THE Commonwealth Utilities Corporation board on Thursday, April 26, 2023 elected its chair pro tem, Janice Tenorio, as the new chair.
In a memorandum, she designated CUC’s chief of administration, Betty G. Terlaje, as acting executive director.
“Please extend your usual support and cooperation to Ms. Terlaje as she assumes this additional responsibility,” Tenorio told CUC employees.
Asked if Terlaje will be named the new executive director, Tenorio said, “No, she has been with the corporation for a long time, she has institutional knowledge, but she has not shown or has said that she is interested in the position.”
Tenorio also noted that the executive director must meet the qualifications required by the federal stipulated orders.
According to Variety files, the minimum requirements for the executive director include a master’s degree in management, engineering, finance or public administration or, in the alternative, a bachelor’s degree in engineering and registration as a professional engineer pursuant to the National Council of Engineering Examiners standards in the civil, mechanical or electrical branch. In addition, an applicant must have at least 10 years’ experience as senior management in wastewater, drinking water and/or power utility.
Tenorio said hiring a new executive director and deputy executive director is among her top priorities.
“My goal is to have a fast-paced process of closing the Job Vacancy Announcement for the vacated executive director’s position and hire [a qualified] individual,” she added.
She noted that the JVA was out two weeks after former CUC Executive Director Gary Camacho resigned.
“The position is available for individuals to apply. It is still open. They can apply to CUC human resources. We screen the applications and because we are required to notify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they will do their review, and we do our review, and then [conduct a] background check, validate their credentials, then we will proceed to interview and then hire an individual,” Tenorio said.
She said the JVA for the deputy executive director will also be out.
On Monday, April 24, 2023, Tenorio fired CUC’s acting executive director, Dallas M. Peavey Jr., PhD. “for cause.”
Chretien T. Voerg, PE, the deputy executive director, was named acting executive director, but he resigned effective Thursday, April 27, 2023. He also resigned his position as deputy executive director.
Tenorio said it is unfortunate that people have to resign.
“That is beyond our control as we are trying our best to fill those positions. CUC requires specialized individuals, engineers, senior engineers, senior executives — we just need to go out there and continue the search and place those individuals when we do find them,” she added.
As for being elected as CUC board chair, Tenorio said, “I really appreciate the confidence of my colleagues…. We have to have a board chair….”
Also on Thursday, board member Don Browne was elected vice chair, while board member Allen Perez was elected secretary and treasurer.
The other CUC board member is the chair of the Commonwealth Development Authority, Frank Lee Borja.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has nominated Rufo T. Mafnas and Simon Sanchez to the CUC board. Mafnas was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday while Sanchez on Thursday appeared before the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations which will recommend his confirmation.
Delinquent customers
As for government offices and agencies that are not paying their utility bills on a timely basis, Tenorio said, “We treat [CUC] as a business. We have been working also with the Legislature to pass legislation to help CUC with [regard] to payments. The Legislature appropriates funding so we will start with its standing committees.”
Tenorio declined to comment on the disconnection notices issued by Peavey to the Department of Public Works and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation.
Peavey said DPW owes $1.12 million while CHCC owes $53.6 million.
“These are issues still under discussion,” Tenorio said. She declined to state the specific reasons for her decision to terminate Peavey.
Commonwealth Utilities Corp. legal counsel Hunter Hunt, standing, holding a laptop, with board members Janice Tenorio, Frank Lee Borja, Allen Perez and Don Browne, Also in the photo is Betty Terlaje, the acting CUC executive director effective April 27.
