By a vote of 17-1, House Local Bill 17-6 now goes to the governor.
Rep. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan, voted no while Reps. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, and Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, were absent during the voting.
According to the bill, which was introduced by Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, if the council chairman is off-island, the mayors can appoint the vice chairman to carry out their functions until they return.
If all the municipal council members are also off-island, the legislative delegation chairman will be the acting mayor.
Under the current law, the mayors of Saipan and Northern Islands have the sole discretion to designate a person who should be acting mayor when they’re off-island.
This, the local bill stated, is contrary to the law that allows the governor to designate the lieutenant governor, or in the absent of both, the Senate president, to be acting governor.
