by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - A public hearing will be held today on legislation that would allow the Civil Service Commission to conduct closed meetings without having to keep transcripts and recordings. The public would not be allowed to be present. According to Bill 102 only members of the Commission board, along with the Commission's counsel and its Executive Director may be present during the closed deliberations. Former Senator and Attorney Robert Klitzkie plans to submit testimony on Bill 102 which was introduced by Vice Speaker, Sen. BJ Cruz. Klitzkie says the legislation contradicts a decision issued by Sen. Cruz when he was a judge in 1984. Klitzkie says at that time then Judge Cruz issued a decision that prevented the CSC from conducting secret deliberations in sessions closed to the public. Klitzkie says Bill 102-32 is "such a huge step backward that it is hard to describe without using terms like Kangaroo Court and Star Chamber." The public hearing on Bill 102 is scheduled for 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room.