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
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Siletz News
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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.
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Important
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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.
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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
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