by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - In its special report federal receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton also responded to a letter of concerns submitted to the court by the Guam Solid Waste Authority board earlier this month.

The GSWA as we reported is seeking greater autonomy over the agency as well as the ability to immediately start hiring a general manager and a chief financial officer before GBB completes the mandates in the consent decree.

GBB in its letter to the court agrees that both are critical to a successful transition as long as the individual is qualified and is prevented from acting as the contract administrator for GRRP as is the case under the new incinerator contract.

GBB maintains the current timeline for hiring these personnel is appropriate and provides sufficient time for training.

In terms of the GSWA's board request to move forward on a legal services contract. Principal David Manning points out they already have. During a GSWA board last month, a majority of members voted to approve the RFP for the legal services contract. Manning said the receiver at that time warned the board that such action exceeded their authority.