Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2005)
4 MARCH 15, 2005 Smoke Signals Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:01 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Vice Chairman, Reyn Leno. A quorum was present. Present was Angie Blackwell, Jack Giflen, Jr., Reyn Leno, Chris Mercier, Jan D. Rcibach, Valorie Sheker-Robertson, June Sell-Sherer and Wesley "Buddy" West. Excused was Cheryle Kennedy (personal leave). Invocation was done by Wesley "Buddy" West. PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVEAMEND Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jack Giflen, Jr. seconded to approve the February 2, 2005, Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented. Mo tion carried 7-0-0. NEW BUSINESS General Council Meeting March 06, 2005 Agenda Items a. U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Presentation re: NAHASDA and Related Regulations b. Door Prizes $250 (1 at $100 and 3 at $50) Jack Giflen, Jr. moved, Wesley "Buddy" West seconded to approve the General Council meeting March 06, 2005, agenda items as presented. Motion carried 7-0-0. LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE Lewis & Clark Tribal Involvement Grant Application. Valorie Sheker Robertson moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 024-05 approving the following actions: 1) submission of an application to the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial for a $10,000 Tribal Involvement Grant; 2) commitment of $ 10,0 10 in kind matching funds including $6,560 of in kind volunteer time and $3,450 of classroom space in kind rental; and 3) autho rizing the Tribal Chairwoman to sign the application and related documents necessary for this available funding. Motion carried 7-0-0. Institute of Museum & Library Services Basic Services Grant Ap plication. Jack Giflen, Jr. moved, Angie Blackwell seconded, to adopt Reso lution No. 025-05 approving the submission on a 2005 Institute of Museum & Library Services Basic Services grant in the amount of $5,000 with and addi tional Education Assessment Option of $1,000. This is a non competitive grant that requires no match or in kind funding. Any indirect costs associated will be covered by the Tribe with funding from the Contingency Budget. Motion car ried 7-0-0. Veterans Special Event Board Bylaws and Appointments. Jan D. Reibach moved, Valorie Robertson seconded to adopt Resolution No. 026-05: 1) approving the Veterans Special Event Board Bylaws; and 2) appointing the following members to serve on the Veterans Special Event Board: Gene LaBonte, Steve Rife and Mark Rowland for terms expiring December 31, 2006, and Norris Merrill and Gus Smoorenberg for terms expiring December 31, 2005. (This is done to stagger the terms of the Board members.) Motion carried 7-0-0. Fish & Wildlife Committee Appointment. Wesley "Buddy" West moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson seconded to adopt Resolution No. 027-05: 1) ap proving the appointment of Harold Lyon and Joseph Brisbois to open positions on the Fish & Wildlife Committee, 2) that these are appointments to fill the second year of current two year terms, and 3) with term expiring on December 31,2005. Motion carried 7-0-0. SMGI Board of Directors Appointment. Jack Giflen, Jr. moved, Wesley "Buddy" West seconded to adopt Resolution No. 028-05 appointing Angie Blackwell to the Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. Board of Directors for a three year term beginning on the date she is licensed by the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission and ending June 30, 2007. Discussion followed. Motion carried 5-1-1. June Sell-Sherer voted no. Angie Blackwell abstained. Marriage Ordinance Repeal. Chris Mercier moved, Wesley "Buddy" West seconded to adopt Resolution No. 029-05 : 1) repealing the Marriage Ordi nance, thereby removing the jurisdiction of the Tribal Court to perform mar riages on the Reservation, including the authority of the clerk to issue a mar riage license and the authority of any judge of the Tribal Court to perform a marriage ceremony; and 2) making the repeal effective as of the date of the Resolution and applying it to all applications for marriage licenses pending in the Tribal Court on the date of the Resolution. Discussion followed. Motion carried 5-2-0. Valorie Sheker-Robertson and June Sell-Sherer voted no. ANNOUNCEMENTS Tribal membership financial meeting has been scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.noon on Saturday, March 19, 2005, at Spirit Mountain Casino in the Kalapuya Rooms. NOTICES Council member Valorie Sheker-Robertson provided additional information regarding misuse of a known Native American grave site at Fort Vancouver. The Election Board is seeking Tribal members to serve on the Election Board. Positions are open for Board members and alternates. Board mem bers and alternates are appointed by Tribal Council and serve two-year terms, unless a shorter term is necessary to provide for staggered terms. Board members must be able to spend some weekday hours in the Election Office during election season. If you are interested in being a Board mem ber or an alternate and you or an immediate family member are not plan ning on being a candidate in the 2005 Tribal Council Election, please send a letter