Siletz news., May 01, 1987, Image 4

PAGE 4 - SILETZ. OREGON, MAY, 1987
reports from their committees were good and offered it to Council
to review. There are tw o bills we should support. One is SB 460 to
amend the General Assistance Act. It is meant to help people who
fall through the cracks, like alcoholics and drug addicts, who do not
now meet the State's term for unemployable. The other is SB 719.
LeRoy drafted testimony supporting it. It is for foster home place­
ment funds for relatives. Dee received a letter from Ross Swimmer
asking for nominations of Indian people to sit on an Indian Arts &
Culture Commission. They want someone with a strong cultural
and art background. Council agreed to nominate Lefty Wilder,
Nathan Jim, Bobby Simmons and Robert Kentta. We did not get
the Community Development Block Grant. We were 13th on the list
and they funded the first 8. Phil followed up on the selection and
was told we would have received nearly an additional 100 points for
a tribal construction, company, which would have put us in the fun­
ding. Dee talked w ith Forrest Gerard regarding the HIP appeals. He
felt we needed a corroborating statement from the Superintendent
at that time. There was no Superintendent at the time. Mr.
Bushman was the Housing Officer from the Portland Office. Negoti­
ations are continuing for the Water Agreement and real progress is
being made. Mary Alice felt LeRoy did a good job representing the
Tribe during the meeting with the City.
TRAVEL REQUESTS — Mary Alice requested approval for the
SLPC Committee to attend the Annual Meeting at Ka-Nee-Tah on
May 7-9, 1987. There is money in their budget to attend. Bud
thought travel for committees was to attend their committee
meetings only. Phil asked for approval for the Delegate and 1 addi­
tional person to attend the NPAIHB Conference in Pendleton on
April 21-23, 1987. Phil requested approval for 2 staff people and 1
Council Member to attend the National Indian Timber Symposium
in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on May 18-21,1987. There is no money in
the Forestry budget for this travel. Frank Petersen requested travel
to Hoquiam, Washington, on an ICWA case on April 9-10, 1987.
Irene Holland requested approval to attend a workshop on
Domestic Violence in American Indians on July 26-29, 1987 in
Spokane. Bud noted there was only $9,765 left in the Council's
travel budget. 6 Tribal Court Judges to Lake Tahoe on the 12th-
16th of April for Tribal Court Training. Council Members to attend
the Pi-Ume-Sha Celebration in Warm Springs on June 26-28,1987.
MOTION #5 — Dolly Fisher moved to approve the following out-of-
state travel requests: 6 Tribal Court Judges to Lake Tahoe Area on
April 12-16; Tribal Council Members to Pi-Ume-Sha celebration in
Warm Springs on June 26-28,1987; 2 staff and 1 Council Member
to the Timber Symposium in Green Bay, Wisconsin on May 18-21,
1987; Frank Petersen to Hoquiam, W A, on 4/9-4/10/87; Irene
Holland to Spokane, Washington on 7/26-7/29/87. Seconded by
Douglas Brown. Motion approved, 8-0-0.
Dolly requested $175 from Special Projects, Revenue Sharing, for
the Student Gathering sponsored by the Salem Area Office.
MOTION #8 — Delores Pigsley mvoed to approve $175 from
Special Projects for the Salem Area Office to sponsor the Student
Gathering. Seconded by Bud Lane. Motion approved, 8-0-0.
SLPC requested approval to sell desserts at the May 2nd General
Council meeting. Council approved this request. Dolly requested
death benefits of $200 for Robert Fisher. Council approved this re­
quest. Sharon reported the Teens Against Drugs & Alcohol (TADA)
group is requesting use of the Community Center to hold a dance
to raise funds for their project. They will be charging admission.
