Mayors back land resolution

Mayors back land resolution

Friday, 08 January 2010 00:16
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff

THE Mayors Council covered a lot of ground yesterday morning during their first official meeting for 2010. [Village mayors buckle down to work on Thursday during the Mayors Council’s first official meeting for 2010. Zita Taitano]

Upon Yigo mayor Robert Lizama’s motion, the mayors unanimously voted to support Sen. Judy Guthertz’s Resolution 258, which would prohibit the federal government from imposing eminent domain to acquire private property along Route 15 in Pagat for the use by Marines as a firing range.

A public hearing was held on the resolution and drew more than 100 residents, 44 of whom spoke in support of the legislation. There was only one opposition to the resolution.

Presenting the reasons for the resolution was Guthertz chief of staff, Dr. Richard Wyttenbach-Santos, who indicated that there are other areas the Marines could utilize such as Naval Magazine, but had learned that the area was too far to travel. Other sites also usable include near Ritidian Point and also on Andersen Air Force Base.

Lizama also suggested that a petition be drafted for each village in support of Resolution 258-30. “I think we’d be making a statement in getting our people involved and getting our ‘familia’ network and friends,” he said.

Several other items were also discussed including the continuing problem with the streetlights and the appointment of the Mayor’s Council to head this year’s 66th Liberation Day festivities.

Mayors Council executive director Angel Sablan brought up of the matter of the Department of Public Works’ plan to outsource the streetlights maintenance, which he said is of great concern. Sablan has asked for a detailed listing from Guam Power Authority on all streetlights on Guam.

With regard to the Liberation Day activities, Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares, newly elected president of the Mayors Council, said the council will start getting ready early this year for liberation and that includes recruiting for candidates for the 2010 Miss Liberation Pageant.

“We want to start planning for the vendors. We want to have a big Chamorro concert for the Liberation Day Committee to draw the people out,” she said.

The council’s new officers will be sworn in at 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Asan/Maina Community Center.