After screening potential hearing examiners both on and off-island, Public Services Commission members chose Attorney Ronald W. Belfon as hearing examiner in the $250 million credit sale of Vitelco, the V.I. cable system and other related properties to the Rural Telephone Financial Cooperative.
The credit sale of $250 million, approved in April by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Judith Fitzgerald, will not be finalized until approvals are granted by the PSC and the Federal Communications Commission. Joseph B. Boschulte, chairman of the PSC, said the search was extensive due to the serious nature of the proposed sale and its effect on the territory.
Voting in favor of Balfon were commission members Boschulte, Donald “Ducks” Cole, Verne C. David, M. Thomas Jackson, and Elsie V. Thomas-Trotman. Commission member Sirri Hamad was absent.
Ferry companies voiced their disappointment upon learning from the PSC that hearing examiner Jennifer Jones, who was not present, had requested a continuance of the current stay placed on the ferry rate increases for an additional 60 days. In a letter to the PSC, Jones said it was impossible for her to make her determination in the time allotted.
Attorney Claudette Ferron, representing the ferry companies, pleaded with the commission to move forward with the process, saying, “The extension of the stay for an additional 60 days places a severe financial strain on the ferry companies. The stay removes the fuel charge and we are back to the 2005 rates. It puts a huge burden on the ferries to keep running.”
Commission members cautioned Ferron that if the hearing was pushed forward prematurely, there was no telling what the outcome might be. Asked Boschulte, “Are you willing to take that risk?” David, in favor of granting the extension, said, “The nature of this matter is so critical. We need to get it right.”
After much discussion, PSC members agreed to a compromise, voting to extend the stay for an additional 45 days. The initial date of July 11 for the hearing examiner’s determination will now be Aug. 25. Voting in favor were commission members Boschulte, Cole, Jackson, and Thomas-Trotman. Commission member David voted against the motion and commission member Hammad was absent.
Ferron also advised the PSC that ferry companies would soon submit a request for a reduced schedule of ferry runs into downtown Charlotte Amalie. Ferron is awaiting statistical data regarding ridership and the costs involved and will submit data, along with a reduction of services request, in the next week.
Hugo Hodge Jr., executive director of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, updated the PSC on the status of equipment and operations, saying that all equipment is running efficiently. He also outlined the steps WAPA has taken to prepare for hurricane season, including a request submitted to Hovensa for hurricane build-up and contracts in place with four or five firms for manpower support in the event of a major storm.
Commission members present at the hearing were Boschulte, Cole, Devid, Jackson, and Thomas-Trotman. Hamad was absent.
