4 APRIL 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
Wednesday, February 28, 2005
5:01 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Chairwoman, Cheryle
Kennedy. A quorum was present.
Present was Angie Blackwell, Jack Giflen, Jr., Cheryle Kennedy, Reyn Leno,
Chris Mercier, Jan D. Reibach, Valorie Sheker-Robertson, June Sell-Sherer and
Wesley "Buddy" West.
Invocation was done by Wesley "Buddy" West.
Comments were made by Chairwoman Kennedy regarding concerns received
over the conduct at the January 26, 2005, Tribal Council meeting.
Previous Minutes ApproveAmend
Reyn Leno moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson seconded to approve the January
26, 2005, Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion car
ried 8-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE
OPRD Recreational Trail Program Tillamook Trail Grant Applica
tion. Jack Giflen, Jr. moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution
No. 018-05: 1) approving the submission of the grant application to the Oregon
Parks and Recreation Department Recreational Trails Program for reconstruc
tion of the historical Tillamook-Hebo Trail with, grant not to exceed $51,860; 2)
indirect costs would be paid for by the Tribes, which are not covered by the
grant; 3) authorizing the Natural Resources Division Manager, with the assis
tance of the Tribal Attorney, to finalize and execute said grant, if awarded.
Motion carried 8-0-0.
Oregon Youth Conservation Corps Youth Crew Grant Application.
Reyn Leno moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 019-05: 1)
approving the submission of the grant application to the Oregon Youth Conser
vation Corps for partial funding of the 2005 Natural Resources Department -Oregon
Youth Conservation Corps, summer youth crews, grant not to exceed
$11,111; 2) indirect costs would be paid for by the Tribe, which are not covered
by the grant; and 3) authorizing the Natural Resources Division Manager, with
the assistance of the Tribal Attorney, to finalize and execute said grant, if awarded.
Motion carried 8-0-0.
Roadside Alder Logging Unit Timber Sale. Valorie Sheker-Robertson
moved, Reyn Leno seconded to adopt Resolution No. 020-05 approving the sale
of timber on the Roadside Alder Logging Unit. The proposed sale of timber
involves removing red alder and Douglas-fir timber along 24 miles of road. Tim
ber volume to be harvested is approximately 562 MBF. The minimum bid rate
set for this sale is $406.52MBF for red alder sawlogs, $374.35MBF for Douglas
fir sawlogs, $17.05MBF for conifer wood logs and other wood products, and
$14.09MBF for hardwood wood logs and other wood products. Motion carried
8-0-0.
Eadcalla Thin Logging Unit Timber Sale. June Sell-Sherer moved, Valorie
Sheker-Robertson seconded to adopt Resolution No. 021-05 approving the sale
of timber on the Eadcalla Thin Logging Unit. The proposed sale of timber
contains approximately 118.4 acres to be thinned, and 3.1 acres to be clear up
harvested. Timber volume to be harvested is approximately 2447 MBF. The
minimum bid rate set for this sale is $402.67MBF for conifer sawlogs, $459.71
MBF for red alder and other hardwoods and $57.32MBF for conifer wood logs
and other wood products. Motion carried 8-0-0.
West Fork Logging Unit Timber Sale. Angie Blackwell moved, Reyn
Leno seconded to adopt Resolution No. 022-05 approving the sale of timber on
the West Fork Logging Unit. The proposed sale of timber contains approxi
mately 15.7 acres to be clear up harvested. Timber volume to be harvested is
approximately 828 MBF. The minimum bid rate set for this sale is $478.92
MBF for conifer sawlogs, $393.11MBF for red alder and other hardwoods and
$67.49MBF for conifer wood logs and other wood products. Motion carried 8-0-0.
Interim Chief Judge and Delegation of Administrative Tasks. Valorie
Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 023-05
appointing Edmund Clay Goodman as interim Chief Judge of the Tribal Court
and delegating all administrative tasks required of the Chief Judge to the Tribal
Court Administrator. Discussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-1. Reyn Leno
abstained.
