group of officers was robbed on the boardwalk in Christiansted and another crewman was mugged.
The Navy had suspended port calls to the territory in 1993 after dozens of assaults and the murder of an officer on St. Thomas. The incidents caused the Navy to categorize the U.S. Virgin Islands as the most dangerous place in the world for its sailors during peacetime.
It also ended the estimated $16 million a year pumped into the economy by visiting sailors. While former Gov. Roy Schneider convinced the Navy to resume calls to the territory in 1995, the number of visits has not returned to earlier levels.

Sept. 10, 2001 – Plans to convert the onetime Virgin Isles Hotel into a veterans' multipurpose center will be presented when the Senate Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Legislature Building on St. Thomas.
Noting the impact the proposed legislation could have on the lives of veterans and others in the community, Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel, the committee chair, encouraged veterans, others with military connections, and the general public to attend the hearing.
"The development of this property has been talked about for many years, and many ideas have been tossed around," Pickard-Samuel said in a release Monday. "We must come together as a community to move forward this project."
Three years ago, the consortium that owned the former showplace hotel overlooking the St. Thomas harbor donated the hurricane-ravaged and rundown property to the V.I. government, which has done nothing with it since then.
Before the committee now is a bill to transfer the property to Veterans Resource and Development Inc. for 99 years at the cost of $1 per year. Among those invited to testify at Wednesday's hearing are Chuck Smith, Matrix Realty & Development; James Tabron, executive director, Durham Housing Authority; Robbi Jones, the investment banking firm SBK Brooks; Samuel Ebbesen, president, Innovative Telephone; Cleave McBean, V.I. National Guard; Dr. Alfred O. Heath; Edward Phillips, American Legion Post No. 90; Jodeen Dawson, Vet Center counselor; Alton Adams Jr., Alton Adams & Associates; Fernando Webster, director, Office of Veterans Affairs; and Lawrence Bastian, district commander, Office of Veterans Affairs.
To offer comments or learn more, call the senator at 693-3535.

Sept. 10, 2001 – Through its Intermediate Relending Program and the recently launched Women's Business Center-Citibank Micro Loan Program, the St. Croix Foundation has provided $1 million in loans to small businesses in the territory.
Roger Dewey, foundation executive director, noted, "Access to capital can be a major obstacle in business expansion success, and the availability of these funds has paved the way for remarkable business development and growth in our community."
He added, "When one compares our loan portfolio with that of conventional banks in the territory, we are actually supporting the needs of small businesses on a greater scale."
The relending program was launched in 1996, capitalized initially by a $1 million low-interest loan from the Rural Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and then additionally by a joint donation from Chase Manhattan Bank and Virgin Islands Community Bank. The program's primary goals are to provide economic growth, to create and/or preserve employment opportunities for the St. Croix community, and to provide funds not otherwise available to businesses.
The program issues loans exclusively on St. Croix and to date has disbursed $975,000 to such small businesses as a laundromat, barber salon, woodworking shop, shoe repair shop, religious music center and retail clothing store. This year, eight loans were approved, averaging about $33,250. The maximum for a loan under the program is $100,000.
Since the program's inception, 42 loans have been issued and 63 jobs have been created.
"Small businesses are the backbone of all economies," Dewey said. "Creating 63 jobs simply by affording aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to make a contribution to our economy illustrates just how important it is to support private-sector development."
The Women's Business Center-Citibank Micro Loan Program was launched in July funded by a $150,000 loan from Citibank. Already it has closed on six loans — three on St. Croix and three on St. Thomas — totaling $25,000. Beneficiaries include an art gallery, a tea-processing company, a food mobile and a consulting/marketing firm.
To be eligible for a micro loan, an applicant must be a current client of the Women's Business Center. The center, a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the St. Croix Foundation, provides services and programs that support and accelerate women's business ownership and strengthen women's impact on the economy.
According to literature of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, providing micro credit improves the earning capacity of small entrepreneurs, particularly women, and helps them to increase family income.
Yvette deLaubanque, WBC director, applauded Citibank for its support. "People in the Caribbean historically are entrepreneurial because of dire and forced social conditions," she said. "At the WBC, we dispel the notion that people here do not yearn for economic independence, and our micro program proves this."
Ongoing technical assistance — including seminars, counseling and WBC E-Mart, an online marketplace — provides borrowers the tools to facilitate business success, according to a release. The small entrepreneurs also will have the opportunity to participate in an E-Commerce Summit on Oct. 25 and a Business Expo set for Oct 26-27. For more information on these activities, call the WBC at 773-4995 or visit the Women's Business Center web site.
Lending programs constitute just one of the many economic and social activities the St. Croix Foundation directs. To obtain more information about services, or to find out how you can contribute, call 773-9898.