Gary reported the TADA group consisted of about 14 teenagers,
aged 13-20 years old, who were working on getting a place off the
street for a teen center. They have held car washes, a bottle drive,
and more. The dance will be open to anyone and will have 50's and
60's music. There will be at least 7 chaperones at the dance. Coun­
cil approved this request. Bud announced there would be a Timber
Committee meeting on April 16th. Mike Cloughesy, Tribal Forester,
has resigned to take another position. His last day will be april 24th.
Dee read a request from the Siletz JOM Parent Committee to hold
an encampment on August 3,4, 5 on Government Hill. They will be
using the teepees and tents. Council approved this request. Phil
asked if Dee had heard about the Employment Assistance and HIP
initatives. Dee has not heard and asked Phil to contact Forrest
Gerard. Phil asked the Council about reprogramming money out of
AVT so we do not lose it. Tentatives for FY 88 would move it into
Social Services. Dee asked Phil to contact Forrest. Council agreed
to put the Portland positions in permanently. Dee discussed the
SIHA position. One letter was received from someone seeking
appointment on the Board. The Council also needs to replace one
Pow-Wow Committee Member. Dolly suggested placing Alta on
the committee as a regular voting member. Phil asked for input on
the Sheriff's Office patch. Council approved the teepee symbolizing
the Tribe on the Sheriff's Office patch. Douglas asked if he could
plant a garden in the Community Garden spot since Wilma did not
have funding for a community garden. Council suggested Wilma
apply through Special Projects for these funds.
Meeting adjourned, 9:23 p.m.
Mary Alice Muncey
Tribal Council Secretary
UNAPPROVED M INUTES
MEETING: Regular Tribal Council Meeting
DATE: April 18, 1987
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Siletz Tribal Community Center
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Alfred "B u d " Lane, III, Vice-Chairman; Mary Alice Muncey,
Secretary; Lori A. Johnson, Delores Pigsley, Chairman (9:11); Mary
A. "D olly" Fisher; Rank D. Simmons, Douglas Brown, Arthur S.
Ben sell.
COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT: Alta Courville.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Tina M. Jones, LeRoy W. Wilder, Phil Rilatos, Judy L. John, Ted
Werth, W alt Klamath, Dave Bartels, Shirley Strickler, Frank L
Petersen, Bonnie M. Petersen, Mike Cloughesy, Karen Bell, Maxine
Rilatos, Gary Butler, Isobel Butler.
Vice-Chairman, Bud Lane, called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
Roll call was taken w ith 7 council members present and 2 absent.
Dee entered the meeting at 9:11 a.m. Mary Alice Muncey gave in-
v c it io n .
MOTION #1 — Frank Simmons moved to approve the amended
agenda with the inclusion of Veterans Memorial Marker at the end
of the General Manager's Report and Revenue Sharing requests im ­
mediately following the General Manager's Report. Seconded by
Lori Johnson. Motion approved, 7-0-0.
Dolly Fisher requested changes to the minutes from the 4/7/87
Special Council Meeting. Under others present we need to include
Joella Kline and Joan Fisher. Dolly listened to the tape from 3/17/87
and could not find where Dee read the letter from LeRoy. She
wants this struck from the minutes. Hank Bushman was not Acting
Superintendent, he was Housing Officer from Portland Area Office.
SLPC did not raise money to attend the archaeological conference,
it was included in their committee's budget request to Council.
They are not using their own money and they need travel approval
to go. Strike the portion that they do not need approval since they
are using their own funds.
MOTION #2 — Mary Alice Muncey moved to approve the amended
minutes of the 4/7/87 Special Council Meeting. Seconded by Rank
Simmons. Motion approved, 8-0-0.
MOTION #3 — Bud Lane moved to enter Executive Session to
discuss Personnel, Land Acquisition and STEDCO, 9:15 a.m.
Seconded by Rank Simmons. Motion approved, 8-0-0.
MOTION #4 — Dolly Fisher moved to return to Regular Session,
11:05 a.m. Seconded by Douglas Brown. Motion approved, 7-0-0.
