Budget hearing reveals EOB renovation project — there is no plan

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The deteriorating condition of the Executive Office Building (EOB) in Utulei was raised by lawmakers during the budget hearing of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) at the Fono yesterday morning.

House of Representatives Vice Speaker Faipule Fetui Fetu, Jr. asked DAS Director Afalava Eliki Afalava, why the EOB has not been condemned, citing many complaints from government employees claiming that the building was rat-infested and was becoming a health hazard.

Fetu explained that he was concerned about the health risk to government employees saying that many have reported seeing rats and signs of rodents inside their workspaces when they arrive for work in the morning.

DAS Director Afalava Eliki Afalava replied that the government plans to renovate the building by installing a new roof to protect government assets. He said that the plan for this project will be finalized soon.

The Vice Speaker explained that he was more concerned with the health of employees and the general public who visited the EOB and pointed out that DAS should give that priority instead of waiting for renovation work to begin.

 Afalava said that three local pest control companies have been contracted to take care of that problem and to disinfect all the offices inside the EOB, with other contractors cleaning the floors and bathrooms.

He added that these contractors are paid with funds totaling $231,000. included in his department's budget and that any money remaining will be used to buy supplies for the upkeep of the building and also to maintain its immediate surroundings.

Afalava said that these local companies' contracts have been renewed every year since 2021.

Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono asked if there was a plan set by the government for the renovation of the building, like what the scope of work needed to be done was, how long would it take, how much would it cost, and how the renovation would be done.

The former governor pointed out that the DAS director had mentioned that the renovation project would start with installing a new roof when he recalls that it hasn't been that long since the existing roof was installed in 2012 or 2013.

Afalava said that a civil engineer from off-island has been working closely with government engineers on the renovation project since 2021.

Togiola asked for the name of the off-island engineer and if he had submitted any plans for the renovation project. Afalava said it was the same engineer who designed the new Fono building which is still under construction, Mark Lively, and that he has submitted several plans and invoices for his services.

The Sua senator asked if DAS has paid any bills owed to Lively and the DAS Director revealed that up to now, they haven't paid him.

Togiola asked how much DAS owed him and Afalava replied it amounted to close to a million dollars.

Senator Togiola continued his line of questioning and asked how they were going to pay him when they didn't have funds earmarked for that purpose and no contract to ensure the timely completion of the project according to standard building codes.

The director answered that they were waiting for ARPA funds to pay the bills.

Togiola was unimpressed and questioned the paying of such an enormous amount of money for services rendered when there was no official contract that would make the contractor liable for any building code he violated and to ensure that the work was completed in the time agreed to when he signed the contract.

The senator then repeated his initial question — if the government had any plan for the project — since it was an important one, as it involved the building where most of the government departments including the Governor's Office were located.

The DAS Director said there was no plan.

Togiola then asked if there was any plan regarding an alternative building(s) where the government departments and agencies housed at EOB can relocate to temporarily while the renovation project gets underway.

Afalava said he has been tasked with finding potential venues for lease where the departments can relocate to but he hasn't been able to find a building big enough for that purpose.

"But there's a big building still under construction which you are waiting for right?" Senator Togiola cut in.

Director Afalava replied yes, and that he has been in contact with the owner of one such building in Tafuna near the road from Nu'uuli on the way to the airport.

"What's his name?" Togiola persisted.

"His name is Lauli'i," Afalava revealed. "I have discussed the situation with him and he has requested earnestly (tauanau) that his building will be available as soon as construction is completed.”

"What do you mean by 'tauanau' (request earnestly)," Togiola asked.

Afalava clarified that Lauli'i 'reminded' him that his building will be available for lease so that the government departments can relocate there, as soon as construction is completed.

Togiola pointed out it doesn't have to be a building big enough to fit all the departments and agencies currently at EOB. He reasoned that several buildings big enough to fit one department could be leased.

"Shouldn't this go through the bidding process where owners of buildings that can fit one or two government departments can submit a bid?" Togiola asked.

He said if Lauli'i's building finishes on time and all government departments currently at EOB relocate there, a large amount of government money will go to one landlord.

"You're talking about each department paying a monthly rent," Togiola calculated. "It will be a significant amount that you could purchase a plane with, certainly more than the total cost of the renovation project at the EOB," said Togiola.

Afalava responded that right now, they are waiting for the green light from Mark Lively for the renovation work to begin so that the various departments can start the relocation process because they don't want to start paying rent while a decision for the renovation to begin is still pending.

Togiola however argued that priority should be given to the health risk faced by government employees rather than saving government money to pay rent for the premises they will lease.

He reiterated that some departments can relocate to a building that they can fit in comfortably like other government departments and agencies currently located at the Fagatogo Square and other locations around the town area.

"But maybe you're waiting for a big building that is nearing completion that will fit all the departments," Togiola said ambiguously.

(Samoa News should point out that renovations of the former Fagatogo branch of the ANZ Bank building has been ongoing and will eventually house the Governor’s Office. Notable, there is also the empty ANZ Bank building located at the Daniel Innouye Industrial Park, across from the Veterans Memorial Monument field that became an ASG-owned building after the banking group left the Territory.)

Other government departments whose proposed budgets were reviewed on Wednesday, included Marine & Wildlife Resources, Parks & Recreation, TAOA, Public Information TV, Public Health and Agriculture.

The budget hearings continued on Thursday. Scheduled were the Public Defender's Office, Territorial Energy, Feleti Barstow Library, Arts Council & Humanities, Property Management, Public Works, and Education —School Maint., Scholarship Fund.