The Magens Bay Authority board of directors expects to announce its selection of a new member to replace Katina Coulianos by the end of September, according to chairperson Barbara Petersen.
Coulianos’ departure comes after the board met last month to consider three members whose six-year terms were expiring and voted 4-3 to end her tenure. Petersen and Robert Moron — who has shepherded the park’s Hurricane Irma rebuilding through an onerous approval process — were unanimously approved for new terms.
Coulianos, who has served on the seven-person board for 26 years, including as chairperson, will continue in her role until her replacement is announced, said Petersen.
In a statement to the press and posted on social media Aug. 16, she thanked Coulianos for her many years of service.
“Mrs. Coulianos has been a dedicated member on our board, always pushing us to be better stewards of Magens Bay Beach and Smith Bay Park,” said Petersen. “Her commitment to our mission has inspired so many, and her leadership has helped shape our policies, environmental initiatives, and community engagement. She’s been a champion of sustainable practices, a supporter of infrastructure improvements, and a guardian of our island’s natural beauty.”
Coulianos declined to comment but said she will continue to serve until her replacement is named.
The Magens Bay Authority is a self-funded semi-autonomous agency, and while the board issued a request for resumes from interested applicants when longtime member Elliott “Mac” Davis died in September 2021, it is not required to do so under its bylaws and in fact chose Jason Charles to replace Davis on the recommendation of the governor, said Petersen.
“The board discussed allowing persons to submit their names for consideration, however ultimately, the decision was made” with the governor’s nomination of Charles, she said.
“All members of the MBA board were nominated by a board member,” including Dayle Barry, Cecile de Jongh, Moron, Coulianos and herself, said Petersen, noting that the governor is represented on the board by the St. Thomas/Water Island administrator. Kevin Rodriquez currently serves in that role after Avery Lewis was elected a senator in the 36th Legislature and resigned his seat.
“The decision to publish notice of a vacancy on the Board Directors the last time a vacancy existed on the board and to ultimately accept the recommendation by the Governor of a member as a candidate for service on the board, did not and cannot undermine or vitiate the governing provisions of the Magens Bay Authority’s Bylaws,” said Petersen.
The bylaws are, and continue to be, the controlling authority regarding the nomination and vote of new members to the board, she said. “There is no provision which compels a specific process for placing the names of persons in nomination for service on the board of directors.”
While then Sen. Janelle Sarauw introduced legislation in 2020 to shorten members’ terms to three years and require them to be appointed or reappointed by the governor, among other provisions, Bill 33-0374 was removed from the legislative agenda that December and did not become law.
The next meeting of the board is on Friday at 9 a.m. at Shed 4 of Magens Bay Beach. The meetings are open to the public and community members are encouraged to attend and share their input. For more information, contact the Magens Bay Authority at 340-777-6300 or via email at info@magensbayauthority.org.