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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2007)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Tribal Council Referendum This referendum was approved by Tribal Council by a vote of 8, For 0, Against and 0, Abstained on Sept. 22, 2007. It was referred to the Election Board on Oct. 16, 2007. It was ap proved by resolution 2007-358. A sum mary of the proposed referendum fol lows below. Explanation The Tribal Council proposes to modify Tribal Council Compensation, which must be approved under the Siletz Constitution, Article II, Section 2(A), by the General Council, as follows: 1. Tribal Council, which currently is paid for duties performed at the rate of $10.86 per hour, with annual cost of living increases Jan. 1 of each year, shall he paid in the future on an hourly rate at the same pay scale as a T.L. 17.1 tribal employee, subject to changes in that pay scale in the fu ture. The current hourly rate for T.L. 17.1 is $16.43 per hour. 2. Tribal Council members shall be eligible for the following additional employee benefits on the same basis and under the same eligibility condi tions as other tribal employees: Health insurance, participation in the tribe’s 401(k) retirement plan, unem ployment program and worker’s com pensation insurance. officials and, therefore, ineligible to contribute to the Social Security Pro gram. Allowing their participation in the 401 (K) program would be a way for them to contribute to their retirement. In order to be eligible, the council mem ber must work 1,000 hours in a year and be employed a full year to partici pate. If approved, the tribe would con tribute up to 6% of income toward their retirement and they could elect to con tribute an additional amount. Approv ing the unemployment program would allow Tribal Council members who do not get re-elected to file for unemploy ment compensation, the same as other employees. Approving participation in the worker’s compensation program provides for medical and financial pro grams if they are injured while perform ing Tribal Council duties. Note: Approval allows the Tribal Council to participate in the health in surance plan. In order to be eligible, Tribal Council members must regularly work a minimum of 30 hours/week. Tribal Council members are elected 3. If approved by the General Coun cil in this referendum election, these changes to Tribal Council compensa tion shall take place in the month fol lowing General Council approval. Note: Initially Tribal Council served on a volunteer basis with no pay. General Council authorized $5/hr., ef fective 1981. In 1991, the pay was in creased to $7.88/hr. with annual cost of living adjustments. With cost of liv ing adjustments, Tribal Council cur rently receives $10.86/hr. Except for cost of living adjustments, the Tribal Council has not received a pay increase since 1991. 4. If approved by the General Council in this referendum election, Section 2.117 of the Tribal Council Rules of Procedure, which addresses Tribal Council compensation, shall be amended to incorporate the provisions approved by the General Council. The voting on this referendum will be a Yes or No vote. The voting will be conducted by both mail-in and walk-in voting. The walk-in voting will be con ducted on Dec. 8, 2007, from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. at the Tribal Community Center. The votes will be counted, certi fied and posted after the polls close on Dec. 8, 2007. Certified by Dan Van Otten and the Election Board. Dan Van Otten, Election Director Tracey Worman, Election Board Kurtis Barker, Election Board Cova St. Onge, Election Board Tina Retasket, Election Board Attention All Eligible Voters The Election Board would like to announce the following deadlines for a Special Election and notify voters about upcoming elections. Special Election Tribal Council has approved a referendum to increase the Tribal Council’s rate of pay (see article above). The referendum will also give Council Members the opportunity to be eligible for benefits. The Election Board has mailed out signature cards to all eligible-not registered Tribal Members. An information packet will be included with the ballots. The deadlines are as follows: The Election Board will prepare and mail out ballots the week of Nov. 5, 2007. All mail-in ballots must be received by Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 - In-person voting, drop off ballots 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 - Public count of all accepted ballots 4 p.m.- completed. Certification of election. General Election The 2008 General Election will be coming up soon. Election Day is Feb. 2, 2008. The deadlines are as follows: Deadline for Election Board to get news articles to newslet ter office for inclusion in November newsletter. General Council Meeting - Announce deadlines for elections. Nov. 3, 2007 Deadline for Enrollment office to get 2008 Election Poll Book Dec. 15, 2007 to the Election Board. Deadline to file candidacy to run for Tribal Council. (Also, Dec. 18, 2007 deadline to submit photo and candidate's statement) Deadline to withdraw candidacy and not have your name Dec. 23, 2007 appear on the ballot and in the election booklets. Deadline for Election Director to notify candidates if they Dec. 28, 2007 are ineligible to run for council office. Dec. 26 - Dec. 28 Election Board reviews ballot and gets election booklet to printers for printing. Election Board prepares election booklets for mail out to vot Dec. 31 - Jan. 4 ers with signature cards on file. Deadline to post list of certified candidates. Jan. 4, 2008 Candidates Fair - I p.m. - Community Center. Jan. 12. 2008 Deadline to request absentee ballot be mailed to tribal members Jan. 25, 2008 Feb. 2, 2008. 4 p.m. Deadline to submit all ballots Feb. 2, 2(X)8. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Tribal Community Center - In-person voting hours Feb. 2, 2008- 4 p.m. Polls close Oct. 15, 2007 6 • Siletz News • November 2007 It will be the responsibility of tribal members to make sure they have an updated signature card on file with the Tribal Enrollment office. Tribal members over the age of 18 can request another signature card by calling the Enrollment Office at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1258. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Election The BIA is also planning to conduct an election around the same time of the General Election. This election will determine a change in the Siletz Tribal Con stitution. This election will be conducted by the BIA in its entirety and does not involve the policies or procedures of the Siletz Tribal Election Ordinance or Election Board. The BIA does not require signature cards. If you wish to vote in this elec tion. tribal members will have to register with the BIA. The BIA will send out registration packets before they plan on conducting their election. Please do not call the BIA office and request signature cards or registration packets at this time. For more information, you can contact the CTSI Election Office at 1-800- 922-1399, ext. 1256. r------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Important ' To be eligible to vote in the 2007 Special Election, you must be 18 years of age on or before Dec. 8, 2007. And you must have a signature card on file with the Enrollment Department to be a registered voter. • To be eligible to vote in the 2008 General Election, you must be 18 years of age on or before Feb. 2, 2008. And you must have a signature card on file with the Enrollment Department to be a registered voter. • To be eligible to vote in the BIA Election, you must be 18 years of age on or before the deadline of ballot receipt. And you must be registered sepa- rately with the BIA to be eligible to vote. The BIA will send out informa- tion directly to you, separate from the operations of the tribe. v______________________________________________________________________ । । । • Elders’ Council Meeting Nov. 18,2007 Chinook Winds Casino Resort 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please contact Angela Ramirez 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1225; 541-444-8225; or angelar@ctsi.nsn.us . 1 ' >