Sept. 10, 2001 – If all goes as planned, the St. Thomas public library will soon have something it's sorely needed for the last couple of years: a head librarian.
Diane Moody, a librarian for the last four years at Antilles School, has been offered the position, and she has accepted. "My goal is to improve library services to the community," she said.
The NOPA [notice of personnel action] for Moody is "in the pipeline," Claudette Lewis, assistant commissioner of the Planning and Natural Resources Department, said, adding that she hoped to have an answer back this week.
Moody has the advantage of bringing to the job something that the last couple of head librarians at Baa did not have: a thorough knowledge of the system, its strengths and weaknesses, and its support resources — both within the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums and in the community.
In addition to working as a school librarian, Moody has been active as a volunteer in what used to be called The Friends of Enid M. Baa Library. The not-for-profit group recast its name this year as The Friends of the St. Thomas Libraries — signaling its support for a second library that would particularly serve the large population on the eastern portion of the island.
Moody, the group's vice president and program chair, noted in June that there are two reasons such a library may become a reality on the not-too-distant future. First, Tutu Park Ltd., the mall developer, has pledged in its bid to the Economic Development Commission for renewal of tax exemptions to build such a facility across from Plaza Extra. And second, the library already has architectural plans drafted in the mid-1990s for a structure that had been targeted for the ruins of the historic Tutu greathouse behind Tillett Gardens.
Another priority for the Friends was to see a head librarian in place at Baa. There has been no head librarian, or anyone with a library science degree, on the library staff in the last two years. The last librarian within the system on St. Thomas worked in the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums office, not at the library, and she retired last December.
As program chair, Moody was instrumental in getting the volunteer Saturday reading program for children up and running in the Baa Library children's room last spring. The Friends got a mini-grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands to purchase additional books and art supplies for the program and elisted community members to read to the youngsters and interact with them in games and crafts projects intended to encourage a love of reading.
As the program was about to take a break for July and August, Moody noted that the Friends had decided that "We will continue the program when they get a librarian. We want to be there to support a librarian in the work that she or he wants to accomplish."
That should be a "no problem" situation now.
The position of the librarian's supervisor also is vacant at the moment. Simon Caines, who served as director of libraries for about two years, left at the end of July to become executive director of the V.I. Humanities Council. He had previously worked with the not-for-profit council as assistant to longtime executive director Magda G-Smith, who left the position in March.
"It was something I was familiar with and had an affinity for," Caines said of his new post. "I was excited at the prospect of coming back."
But the Humanities Council's gain is the library system's loss, for Caines — and his boss, Lewis — also had been lobbying for a new state-of-the-art library at the mall. And they had taken the initiative to begin upgrading the Baa offerings for adults as well as children, closing the library for a week in May to install new shelving in the Von Scholten Collection area and to remove outdated and damaged books and replace them with new materials.
According to Lewis, the NOPA for the new director of libraries — who oversees all of the territory's public libraries — also is making its way through the government pipeline. She declined to name the person she has designated for the position. Jeanette Allis Bastian held the post for many years before relocating to the mainland a couple of years ago to pursue a doctorate degree.
At Baa, the last head librarian was Tommy Waters, who came from the mainland to take the job in the late 1990s and left after a couple of years. Before that, John Hodges, a St. Thomas resident since 1986, held the position from 1992 to 1995. At that time, the late June Lindqvist was still the librarian in charge of the Baa Library's Von Scholten Collection of Virgin Islands archival books and other materials.
At present, all of the territory's other public libraries — Florence A. Williams in Christiansted, Athalie McFarlane Petersen in Frederiksted, and Elaine Ione Sprauve on St. John, have librarians.
"We did have several candidates" for the Baa position, Planning and Natural Resources public information staff member Annette Morales said.
Moody holds a master of arts in library science from Northern Illinois University. Her work experience includes 11 years in school libraries — seven of them in administration for the suburban Chicago school district of Maywood, Ill. In the culturally diverse district, she said, "I managed five elementary school libraries and teaching library schools, promoting reading and consulting with teachers about literature, library use and other available resources."
She was involved in developing computerized catalogs and circulation for the district's 10 libraries and was instrumental in the formation of a technology committee that succeeded in obtaining a grant of $1.3 million in state and federal funds for library computer rooms.
For the last four years, Moody has been the Upper School librarian at Antilles, where she also has taught 6th grade library skills, 9th grade research methods and Modern Language Association style for term papers. She was in charge of automating the library and managed 16 computer work stations for students. "I taught Internet searching skills; consulted with teachers about library usage, literature and integrating technology into the curriculum; and started the school's technology committee," she said.
In February of this year, the school dedicated its new Henry L. Kimelman Library, which includes a computer center.
"I'm looking forward to working at Enid M. Baa for many reasons," Moody said. "The public library will allow me to serve the larger community, from babies to senior citizens, while continuing to work with school-age childen and young adults. My experience at Kimelman Library will serve me in assisting patrons using printed reference books and searching the Internet to fulfill their information needs."
Beyond the nuts and bolts aspects of the job, she added, "I love talking about books and authors and look forward to sharing that love with others."

