Guam - It was earlier this month when the Port Authority board of directors discussed its legal services contract and how for this fiscal year, the port had met the cap in January to pay for its legal counsel's services.

Today, management divulged the billings submitted by Phillips and Bordallo as requested by the board which showed a total for the end of January to March at $149,000. Deputy GM Maria Taitano explained, saying, "For the balance of January, for February and for March, with these amounts we would have to bring it up to the Ag's office because it has exceeded the cap and the one for April, the amendment was already and then if we run at least the $60,000, that's how much we've been running on an average, so we're requesting for $450,000 to cover us through the end of this fiscal year."

The $450,000 would come from money that had been budgeted but not spent including funds from the Service Life Extension. 

The board approved the motion with a vote of 3-to-1 with director Shelly Gibson raising concern over how management raised the cap without board approval.