ST. THOMAS, VI– The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr. met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers vetted a measure that would limit the salary amount used to commute the service retirement annuity for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. Additionally, senators vetted measures approving lease agreements in the territory. Approved items on today’s agenda will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration. 

Lawmakers considered Bill No. 36-0032, An Act amending title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, chapter 111, section 3080 by limiting the salary amount used to compute the service retirement annuity for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of the Virgin Islands The measure was sponsored by Senator Kurt A. Vialet. 

Cindy L. Richardson, Director of the Division of Personnel voiced opposition to the proposed measure. Richardson said that the measure lacked a clear data supported purpose and bypasses the use of appropriate methodologies to manage compensation/retirement and created inequity by singling out two positions for reform. In her testimony, Richardson said that the current statute is narrowly tailored to govern retirement benefits, the title, structure, and legislative history makes it clear that its purpose is to outline eligibility and benefits for former Governors and Lieutenant Governors before they leave office. Stating that good policy should be rooted in evidence, Richardson argued that it had not been clearly communicated what urgent or systemic issue the bill addressed. She said that the while bill was well intentioned, it failed to define a clear problem.  

In testimony read into the record from Angel Dawson Jr, Administrator and CEO of the Government Employees Retirement System, Dawson stated that the Commissioner of Finance is to maintain and provide for the administration of the Elected Governors and Lieutenant Governors Retirement Fund, and deferred to the Commissioner of Finance to speak on the matter. Sponsor of the measure, Kurt Vialet, voiced the need for austerity measures like the proposed bill. The proposed measure was voted upon favorably. 

Lawmakers then considered lease agreements: 

• Bill No. 36-0092, an Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and St. John Taxi Services Corporation, for Parcel No. D-2 Estate Cruz Bay Town, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands, was removed from the agenda and held in Committee at the call of the chair. The measure was sponsored by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr, by request of the Governor.  

• Bill No. 36-0062, An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement, and the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a portion of the telecommunications tower located on Parcel R-22 of Tract I Estate Nazareth, No. 1 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas. The measure was sponsored by Senator Milton E. Potter by request of the Governor.  

• Bill No. 36-0089, An Act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and PEO Productions, LLC d/b/a WSTA Radio, for Parcel No. 121 Submarine Base, No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Parcel No. 167 Sub Base, No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas and Parcel No. 171 Sub Base, No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas. The measure was sponsored by Senator Milton E. Potter by request of the Governor. 

• Bill No. 36-0098, An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement, and Caribbean Buzz, LLC for a portion of Remainder Parcel No. 3B Estate Susannaberg, 17A Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands for the purpose of operating and managing a helicopter transportation service at the existing helipad and for other permitted purposes. The measure was Sponsored by Senator Milton E. Potter by Request of the Governor. 

Vincent Richards, Assistant Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement delivered testimony on the proposed lease agreements. The term of the lease for Bill No. 36-0062 is for 20 years, with the annual rent being $1,200, payable at a rate of $100 per month. NOAA will use the premises for the purpose of transmission and reception of weather broadcast communication and emergency broadcast communications. For Bill No. 36-0089, the premises will be used to operate a radio station, radio tower, and other related purposes. The term of the lease is for 20 years, with the option to renew the lease for two additional terms of 5 years each.  For Bill No. 36-0098, the premises will be used to operate and manage a helicopter transportation service effectively and safely at the existing helipad, with the additional purpose of medical evacuations from St. Thomas to St. John and for other related purposes. The term of the lease agreement is for 20 years, with a renewal option of two additional five-year terms. 

Charlotte Van Heurck, Operations Manager at Caribbean Buzz, LLC spoke on behalf of Bill No. 36-0098. Van Heurck stated that there was a major need for the lease agreement, stating that St. John is one of the only major Caribbean destinations without a commercial airport for scheduled airlift. Van Heurck stated that once ferries stop running to St. John, there is no reliable transportation of the island, which presents a serious challenge for emergency and medical evacuations, disaster response and recovery, and time sensitive travel by residents and visitors.  

Bill No. 36-0062 and Bill No. 36-0098 were voted upon favorably. Bill No. 36-0089 was held in Committee at the Call of the chair.  

Senators present at today’s Committee hearing were Novelle E. Francis Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Alma Francis Heyliger, Hubert L. Frederick, Ray Fonseca, Kenneth L. Gittens, Marise C. James, Franklin D. Johnson, Milton E. Potter, and Kurt A. Vialet. 

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