of interest to Nancy Coleman, Election Board Chair, P.O. Box 99, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347. Deadline is April 1 5, 2005. Dialogue has been achieved between the affected Tribes and the Department of Army. Paul Lumley is liaison to the Army on behalf of the Tribes. Council members Jack Giflen, Jr. and Chris Mercier attended a consultation meeting with the National Indian Gaming Commission in Portland on Febru ary 10, 2005. OTHER BUSINESS Council member Angie Blackwell brought forward a request of four (4) Coun cil members for an item to be added to the agenda, pursuant to section (o)(5) of the Tribal Council Ordinance. Council Secretary June Sell-Sherer read the re quest. Angie Blackwell moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson seconded to approve a mo tion to hear all Legislative Action Committee meetings in the Council Chambers of the Governance Center starting March 1, 2005, with a posting of times for the meetings accessible by the public. Motion carried 5-2-0. Each Council member presented their reasoning behind their vote with Jack Giffen, Jr. and June Sell-Sherer voting no. Several Council members and Tribal members shared comments after the voting was taken. A Tribal Elder stated the following: a. expressed concern over negative comments during the past Tribal Election; and b. expressed concern about the division of council members; and c. announced she cannot have knee replace ments. A Tribal member stated the following: a. shared additional comments over Legislative Action Committee meetings being open to the public; and b. asked for the development of rules on how to access council and that these rules be provided to the Tribal membership. Several Tribal members raised their concerns over busing to Spirit Mountain Casino. Vice Chairman Leno stated earlier under "New Business Item e" that the contract had expired and negotiations have begun to seek alternative bids for providing the service to the casino. Flyers will be made available to the employees and the public announcing the return of service. A Tribal member raised concerns over the process used in bringing forward item 1 of "Other Business" referenced above. A Tribal member asked council member Blackwell, who is a liaison to the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority (GRTHA), whether a Tribal member who resides in Tribal housing can fill a vacancy on the GRTHA Housing Board. Council member Blackwell directed question to Chris Leno, GRTHA Board Chair man, who stated that there is not a policy preventing Tribal members, who reside in Tribally provided housing, from applying for an open position on the board. A Tribal member suggested that the council consider changing the seating arrangements for the Tribal Council meetings. A Tribal member read from a letter addressed to her employer from the Legal Department on behalf of the council regarding the manner in which she served subpoenas related to a Tribal Court matter. Discussion followed. A Tribal member felt that council members treat their meetings as secret and that there exists a division among council members. Several Tribal members sought clarification on how a Tribal member ob tained a copy of confidential information regarding a 2003 Grand Ronde Voca tion Rehabilitation program internal audit report. Discussion followed. A Tribal member asked what happens to tabled motions or resolutions. Vice Chairman Leno and Council members Reibach and Blackwell responded. A Tribal member commented on the decision to repeal the Marriage Ordi nance. Council member Blackwell advised that research will continue on the Tribe's roll in marriage and a new Ordinance may be developed. Vice Chairman Leno stated that the sovereignty of the Tribe necessitated the council's action here today or the Tribal Court Judge would decide. Discussion followed. A Tribal member sought clarification on the usage of Tribal property and the church in particular. Vice Chairman Leno advised that council has directed the General Manager to review the usage and report information to council. Discus sion followed. Tribal Elder Leonette Galligher advised that the Valentine's Day sale raised $1,200 for the renovation efforts for St. Michael's Church located here in Grand Ronde and that the Spirit Mountain Community Fund has awarded a $25,000 donation towards the efforts, also. 7:57 p.m. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ELECTION ORDINANCE The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Election Board and the Tribal Attorney's Office, has proposed an amendment to the Election Ordinance. The first reading of the proposed amendment was made at the March 2, 2005, Tribal Council Meeting. The proposed amendment increases the number of Election Board members from three (3) to five (5). The purpose of the proposed amend ment is to provide more coverage by Board members in the Election Board Office during the election season to answer questions from the membership. For a copy of the proposed amendment to the Election Ordinance, please contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal Council invites comment on the proposed amendment. You may send written comments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. Comments must be received by April 15, 2005 at 5 p.m.
