Sept. 19, 2007 — Concerns raised about several items on Wednesday's full-session agenda did not keep senators from approving a plethora of zoning requests, nominations and bills, including ones that reestablish the controversial Taxi Cab Commission and renew the government's group health insurance plans for fiscal year 2008.
The nominations of commissioners Vivian Ebbesen-Fludd and St. Claire N. Williams — tapped by Gov. John deJongh Jr. to head the departments of Health and Housing, Parks and Recreation, respectively — generated a variety of responses throughout the meeting. Though the full Senate body gave Ebbesen-Fludd's nomination much praise and support, issues surrounding Williams' nomination caused senators to think twice before casting their votes.
Over the past few years, Housing, Parks and Recreation has come under much scrutiny from both the federal and local government, particularly with regards to the department's home-loan program and its management of the Clinton Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas.
In an audit released earlier this year, Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt called the home-loan program a "free for all," marked by a wide array of "apparent malfeasance and theft." During a recent Rules Committee meeting, Williams told senators that he was not responsible for the home-loan program, whose employees reported "directly" to former Commissioner Ira Hobson. (See "Williams Nomination Sent on With Unfavorable Recommendation.")
Though some senators said their opinions of Williams had changed since the Rules Committee meeting, others stood firm in their opposition to his nomination.
"We need new leadership in this department," said Senate President Usie R. Richards. "Not an assistant commissioner who has the unmitigated gall to sit up here and say that everything that went wrong within the department was Commissioner Hobson's fault."
Despite the opposition, Williams' nomination was approved, with favorable votes from Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Juan Figueroa-Serville, Louis P. Hill, Neville James, Norman Jn Baptiste, Shawn-Michael Malone, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Basil Ottley Jr., Ronald E. Russell, Carmen M. Wesselhoft and Alvin L. Williams.
Voting against the nomination were Richards, along with Sens. James Weber III and Celestino A. White Sr. Sen. Liston Davis abstained.
Speaking after the nomination was approved, Williams said he would channel the criticism toward a more useful purpose.
"I would like to thank all the senators up here, including those who said no to my nomination," he said. "Because they have given me the impetus to find out what I need to do to turn the department around. And that's what we're going to do with Housing, Parks and Recreation."
Ebbesen-Fludd's nomination hit no stumbling blocks during the voting process, as her nomination passed unanimously through the full Senate body.
Calling her confirmation "a new day for the Department of Health," Ebbesen-Fludd also thanked senators for their support.
"On many occasions, I'm not the person who's speechless," she said. "But right now I'm a little speechless."
Ebbesen-Fludd added that she is looking forward to fulfilling her responsibilities as commissioner.
"I know that there will be challenges," she said. "But we have to get through them together, and be accountable to the people we serve. This is a new day at the Department of Health."
In reestablishing the V.I. Taxi Commission, senators added an amendment to the bill that sets up a nine-member governing board. It will include three representatives from the taxi industry, three private citizens, one retiree with a background in law or law enforcement, one representative from the Department of Tourism and one representative from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
Moving quickly through the rest of the agenda, senators also approved resolutions bestowing the V.I. Medal of Honor on Marine Lance Cpl. Shane L. Goldman,
Army Spec. Jose Emmanuel Rosario and Army Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas — fallen soldiers who died in Iraq between 2004 and 2005.
Expressing concerns about the ongoing war in the Middle East, senators also suggested that the families of fallen soldiers be given financial compensation for their losses.
"Four families have been affected greatly by those who have passed, and by the actions of a president who has left a lot to be desired," Russell said. "As a community, we have to take these things more seriously. And we should look into giving these families some type of remuneration, since these are probably not only hitting them emotionally, but financially as well."
Hill, a Desert Storm veteran, added that senators should also look into helping war survivors and make strides to establish a wide range of services for veterans within the territory.
Senators also approved on Wednesday:
— a bill renewing the government's group health insurance plans for FY 2008 (see "Government Employee Health Insurance Costs Rising 6.3 Percent");
— a resolution honoring Austin "Babe" Monsanto for his contributions to the V.I. community and naming the Crown Bay Marine Terminal in his honor;
— a resolution naming the new dock at Enighed Pond on St. John after Theovald Eric Moorehead;
— a request that rezones about 23 acres of land atop Flagbury Hill on St. Thomas from R-2 (residential-low density) to R-3 (residential-medium density) to allow for the construction of a set of luxury condominiums (see "Rezoning Request for Luxury Condos Stalls in Senate");
— a request that rezones 44 acres of undeveloped land off the Melvin Evans Highway and across from Hess Road on St. Croix from R-2 (residential-low density) to B-2 (business secondary) to allow for the construction of a Home Depot store (see "Rezoning Hearing Hears the Secret Words: Home Depot"); and
— a use variance for a 1.46-acre piece of property in Estate Little Fountain on St. Croix to allow for the operation of a bed and breakfast.
All senators were present during Wednesday's session.
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