STEDCO REPORT — Ted Werth reported that STEDCO's Annual
Report for the last calendar year would be reviewed by STEDCO
Commissioners at their next meeting and, if approved, would be
made available to tribal members. They will then be doing a quarter­
ly report for the tribal newsletter. Ted reported on starting a Fern
Plant. There is an operation in Port Orford willing to provide infor­
mation to Ted. They are a family operation and they do everything
from buying fern, own their own plant, and market it themselves in
the Los Angeles area. It is their opinion we have enough quantity of
fern to go overseas, where the largest profit will be. The drawback
for most people is that there is a large time lag in accounts
receivable, up to $50,000 cash, for three or four months. Starting
point is fern, but STEDCO is looking at other things like foxglove,
salal, and moss. The Port Orford firm has dealt with the Navajo
Tribe and has set up co-ops. They are interested in working with
our tribe. Bud asked how the price is set for pickers if it was a co-op.
Ted explained that they would probably have a base level up front,
and each quarter they would share profits, depending on how
much was sold. STEDCO would set up the operation, get their
money back from the co-op and then the co-op would run itself.
The good thing about a co-op is that they put pressure on bad
pickers to do better. Dee asked when STEDCO would be ready to
do this. Ted hoped by fall season.
TRIBAL COUNCIL CONCERNS — Dolly asked when we would be
getting the tribal newsletter. Phil asked Kristi about this and it will
not be printed until the 21 st. We are at the mercy of the printers.
Kristi is looking into a data processing system that will do the bulk
of the set up, and Kristi can get it printed elsewhere. Ted suggested
that Pioneer Printing do our typesetting and Kristi do the pasteup
here. He said Springfield News will do the printing overnight. Bud
asked the Council to set a date for a Tribal Council wood cutting
party as the weather improves. Phil suggested that once the Coun­
cil scheudles a date, the Forestry Crew could fall the trees in the
campground area. The woodcutting crew could then cut and stack
the downed trees. Lori asked if the wood was for elders only or for
handicapped also. There are no rigid guidelines. Dee had no objec­
tion for cutting for others in need and unable to get it themselves.
Council agreed to set a date for sometime in June. Mary Alice ask­
ed if anyone had responded to the Affiliated Tribes (ATNI) letter.
Judy reported she attended the meeting and they talked about in­
direct, and will provide testimony at the Senate Select hearings on
Wednesday. Dee reported their initiative now is to remove Ross
Swimmer. Judy noted the Committee will hold field hearings and
we can provide testimony then. Lori asked if the Indian Youth Club
holding a baked food sale at the General Council meeting would in­
terfere w ith Sacred Land's Dessert Sale. Dolly did not think so since
they would be selling their desserts by the piece for eating during
the General Council meeting. Dee stated that Gilbert Towner with­
drew his request for funds for his trip overseas.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT — Dave Bartels announced there is
an Area budget meeting Wednesday in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in
Portland from 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1989 tentative budget figures and
planning packages will be given out at this meeting. Deadline for In­
dian Priority System (IPS) figures is May 22nd, but the Agency is
asking Tribes to have the figure to them by May 15th to input them
into the computer. Dave complimented the Siletz Tribe for always
getting theirs in so quickly. A couple of items are off the IPS for
1989. Road Maintenance and Credit & Financing. Our tribe does not
have credit & financing but the Siletz Agency does. The Agency's
Social Services Officer is paid from these funds. BIA plans are to
have a regional credit department and working with banks would
be re-emphasized. It is not clear what the final plans are. Money will
be added to our tentatives for 1989, for the 93-638 pay cost money.
