Bermuda College’s board of governors “respectfully disagrees” with a recommendation its president should pay back thousands of taxpayers’ dollars spent on utility bills and his membership of an exclusive club.

In its official response to a damning Government report, the board has defended its decision to pay Dr. Charles Green’s electricity bills and subscription to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Last year, Government’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had suggested Dr. Green repay more than $20,000 to the publicly-funded college.

The Bermuda College Board of Governors (BOG) refuted the idea in its reply, which was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday. “The BOG has reviewed the perquisites for other presidents at other colleges,” it stated.

“Consequently, the BOG made the decision to award the president with various perquisites throughout the president’s tenure at the college.

“The perquisites included membership at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club as this was thought to be a good avenue for the president to initiate contacts with a group of potential benefactors of the college.

“The long-standing members of the BOG have reiterated their support for the membership for the president.

“The BOG respectfully disagrees with the recommendation that the amounts expended on Royal Bermuda Yacht Club bills, $11,792, be recovered from the president.

“The BOG also agreed that the electricity bills for Shamrock Cottage should be paid by the college and by the president as the electricity is included as part of housing. The BOG respectfully disagrees with the recommendation that the amounts expended on electricity bills for Shamrock Cottage, $8,255, be recovered from the president.

“All future perquisites will be duly documented by the BOG in advance.”

The PAC, comprised of Opposition MPs Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and Grant Gibbons and Government backbenchers George Scott and Glenn Blakeney, launched an investigation in 2005 after concerns were raised about perks enjoyed by Dr. Green.

Its report, presented to the House in December, revealed neither Dr. Green’s membership at the club nor the payment of his electricity bills were agreed in his contract.

The inquiry probed the spiralling cost of renovations at Shamrock Cottage, the president’s college-provided Paget home, and whether his other perks were properly approved by the college board.

It found that about $400,000 was spent on Shamrock Cottage but that the board did not minute the cost, put a cap on spending or seek competitive bids for the work.