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Page 4 April 1, 1996 - SMOKE SIGNALS
Tribal Council votes to proceed with new wellness
center; adopts contributions policy
P fere is a summary of some of the votes and decisions Tribal Council has made at recent meetings.
Because Council receives many requests for donations from individuals, organizations, and charities,
they have adopted a contributions policy (at right) which establishes guidelines to follow when consid
ering these requests.
March 6, 1996
Council of Governments:
Chairman Mark Mercier received a re
quest that the Grand Ronde Tribal Council
become a member of the Council of Gov
ernments for Yamhill County. Chairman
Mercier said he felt it would be a good idea
for the Council to join this organization in
order to have greater access to local infor
mation regarding local governments, spe
cial districts, municipalities, and funding
agencies which may impact the Tribe. The
cost of membership will come from the
Tribal Council budget. Ed Pearsall made
the motion, Val Grout seconded, for the
Tribe to become a member of the Council
of Governments. The motion carried.
Health Facility Resolution:
The Health Facility Resolution states that
the preliminary feasibility analysis has been
completed for the Tribe's new Wellness
CenterClinic, and that the first phase of
planning and design has been complete.
Operations can be funded with available
resources and collected revenue without re
quiring any tribal subsidy. The Resolution
authorized the establishment of a new
wellness facility which will accommodate
the services and staff of the Human Services
Division. The time required to complete
construction is approximately 16 months.
Ed Pearsall made a motion, Kathryn
Harrison seconded, to adopt Resolution
014-96, which will allow the Tribe to pro
ceed in building the facility. Motion car
ried by a vote of 8-yes, 0-no, and no ab
stentions. Off Reservation Fee to Trust
Resolution:
This Resolution addresses the issue of
purchasing land outside reservations for the
purpose of gaming. After some discussion
on the issue, Tribal Council felt that the pur
chase of land off of the reservations was
acceptable for other business ventures, but
for gaming, it was not appropriate, and
could create opposition when trying to place
land into trust. Gene LaBonte made a mo
tion, Kathryn Harrison seconded, to adopt
Resolution 015-96, which describes the
Tribe's opposition to this practice, and op
poses the efforts other tribes to have land
taken into trust for the purpose of gaming
outside their original reservation bound
aries. Motion carried by a vote of 8-yes, 0
no, and no abstentions.
Staff serving on Committees:
Margaret Provost asked for a decision on
the subject of temporary employees who
had become full-time employees while serv
ing on a tribal committee. (The General
Committee Ordinance states that only one
staff member may serve on a tribal com
mittee, in order to encourage more tribal
members to serve on committees.) Tribal
Council agreed by consensus that tempo
rary employees serving on a committee who
become full-time employees do not have to
vacate their seat on their committee, pro
vided there are no other applications pend
ing for that committee. Also, staff mem
bers do not have to use their personal leave
time to attend a committee meeting.
March 13, 1996
Tribal Contributions Policy:
The Tribal Council adopted a Contribu
tions Policy in order to establish procedures
for the expenditure of tribal funds set aside
for benevolence, community assistance, and
recognitionsponsorship purposes. (See
sidebar.)
Other actions:
Tribal Council hired Glerum Management
to design and write a new brochure about the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and
voted to order a quantity of 50,000 to be avail
able at the casino and local shops for tourists
and visitors to pick up.
The Tribal Council also voted unanimously
to adopt Resolution 0 1 6-96, which approves
the Tribal Forest Management Plan.
Tribal Contributions Policy
Benevolence Category: To provide for the expenditure of funds to express
the Tribe's compassion to those in sickness, poor health, emergency, or where
human tragedy has occurred, and to express the Tribe's goodwill to those de
serving of recognition and who have in some way contributed to the well
being of members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The maximum
contribution shall be $300. Tribal member preference shall be applied to the
distribution of these funds.
Community Assistance Category: To provide assistance with schools and
community groups (non-individual requests) involved with activities that con
tribute and benefit the overall community or the Tribe's participation in com
munity functions and activities. The maximum contribution shall be $1,000.
RecognitionSponsorship Category: To provide contributions for the pur
pose of sponsorship assistance for community andor tribal groups and organi
zations for activities such as, but not limited to, sports, school programs and
projects, clubs and organizations, and provide positive recognition and contri
bution to the tribal and local communities. The maximum contribution shall
be $500. Contributions to tribal members and tribal member groups and orga
nizations shall receive preference for consideration. At the discretion of the
working group, any contribution under this category may be subject to a match
or in-kind contribution.
Contributions Working Group
The Tribal Council shall establish a Working Group to review all requests
that meet the requirements established under this policy. The Working Group
shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Tribal Council. The Secretary shall
schedule group meetings as needed to review requests. A quorum of five Tribal
Council members shall be required for this Working Group to conduct busi
ness. The Working Group shall have the authority to expend up to the maximum
allowable amounts as identified in the three categories. If the group desires to
provide an amount of funds in excess of the maximum allowed for that cat
egory, the Secretary shall make a recommendation to the full Tribal Council
for approval. Any requests must be made in writing and can be forwarded to
any Tribal Council member, who will then provide it to the Secretary.
In order to ensure that funds are available throughout the year, the amount
spent in each calendar year shall not exceed 25 of the annual allocation,
unless approved by the full Tribal Council.
Contributions approved by the Working Group shall be documented. Check
requests or purchase orders for the contributions must include the Working
Group documentation of approval.
On a monthly basis, the Secretary shall report to the Tribal Council on all of
the expenditures approved by the Working Group.