The BIA got a 3% raise this year and the same amount is supposed
to be added to 93-638 contracts. It will not be across the board, but
will be figured by a formula. Each tribe in a multi-tribal agency will
be asked to vote whether they want separate budgets or one com­
bined tribal/agency budget. We have separate budgets now. If
tribes had one tribal/agency budget, any changes would have to be
agreed on by all tribes in the agency. The HIP budget has been in­
creased by 32%, which was withheld before. When Bureau officials
met at the Embarcadero, Mr. Sinclair met with Phil to gather infor­
mation about tribes. His primary focus was on education and
forestry. Phil asked what good the 1989 IPS was when 1988 was
not any good. W ith all the cuts in 88, the IPS has been rendered
useless. Dave agreed, and noted that every time something went
off the band, tribes lost control of it. Dee asked if the education in­
itiative of combining Employment Assistance, General Assistance,
and Housing would go through. Dave said he had heard a rumor
that it would not go through but there is no official word on it yet.
Dee asked about the 15% administrative cost ceiling. Dave explain­
ed there was confusion about this issue, that people were unclear if
it was 15% administrative costs or 15% indirect. All tribes are in­
vited to the meeting in Portland. Dave was not sure if the
tribal/agency initiative was still being considered. If it is approved it
makes reprogramming easier for tribes. Phil noted we will have to
reprogram in 1988, but the changes will stay within their categories.
If the changes are small enough, the Superintendent can approve
the reprogramming. Bud asked about AVT. Dave said it was called
the Workfare program, or Self-Assistance, combining AVT, HIP and
General Assistance. The Core Management grants called Tribal
Government Assistance, is for tribes with 1500 tribal members or
less. The Self-Assistance grants are hard for the Oregon and
Washington tribe to compete for because the state runs their
General Assistance programs. Phil was concerned about AVT
monies because this year we reprogrammed a large amount into
mis category, it it is all placed in Self-Assistance, we may lose it.
Dee referred to a letter from the Bureau requiring a written report
from our Tribal Attorney. Our contact with LeRoy does not require a
written report. LeRoy stated he would do a written report if the
Council asks him to, but he will bill the Tribe for the time to com­
pose the report. OSU has requested meat and fish for their Pow­
wow. Council did not fill this request. There is not much left and
there is going to be a distribution to tribal members at the General
Council meeting. Council broke for lunch at 11:50 p.m.
HEALTH REPORT — Judy reported she and LeRoy had drafted a
resolution on the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. The Act requires tribes to
identify existing resources and determine the unmet needs. The
Coordination Committee will consist of the BIA Superintendent or
his representative, the Service Unit Director or his representative
and the Health Committee. They wanted to keep the committee
small, but will bring in consultants. The resolution is due by June
16th. IHS says that the Tribal Action Plan must also be in by June
16th. The Portland Area is getting $300,000 of initial funding and it
is rumored that most will go to NARA and the remainder to IHS's
Portland Area Office for training. Judy will meet with John Mackey
o f IHS to find out when the Tribal Action Plan must be in. Alta will
be going to Pendleton to the NPAIHB meeting and can present a
resolution requesting a seat on the Health Board. Judy noted this
issue was brought up at the Service Unit meeting and everyone
agreed tribes are not getting good representation.
HOUSING PROJECT REPORT — Phil introduced Rich Truitt from
Indian Health Service. Rich stated Cris Kinney sent his greetings to
the Tribe. Cris is on his way to W hite River, Arizona. Cris has
specifications for the housing project in draft form. Rich explained
the response from Mr. Davis regarding the Tribe's letter listing con­
cerns the tribe has about the level of service being provided by IHS.
Mr. Truitt explained that since Siletz was restored, several other
tribes have also, increasing IHS's workload. IHS is proposing to
assign a full-time engineeer to the Service Unit. Through this sum­
mer there will be a summer employee named Tim Stay. He will be
going onto graduate studies after the summer. His first task will be
to finish the specifications for the housing project. The permanent
engineer will be on-duty before Tim leaves. Greg Dressier, in the
IHS Portland Area Office, will oversee all projects going on. John
Regal will be the permanent engineeer. He has worked in the
Phoenix, Parker and Seattle areas. LeRoy asked about the Water
Quality Improvement Act of 1987. There is reference about grants
to Indian tribes for sewage treatment facilities. It also mentions that
BPA and IHS will work cooperatively. Rich noted that a series of
meetings between EPA and IHS have been undergoing. Amend­
ments that were passed have potentially valuable wording to allow
direct grants from Indian tribes from EPA, but a lot of work needs to
be done to work out arrangements for this to take place. EPA is us­
ed to working through state governments and haven't decided how
it will work with Indian tribes. They are not sure it would be fair to
burden Indian tribes with requirements of state governments and
they hope by having meetings with IHS they will determine what
type of structures are already in place within tribes. The initial dollar
amount available will be relatively small. LeRoy alerted Rich to think
about using IHS money and tribal set asides. W ith the water tank
that IHS is putting in, the capacity of the City's production plant is
marginal. There are significant problems with the sewerage system.
