March 21, 2007 — V.I. Government Employees Retirement System Chairman Vincent Liger placed system administrator Willis Todmann on administrative leave this week. Liger has declined to comment on the grounds that it is a personnel issue. Todmann has declined to comment as well.
An emergency GERS board meeting recently scheduled for Wednesday was canceled, and according to an article in the Virgin Islands Daily News, Liger said Tuesday that a meeting may be rescheduled for Friday to address the matter. On Wednesday afternoon, GERS Chief Executive Assistant Patricia Williams said no meeting had been scheduled yet, but Liger was in the building speaking with people and that could change.
Under V.I. law, the board has final say over this sort of personnel matter and should the board oppose Liger’s decision, Todmann would immediately resume the duties of his office. If the board confirms the action, the board would have to nominate a replacement, who would then go before the Legislature for confirmation. Discussion of personnel matters may be done in closed, executive session, but the vote on the final action to be taken must be public.
Todmann has been in V.I. government employ for 24 years, 12 of which have been at GERS. At his confirmation hearing less than a year ago, senators heaped praise upon Todmann and unanimously supported him. During Todmann’s confirmation, Sen. Liston Davis presciently told Todmann not to expect the honeymoon to last.
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