NOTICES
The 2 1st Annual Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism "Catch the Dream:
Strategies for Converting Dreams to Dollars" is scheduled for April 10-12, 2005,
in Pendleton, Oregon.
OTHER BUSINESS
A Tribal member sought clarification over the action to appoint an Interim
Chief Tribal Court Judge. Discussion followed.
A Tribal member stated the following: commented regarding food handling
issues at the Grand Ronde C-Store. Commented on Tribal employment at the
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 15, 2005.
Spirit Mountain Casino. Asked about the status of whether a Tribal Veteran,
who receives disability payments from the Federal government, could also re
ceive disability payments from the Tribe. Raised concerns over information
heard regarding a possible audit by the Federal Government. Tribal Attorney
Rob Greene offered to speak to the member individually regarding any informa
tion the member may have received. Information could not be offered in a public
forum such as this meeting. Finance Officer Larry Kovach advised that the
Tribe has not nor is now being audited by the Federal Government.
A Tribal member stated the following: sought clarification on the role of the
Legislative Action Committee. Chairwoman Kennedy responded that the commit
tee is set-up to hear items initially and to determine whether to bring the action
forward for a formal vote at a Tribal Council meeting.
A Tribal member stated the following: sought clarification as to the protection
regarding employee and contractor salaries. Chairwoman Kennedy advised that
Human Resources has rated and classified all employee positions. The informa
tion as to salary range under each classificationranking is posted for the public
outside of Human Resources office. Rob Greene, Tribal Attorney, advised that it
is up to council whether to release contractor compensation. Historically, coun
cil has elected not to release. Chairwoman Kennedy responded that council
would take the request under consideration. Suggested that council adopt a
code of ethics for Tribal elections.
Patti Tom-Martin, Chairwoman of the Health Committee, requested authori
zation for two Committee members to attend training out-of-state in Nevada.
Discussion followed. By consensus of council, approval was given for Anna
Hannan and Janet Phillips to attend the training.
Bill and Kathy Soderberg, current on-site Directors for the Grand Ronde Com
munity Resources Center (Food Bank), stated that support in the form of food is
available to Tribal and community members. Council member Valorie Sheker
Robertson mentioned a $400 donation made to the Food Bank from the sale of
Christmas Trees.
H A Tribal member sought clarification of the council as to their reasoning in
obtaining information from Dr. Stephen Dow Beckham and Dave Brumitt regard
ing the proposed Tribal Marriage Ordinance amendments. Discussion followed.
Patti Tom-Martin read a personal statement on the record regarding the
release of a 2003 Grand Ronde Vocational Rehabilitation program internal audit
report. Discussion followed. She asked that the document be returned to the
Tribe due to the confidential nature of the information disclosed within the re
port. Discussion followed.
A Tribal member shared comments on the proposed amendment to the Tribal
Marriage Ordinance before council for consideration.
6:55 p.m. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
PROPOSED TRIBAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney's Office, has
proposed amendments to the Tribal Council Ordinance. The first reading
of the proposed amendments was conducted at the March 2, 2005, Tribal
Council Meeting.
The proposed amendments (1) add a new section setting forth Tribal Coun
cil ethics policies and procedures including standards of conduct, drug test
ing, filing of complaint for violation of such policies, appointment of hear
ings officer by the Chief Judge of the Tribal Court, investigation and deter
mination of hearings officer, appropriate sanctions for violations, and ap
peal to Tribal Court; (2) deletes the provision authorizing reprimand of coun
cil members; and (3) makes other technical amendments. The proposed
amendments include three possible alternatives for when a council mem
ber is considered to be representing the Tribe.
For a copy of the proposed amendment to the Tribal Council Ordinance,
please contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal
Council invites comment on the proposed amendment. You may send writ
ten comments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347.
Comments must be received by May 2, 2005 at 5 p.m.
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 mem
bers from three (3) to five (5). The purpose of the proposed amendment is to
provide more coverage by Board members in the Election Board Office dur
ing 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 com
ments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde,
Oregon 97347.
Comments must be received by April 15, 2005 at 5 p.m.