Torres said he was informed that on three different occasions within the last eight months, NMC paid out or made arrangement to pay an aggrieved party in settlement of claims made against the college.
Fernandez said she only learned about the lawmaker’s request through the media.
“If and when the college receives a request from the representative, we will respond as appropriate,” she said.
Torres, R-Saipan, said his request is based on “the people of the commonwealth’s fundamental and presumptive right to know.”
“If the college is paying settlement money to people who threatened to sue the college because the college is in violation of laws and policies, or because they are being treated poorly, we have a right to know,” he said.
Torres said the people of the commonwealth are suffering and “we are not going to allow public funds or student’s money to cover over the mistakes of any college administrator.”
His only interest, he said, is to know the exact money paid and how many times that Fernandez and the NMC board of regents have paid to settle using public funds.
According to Torres, who opposes the application of the Open Government Act to the Legislature, “There is no Freedom of Information Act exemption for settlement agreements.”
It doesn’t matter, he added, if the college and the person filing the claim agree not to disclose the nature of the claim or the amount.
“The courts upheld my last [Open Government Act] request and I am confident that the courts will again uphold the people’s right to know. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees fighting this request. It doesn’t make sense to withhold information unless you have something to hide,” he said.
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