by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Department of Mental Health and the plaintiffs seeking federal receivership have been asked to submit agenda items for Friday's meeting before federal judge Consuelo Marshall. Mental Health Director Elisabeth Cruz says she hopes the judge will focus on the department's positives - an increased budget from $15 million to $21 million this year, and a shrinking accounts payable.

Said Cruz, "The agency has so many prior obligations, no vendor wants to deal with us to provide those types of services. I want to show to the judge that out of $2.5 million in prior obligations, we've paid down over half about $1.1 million and the remaining balance is already being processed."

Attorney for the plaintiffs, Daniel Somerfleck, however says his clients will continue their request for receivership. He added that there's been some improvements but there's a long way to go.