Feb. 20, 2002 – A case of seasickness was among the contributing factors to the V.I. Port Authority Governing Board not having a quorum for its Wednesday morning meeting.
The start of the monthly meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., was put off for an hour before Pamela Richards, who as Tourism commissioner chairs the board, called it to order. During the roll call, showing four members present, she said she had received word that Wayne Callwood, who as Public Works commissioner is a board member, had intended to be present but would not be able to attend.
Richards said Callwood had taken the interisland V.I. Fast Ferry from St. Croix earlier in the morning to make the meeting but that he had been left "feeling the effects of the trip."
Although the board was not able to conduct business, it was decided that its finance committee would meet in public session.
The nine-member board needs five persons present for a quorum. There currently are six members and three vacancies. Present in addition to Richards Wednesday morning were Kent Bernier, the governor's economic policy assistant; businessman Leslie Milliner; and Iver Stridiron, who as attorney general sits on the board. Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett was excused.
There are three vacancies for appointed members — two from St. Croix, to replace Sidney Lee and Hector Peguero, whose terms expired last year; and one from St. John, to replace Robert O'Connor Jr., whose term also expired last year. However, there also is a vacancy for the seat to be held by the director of the Small Business Development Agency. No one currently holds that position with the SBDA, which now falls within the Economic Development Authority.
Bernier, a St. Thomas resident, was nominated to the board by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull as a St. Thomas representative and approved by the Legislature in June of 2000. In March of 2001, the governor named Bernier to the EDA board, which Plaskett chairs.