Sept. 10, 2001 – Inspired by Mark Marin's donation of his eyes, heart, lungs and kidneys, Sen. Lorraine Berry is seeking to establish an organ donor identification card in honor of the former Antilles School headmaster, who died on July 25.
Berry's initiative is to amend the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act in the V.I. Code to establish the Mark C. Marin Organ Donor Identification Card and authorize its issuance to individuals who have made a determination to donate all or parts of their body upon death.
Marin's gift helped to save and enhance the lives of several people — and, by extension, the families and loved ones of the patients who received his organs. Had he not discussed his desire to be an organ donor with family members, his wish might not have been carried out. There is a small window of opportunity, time wise, to "harvest" organs from donors and make them available to be transplanted into recipients.
Although an organ donor card indicates the donor's wishes, family members are always asked to provide consent before donation can occur, according to Kim Tirrell, clinical care coordinator at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. "That's why it is very important to make your wishes known to family and friends," she said.
A patient must be declared brain dead — a state of irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain — in order to be considered a candidate for donation.
Tirrell, who helps coordinate the hospital's organ donation program, reports all deaths and suspected brain deaths to Life Link, the organ procurement agency in Puerto Rico assigned to the Virgin Islands. When a suspected brain death occurs, Life Link representatives will travel to the territory to confirm it and to discuss the possibility of organ donation with the patient's family.
"We don't have a lot of patients who meet these criteria," Tirrell said. Since the beginning of this year, there have been just two opportunities for organ donation in the Virgin Islands, she said. In both cases, family members did not consent to donation. (Marin died after being transported to Florida for medical care.)
While "families are totally within their right to decline," Tirrell said, she feels there needs to be more public awareness about the benefits of organ donation. "Sometimes organ donation can help grieving families feel that their loved one hasn't died in vain," she noted.
She explained that organs are removed surgically so as not to disfigure the body, something which is often of concern to family members.
According to information posted on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site, about 5,500 people die each year in the United States while waiting for an organ to be donated. The web site states, "Each day, about 60 people receive an organ transplant, but another 15 on the waiting list die because not enough organs are available."
The site also notes there is a great need for minorities to be organ donors. Some diseases are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations than in the general population. Tirrell said the majority of people in the Virgin Islands awaiting organ transplants suffer from kidney diseases.
According to the Health and Human Services web site, "Successful transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of the same ethnic and racial group. For example, any patient is less likely to reject a kidney if it is donated by an individual who is genetically similar. Generally, people are genetically more similar to people of their own ethnicity or race than to people of other races. Therefore, a shortage of organs donated by minorities can contribute to death and longer waiting periods for transplants for minorities."
Tirrell hopes that greater awareness in the community will encourage more opportunities for organ donation. Schneider Hospital is looking for a spokesperson to help educate the public about organ donation, she said.
The language of Berry's amendment bill as drafted specifies that prospective organ donors must make their wishes clear in a "will." However, a member of her staff indicated that this need not necessarily mean a formal, written will — something few young people have, for example; it could be any written statement that a person makes.
The current law clearly states that "a gift of all or part of the body may also be made by a document other than a will. The document, which may be a card designed to be carried on the person, must be signed by the donor in the presence of two witnesses who must sign the document in his presence."
Nowadays, many states allow individuals to indicate their willingness to be organ donors on their drivers' licenses.

Sept. 10, 2001 – June A. Adams and Ray K. Joseph have been renominated by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to second terms on the Roy L. Schneider Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Board.
Adams, a St. Thomas resident, is a licensed practical nurse who spent 35 years with the Health Department in various capacities until her retirement in 1992. She is a member of the National Licensed Practical Nurses Association and has served as national president and secretary of that association.
Joseph, a St. John resident, retired several years ago as pastor of Emmaus and Bethany Moravian Churches on St. John. He also serves on the Council on Alcoholism St. Thomas-St. John Board.
Other current members of the Schneider Hospital board are Dr. Ira Buchalter, Samuel W. Topp, Horace Brooks and Beverly Chongasing, all of St. Thomas; and Natalie Thomas of St. John. Chongasing serve as president of the board.
Adams and Joseph also serve on the territorial Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Board. Adams fulfulls the legal requirement that a nurse serve on that board. Joseph meets the requirement that a St. John resident hold a seat.