Sablan’s contract ended on Sept. 30.
Aside from Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, the other House leadership members who attended the meeting in the speaker’s conference room were Vice Speaker Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero, House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan, Reps. Jose Itibus, Joseph Flores, Luis John Castro, Ralph N. Yumul, Roman C. Benavente, Joel Camacho and Janet Maratita.
They concluded the meeting by signing the extension of Sablan’s contract to Jan. 31, 2021.
The extension also needs the approval of the Senate leadership, which will meet soon to make a decision.
In an interview after the meeting, House Floor Leader Sablan said it is important to have an LB director for the remaining three months of the House members’ term, which ends in January.
It will be up to the leadership of the 22nd Legislature to retain the current LB director or appoint a new one.
The House floor leader said the LB director has performed well and, as a former House member himself, is very familiar with the legislative process.
During the meeting on Monday, Rep. Joel Camacho, a former LB staff member, said the new contract for the LB director should include human resource guidelines when hiring personnel.
Right now, Camacho, said there is no HR committee that enforces hiring guidelines, which can result in arbitrary decisions when hiring or firing LB employees.
The LB director’s annual salary is $70,000.
