Government schedules Aug. 28 and Aug. 30 town halls on abandoned and derelict buildings

Government House said on Aug. 15, 2023, that it had scheduled two town hall meetings to discuss a proposal addressing abandoned and derelict buildings in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Communications Director Richard Motta announced the meetings during the weekly Government House briefing on Aug. 14. The first was scheduled for Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte Amalie High School auditorium on St. Thomas. The second was scheduled for Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. at the St. Croix Educational Complex.

Government House said the meetings followed stakeholder discussions in both districts and were intended to gather public input on the administration's proposed approach to abandoned and derelict buildings.

At the same briefing, Motta said Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. had submitted a supplemental budget bill to the 35th Legislature seeking to reprogram funds previously allocated to the Public Finance Authority for fiscal year 2023 capital projects. Government House said the measure included $25 million from the general fund for outstanding retroactive wages for eligible current and former government employees, $118,800 for the Office of Veterans Affairs for additional St. Croix crypt costs, and $5 million from the Transportation Trust Fund for the Department of Public Works.

Motta also said livestock producers on St. Croix and St. Thomas were eligible to apply for direct assistance through the Farm Service Agency's Livestock Forage Program, and that the Division of Personnel's annual open enrollment period had begun on Aug. 14 and was scheduled to run through Sept. 15, 2023.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/gvi-schedules-town-hall-meetings-on-proposal-to-address-abandoned-and-derelict-buildings-in-the-territory/