PUC approves May 29 minutes; discusses new office RFQ and proposal to hire in‑house counsel

The Guam Public Utilities Commission opened its June 26, 2025 regular meeting by approving the minutes of the May 29, 2025 meeting. A motion “to approve subject to corrections” was made and, after a second, commissioners voted “aye” and the motion passed unanimously; the transcript records the motion maker identified as “Pete” and the second as “Joe.”

The commission then discussed several administrative items: a draft request for quotations (RFQ) for new PUC office space, and a proposed resolution to procure an in‑house counsel position to handle ongoing regulatory, legislative and administrative work.

Office RFQ: a staff presenter reviewed a draft RFQ modeled in part on a recent Chamorro Land Trust Commission solicitation. The draft requests a minimum of 1,500 square feet of office space in a central corridor (Agana, Tamuning, Tumon, Mangilao/Hagatña area as described in the transcript), backup generator availability, at least five parking stalls and a small conference room. The presenter and commissioners discussed whether the space must be contiguous, potential landlord renovation costs, geographic limits, the number of vendors to solicit (the draft contemplated sending the RFQ to multiple potential vendors rather than broad public advertisement) and procurement protest risk under PUC guidelines. The presenter noted the PUC’s current premises are “about 987” (unit not specified in the transcript) and said the RFQ minimum was intended to provide a modest increase in usable space.

In‑house counsel proposal: the Administrative Law Judge outlined a proposal to authorize procurement of an in‑house counsel position to provide dedicated legal support for regulatory dockets, legislative monitoring and routine legal needs. The ALJ said the PUC’s workload has grown (multiple pending rate cases and true‑up proceedings) and that an in‑house counsel could provide ongoing review of legislative bills and routine legal tasks. The ALJ suggested a mid‑six‑figure salary estimate (roughly $150,000) as a planning figure for budgeting and said the position would be procured under PUC professional‑services procurement rules (the ALJ described the draft procurement procedures and said the PUC administrator would conduct the solicitation). The ALJ also referenced past in‑house arrangements dating to former ALJ Harry Bursell as background on options for staffing and compensation.

What the record shows about action: the minutes of May 29 were approved unanimously on the record. The RFQ and the in‑house counsel procurement were discussed and the ALJ reported having prepared a position description and procurement framework; the transcript does not record a Commission vote authorizing issuance of the RFQ or a formal vote to begin procurement of in‑house counsel within the provided excerpt.

Next steps: staff and the PUC administrator were asked to refine the RFQ and procurement documents; if the Commission authorizes solicitations in a future session, the PUC’s procurement rules would govern vendor selection and allow for negotiation with the most qualified proposer as provided in the adopted procedures.