“I do not have the authority to reduce the working hours for the [commission’s] employees,” he told Variety.
Reduction of working hours has to be implemented by the commissioners, he added.
“The commissioners and their legal counsel were on austerity measures until a couple of months ago when they decided to reinstate their full hours,” he said.
The two commissioners receive $100,000 a year in salary and benefits.
A Tinian resident, who declined to be identified, said while the island’s medical referral has been suspended due to lack of funds, their commissioners overseeing a struggling casino industry continue to be paid in full.
Perez said employees of the mayor’s office who get $50,000 a year are now working on reduced hours.
Asked about a federal block grant that was withheld because of the mayor’s office’s failure to comply with the requirements, Perez said they did comply with all the requirements for the basketball court project.
However, when the pre-bidding conference was held, the site for the basketball court was changed, he added,
The new site was near the road going to Suicide Cliff before the Kastiyu road entrance.
“That site isn’t close to the Carolinas Heights subdivision and may be on private property,” he said.
Perez said he asked the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., which administers the block grants, to explain why the site was changed.
The site that the mayor’s office and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs selected was next to the water reservoir in Carolinas Heights, he said.
