PAYROLL TRANSFER

To learn more about the legality of the Lolo Administration’s transfer of the Payroll Division from Treasury Department to Human Resources, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow with ASG Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a called to testify.

During a cabinet meeting early last week, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga announced the official transfer of payroll to DHR, effective Oct. 1 this year — which is the start of FY 2015. (See Oct. 1 edition of Samoa News for details.)

At last Friday’s Senate session, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i said the news media had reported about the payroll transfer issue and he has concerns over the “legality” of such a transfer, because according to the statute, payroll is overseen by the Treasury and the checks are signed by the Treasurer.

“My question is — who signs payroll checks with the payroll transfer to Human Resources?” he said and requested a hearing on this issue.

Sen. Laolagi F.S. Vaeao, chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee agreed, saying that the Senate should get more clarification on the matter. He says he will also seek input from Legislative Counsel prior to or during the hearing, which is set for 8:30a.m. tomorrow.

LBJ BOARD STIPENDS

Also at Friday’s session, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i said the LBJ Medical Center board had testified at a Senate Health/LBJ Committee hearing last week about the stipend increase for board members.

He said the board had testified that the increase, based on a recommendation by the former hospital CEO, is now part of LBJ policy

Magalei says the law sets compensation for board members, and the law supersedes any policies. He requested that the Senate health committee share this concern with LBJ and called for the board to comply with the law.

Committee chairman, Sen. Mauga T. Asuega agreed, saying that a letter will be sent to the hospital board.

Local law states that compensation for board members is $5,000 for a year, while the chairman of the board receives $6,000 per year. The board is mandated to meet at least once per quarter.

LBJ board chairman Leilua Mase Akapo told senators last Wednesday that if there are more than two meetings a month then they receive an additional $200 per board member. (See Samoa News edition Oct. 2 for more details from the hearing.)

TWO ELECTION BOARDS CONFIRMED BY SENATE

Members of two government-appointed boards dealing with the election process were fully confirmed last Thursday by the Senate, following confirmation hearings earlier in the day before the Senate Government Operations Committee.

Under current statute, it is only the Senate that confirms the members of the Campaign Spending Commission and the Election Board of Registration. The confirmed boards, with five members each, come just in time for the Nov. 4 general election.

For the Campaign Spending Commission, the Senate in a unanimous vote of 16-0 confirmed board members Finauvale Alex Zodiacal, Tauiliili Lauifi and Talaoauau Ah Sue while Fagamalama Sonoma Fualaau was endorsed in a 15-1 vote.

Becca Mageo didn’t attend the confirmation hearing and therefore the Senate did not act upon her nomination.

Regarding the Election Board of Registration, the Senate gave a 16-0 unanimous vote to Fa’amausili Mau Mau Jr., and Minareta Thompson; 15-1 to confirm Ki Fatu; and Fa’aua’a Kataferu Elisara and Rowena I’amanu each received a 14-2 vote.