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Committee reviews historic-preservation board nominees, senators press for better outreach and surveys
Summary
The Guam Legislature committee held a June 1 hearing on three nominees to the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board, during which senators and preservation stakeholders pressed nominees on two years of missed review-board meetings, an outdated territory survey, concerns about a long programmatic agreement and the need for more public outreach and technical capacity.
Sen. Shelley V. Calvo convened a June 1 public hearing of the Committee on Culture and Historic Preservation to consider appointments to the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board and to hear testimony on preservation priorities and governance.
Two nominees — Michael Wayne Blas Macchio and Lynn Rosalie Cruz Leon Guerrero — appeared and received testimony of support from longtime preservation advocates and staff. Joe Kanata, a former chief program officer at the Guam Preservation Trust, told the committee he had worked with Macchio and "give[s] my whole support, to his leadership." Andrew Tenorio, interim chief program officer of the Guam Preservation Trust, read written testimony stating that GPT and its staff "express our support for [Mr. Macchio's] confirmation" and noting his decades of professional architecture experience and prior service in preservation leadership.
The hearing quickly broadened from individual qualifications to island-wide preservation problems. Several senators pressed nominees about a March 2025 audit that found Guam's historic-properties survey was outdated, and repeatedly noted the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board had not met in two years. "We haven't met for 2 years," nominee Michael Macchio said, describing repeated but unsuccessful efforts to convene meetings and arguing that structural or procedural changes are needed so the board "meet[s] these obligations to the community." He also recounted efforts to rebuild GPT's finances after a lean period, saying at one point "they handed me the financials, and there was $33 in the bank." (Macchio framed that anecdote as a reason GPT pursued grants and outreach to stabilize the organization.)
Sen. Therese Terlahi and others focused on the interaction between the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board, the Guam Preservation Trust and the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office). Terlahi asked nominees whether they would press for regular pre-development surveys and stronger public outreach. Nominee Lynn Leon Guerrero, who said she has worked as an archaeologist on Guam for more than 28 years, told the committee she favors leaving burials "in place" where possible but also described cases where leaving remains directly under high-traffic infrastructure felt "very disrespectful." Leon Guerrero also said she would recuse herself from matters where a conflict might arise because she currently does work for Search LLC, which performs consulting on some federal and private projects.
Concerns about a proposed programmatic agreement (PA) with federal partners recurred throughout the hearing. Senators and witnesses said the PA's scope and the process that led to its signing prompted community frustration; Macchio and other witnesses urged clearer public consultation and stronger review-board participation. Sen. Sabina Perez asked nominees whether the board had evaluated cumulative impacts under prior programmatic agreements and whether the board could better use GPT resources to support SHPO surveys and outreach.
Committee members also addressed funding and projects. Sen. Chris Duenas referenced an upcoming second phase of work on Sanchez and said he would "work with OFB" to discuss the possibility of an appropriation of about $3,500,000 for that phase. Nominees described a queue of preservation-restoration projects — including historic homes and village structures — they said need grantsmanship and technical expertise.
The hearing closed with Chair Calvo urging nominees to submit correspondence documenting efforts to convene review-board meetings, offering her office's assistance, and announcing that the committee would accept written testimony for 10 business days. No confirmation vote was recorded at the hearing.
Why it matters: Senators framed the hearing as more than a personnel review. They said island residents expect the review board to secure and oversee surveys, register eligible properties, and insist on meaningful public engagement before programmatic agreements or major projects proceed. Nominees pledged to press for clearer procedures, improved public outreach and stronger technical training and retention for local archaeologists and preservation specialists.
The committee will accept additional written testimony addressed to Sen. Shelley V. Calvo for 10 business days following the hearing; the record will inform any future confirmation or legislative follow-up.
