David Manning on a deserted island

For those of you who wanted to see the former Metro Finance Director on a remote and desolate atoll...you got your wish

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

David Manning

Somebody must have rubbed the bottle and a genie popped out: Former Metro Finance Director David Manning is on deserted island under a heap of trash. OK, that may be a stretch, but it's pretty darn close.

The government of Guam has been placed under federal receivership for failure to comply with the Clean Water Act for the past 22 years and has been forced to appoint someone to oversee its solid waste management programs. And just who is the lucky fellow tapped for this stinky gig? You got it, Manning.

A federal judge who issued the decree called the island's waste management system "highly dysfunctional, largely mismanaged, overly bureaucratic, and politically charged." Sounds like the Metro Council.

District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood interviewed seven of the nine potential receiver candidates, and selected one of Guam's picks – Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. of Fairfax, Va. – through its principal associate, David Manning, to oversee the solid waste management operations.

While in Guam, Manning will, according to the judge's order:

• Have full power and authority to enforce the terms of the consent decree
  
• Supervise all GovGuam employees associated with the consent decree projects
  
• Oversee the performance of existing contracts
  
• Enter into future contracts
  
• Hire consultants, contractors, and the like
• Facilitate the financing and borrowing of funds necessary to carry out the duties relating to the consent decree
  
• Be able to apply to the Consolidated Commission on Utilities for rate increases for residential waste collection services or tipping fees
  
• Have full access of all government records
  
• Consult with the USEPA on securing technical advice

For the curious, Manning's firm, GBB, has been a contractor with the city of Nashville. The relationship between the city and the firm began early in the administration of former Mayor Bill Purcell, when help was brought in to deal with Nashville's solid waste issues.

While Manning could not be reached by the time of publication of this artice, GBB has confirmed to NashvillePost.com that he is working with the company in Guam.