Asked if the annual pay of $75,000 and $25,000 in benefits is commensurate to the commissioners’ actual work, Manglona replied: “I don’t think so.”
He said he has yet to confirm the five commissioners are willing to reduce their salary from $75,000 to $50,000.
On Friday, this reporter visited the commission’s office but only one employee was there.
The commission, led by chairman Francisco M. Borja, earlier informed the mayor’s office that it will reinstate the 80 work hours per pay period for the commissioners and their personnel.
Manglona said he was against the appointment of Commissioner Bernadita C. Palacios because of funding constraint.
Before Manglona and other newly elected local officials were sworn in last January, the previous municipal administration appointed Palacios to the commission.
The other commissioners are vice chairman Ignacio K. Quichocho, Peter Q. Cruz Jr. and Michael H. San Nicolas.
Each commissioner is appointed by the mayor and will serve a term of six years.
Meeting
When Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz returns from Hiroshima, Japan on Tuesday, Manglona said he will ask for a meeting with the commission and the municipal council.
“This is the time that we in leadership positions should watch out for our budget because of our shortfall,” Manglona said.
He said the meeting will discuss possible solutions to the municipality’s financial problems.
There has been a suggestion to abolish the commission and delegate its duties to the municipal council.
But Manglona said the council has no capability to handle the regulatory functions of a gaming commission.
He said the commissioners are supposed to have that expertise.
Critical
Local residents interviewed by this reporter said the reduction of the commissioners’ salary is a “prudent approach.”
They don’t believe that the commission can be abolished.
But they said those commissioners who are already old should retire.
“It’s hard to find money. We are in a very critical situation and those commissioners are still getting high salary,” said one of the residents, who all declined to be identified.
Anthony Cabrera of the special project division of the mayor’s office said the suggestion to abolish the gaming commission is a “good idea,” but it will all depend on the mayor.
Struggling
Kimberlyn King-Hinds, the Tinian mayor’s acting chief executive officer, said the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino is “struggling.”
“Since the mayor assumed office, one of his requests to the commission was to prepare for…the possibility of the Dynasty being sold,” she said.
She said Tinian must do its best to assist the hotel keep its doors open.
According to King-Hinds, finding new investors is not an easy task “as they have many issues such as the ambiguity of the federalization process that affect our marketability.”
