The Committee on Child Welfare, Youth Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women's Affairs, Disability Services, Arts, Culture, Historic Preservation, and Hagatna Restoration heard public testimony May 23 on the executive nominations of Monsignor James L. G. Beneventi and Melissa F. Bettis to five‑year terms on the Hagatna Restoration and Redevelopment Authority board.

The nominees and their supporters described long records of preservation work and pledged to pursue funding and partnerships to move stalled projects for the island capital. Committee Chairwoman Senator Shelley v. Calvo opened the hearing and said the HRRA ‘‘aims to balance economic growth, cultural preservation, and urban planning’’ as part of efforts to revitalize Hagatna.

Supporters told the committee Monsignor Beneventi has decades of local preservation work. John Rivera, who testified in support, said Monsignor Beneventi ‘‘was instrumental in getting the Hagatna Cathedral as a historic site’’ and credited him with preservation projects stretching back more than 30 years. Monsignor James L. G. Beneventi, who identified himself as Procurial Administrator and Rector at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, told the committee he has led renovations of the cathedral and its museum and described restoration work including the tabernacle, marble balusters and historic doors. He said redevelopment must ‘‘honor those who came before us’’ and stressed collaboration with faith communities, civic organizations and public institutions.

Supporters and senators pressed both nominees about practical priorities for Hagatna. Vice Speaker B. Anthony Adda asked Monsignor Beneventi about traffic flow and one‑way streets; Beneventi suggested revisiting historic neighborhood names and making targeted street changes to improve circulation. Senators raised the vacant Governor’s Complex site and whether it should be rebuilt; Beneventi said he supports exploring partnerships, including past interest from the Spanish government, to help restore historic sites.

Melissa F. Bettis, who described herself as overseeing a federal broadband grant and as a longtime resident of Hagatna, said she was nominated by the governor and lieutenant governor to serve on the HRRA board. Bettis said her background in regional planning and federal grant management gives her experience with infrastructure, mixed‑use redevelopment and public‑private partnerships. Supporters reading endorsements on behalf of HRRA Executive Director Gillette Torrey Leon Guerrero and the Guam Museum Foundation pointed to Bettis’ role crafting broadband plans and her record in fundraising and project coordination.

Committee members discussed priorities the board could pursue immediately: addressing homeless encampments and graffiti, collaborating with the Guam Preservation Trust to reduce duplication of effort, pursuing small grants and public‑private partnerships, and advancing ‘‘low‑hanging fruit’’ such as targeted street reconfigurations and heritage walking‑trail promotions. Senators raised the need to examine why prior master‑plan items have not moved forward and urged the nominees to press for measurable progress.

No confirmation vote occurred at the hearing. Chairwoman Calvo said the committee will continue to accept written testimony for 10 business days from the hearing date before further action. The nominees’ hearings concluded with senators expressing support for both candidates and a plan to move the nominations forward for consideration.

The committee record shows extensive local endorsements and multiple requests for follow‑up on funding sources and coordination with agencies; the committee did not adopt or reject the nominations at the May 23 meeting and retained the matter for further consideration.