State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick Lujan was on the hot seat Tuesday.

In a wide-ranging oversight hearing focused on the preservation of ancient CHamoru burial sites and ancestral remains, SHPO Lujan said as new issues and community concerns arise, they are updating the programmatic agreement that governs cultural and historical preservation.

 “We haven’t had to wait for any amendment to the PA, that we’ve adjusted accordingly as we’ve gone along,” he said. “To make it more stringent based off of the findings, but definitely having to go back to that document and make the necessary amendments to solidify what we’ve been doing along the process.”

Lujan said that while he appreciates all the concerns, he is also severely short-staffed, with just nine employees for an office that was audited for 17. That drew this response from oversight chair Telena Nelson.

 Nelson: Now that we are here, two years later, we are hearing about these challenges.

Lujan: Negative ma’am, I’ve brought it up.

Nelson: Mr. Lujan, I requested that you send a staffing organization and pattern to our office so that we can work to get the support that you need. Although it is two years already into your service of this term.

Lujan: I have not been silent about it, but I will do as you request.  

 Lujan added that several staff members will be retiring, one as early as this month.