W ith the housing on Government Hill or any economic develop­
ment will be dependent on this sewer system. LeRoy would like the
Tribe, IHS, the City, EPA to talk together on cooperatively utilizing
these water quality funds. Rich reported that IHS has been coordi­
nating with HUD for sewer improvements for the additional hous­
ing project. Phil asked if the RFP or Contract has been let for start­
ing the tank site. IHS is finalizing plans and specifications and is get­
ting it ready to put it out for bid, probably by early June. There are
tw o proposed sites for the tank. They have contracted for someone
to do a geotechnical reconnisance — an initial soils exploration —
to advise them on which is the best site for the water tank. Cris
changed the approach on the engineering report because of access
problems. IHS will have someone walk the site doing a surface
reconnaisance and do some hand probes. The package for the tank
itself will require the contractor to do the final boring to determine
what the bearing capacity is. Dee asked if IHS is advertising the
same time as we are. Phil reported that they were separate con­
tracts. Our contracts are out now. They were extended to the 4th,
but SIHA may extend them later. There are new requirements for
Indian Preference, which were not in their previous advertising. It
costs approximately $1200 to advertise and SIHA may have to read­
vertise. SIHA has advertised for a Site Developer and Turnkey
Package. Rich presented the draft drawings to the Council and ex­
plained them. Phil asked what capacity the water tank will serve.
Rich reported that Cris Kinney's design for 150,000 gallon tank will
cover the 54 homes and some additional homes. There will be a
water meter in the pumphouse to monitor water use. Judy asked if
the actual construction will run into weather problems. Phil felt that
August and September was still good weather. Dee asked Phil to
get more information from HUD on the Indian Preference clauses.
Rich thanked the Tribe on their patience in the holdups with the
housing project. Phil asked about tribal members' problems with
the sewer/water systems. Some cases are over 2 years behind in
getting a response from IHS. Rich noted that this will be worked on
once the full-time engineer is on staff.
TRIBAL ATTORNEY'S REPORT — LeRoy reported the negotiations
for the water agreement are continuing. He is optimistic the Tribe
will get a good rate. He has been working on the resolution and
documentation necessary for NPAIHB to modify their constitution
to let the Tribe have a permanent seat on the Board instead of utiliz­
ing the Service Unit representative. LeRoy. read the resolution.
When the Siletz Tribe was going for restoration, one of their
primary reasons was for the health benefits. Dee felt that all tribes
should have a seat on the board, not just the Siletz tribe. It will take
a strong lobby effort to get it passed. Dee felt we were not getting
good representation because the delegates are not attending the
Health Board meetings.
MOTION #5 — Delores Pigsley moved to approve sending a resolu­
tion to Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board requesting a
seat for all tribes on their Board. Seconded by Lori Johnson. Motion
approved, 8-0-0.
LeRoy has been working on SB 719, Foster Care Payments to In­
dians for relatives to care for Indian children. The ICW Act
specifically mandates first preference for Indian children is with
family members. SB 719 is an amendment specifically for Indians.
Frank Petersen was selected to present testimony. It was moved to
the floor with a recommendation to pass it, but after a discussion
on the fiscal impact, it was moved to the Ways and Means Commit­
tee. LeRoy drafted a letter to this Committee requesting they hold a