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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2005)
4 APRIL 15, 2005 Smoke Signals Wednesday, March 2, 2005 5:02 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Chairwoman, Cheryle Kennedy. A quorum was present. Present was Cheryle Kennedy, Reyn Leno, Chris Mercier, Jan D. Reibach, Valorie Sheker-Itobertson and June Sell-Sherer. Excused was Angie Blackwell, Jack GifTen, Jr., and Wesley "Buddy" West (travel status). Invocation was done by Jan D. Reibach. PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVEAMEND Reyn Leno moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to approve the February 16, 2005, Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 5-0-0. NEW BUSINESS Chairwoman Kennedy announced that Legislative Action Committee meetings, as of March 1, 2005, will be held in the Governance Center Council Chambers. LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE Forestland Acquisition Bid Approval. Reyn Leno moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 030-05: 1) approving the bid for the pur chase of real property know as Tax Lot 200 of T5S, R9W, Section 25, W.M. of Yamhill County, Oregon, as presented by the department staff; 2) authorizing the Tribal Lands Department Manager, with the assistance of the Tribal Attor ney, to negotiate, finalize and execute documents required for the bid; 3) autho rizing the Finance Officer to transfer funds from the 2005 contingency budget for such purchase; and 4) authorizing the Tribal Council Chairwoman, with the assistance of the Tribal Attorney, to execute any documents at closing necessary to transfer the property to the Tribe. Motion carried 3-2-0. Chris Mercier and Valorie Sheker-Robertson voted no. D PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Agreement. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Reynold L. Leno seconded to adopt Resolution No. 031-05 authorizing the Finance Officer to negotiate, finalize and execute agreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) for the CY2004 annual independent audit of the Tribe and all its components and enterprises in an amount not to exceed the amount budgeted for CY2005. Motion carried 5-0-0. Tribal Member Review Board Appointments. June Sell-Sherer moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 032-05 approving the indi viduals to serve as a slate of Tribal members from who the Chief Judge shall appoint to serve on Community Review Boards for the purpose of reviewing cases of children in Tribal custody: Betty J. Bly, Angela S. Schlappie, Darlene M. Aaron and Diana L. George. Motion carried 4-0-1. Reyn Leno abstained. Enrollment New Members. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Reyn Leno seconded to adopt Resolution No. 033-05 approving the Tribal membership of individuals numbered 5451 through 5466, because, based on the recommen dation of the Enrollment Committee, the individuals meet the requirements of the Constitution and the Enrollment Ordinance. Motion carried 5-0-0. Enrollment Infant Determinations. June Sell-Sherer moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 034-05 approving nine (9) infants numbered 5467 and 5475 for Tribal membership, because, based on the inves tigation and recommendation of the enrollment staff, the infants have been found to meet the eligibility requirements for enrollment as defined in the Enrollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution. Motion carried 5-0-0. Administrative Services Agreement between Tribe & GRTHA. Valorie Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 035-05: 1) approving Administrative Services Agreement between the Tribe and GRTHA regarding the administration of Tribal Programs and housing projects funded with Tribal funds, the loan of Tribal employees to GRTHA, and the reimburse ment by GRTHA to the Tribe of Tribal Employees' salaries; and 2) authorizing the General Manager to finalize and execute said Agreement. Discussion fol lowed. Motion carried 5-0-0. Election Ordinance. The Tribal Council authorizes a first reading of the proposed amendment to the Election Ordinance. The proposed amendment in creases the number of Election Board members from three (3) to five (5) in order to increase coverage in the Election Board office during the election season. Comment followed. Tribal Council Ordinance. The Tribal Council authorizes a first reading of the proposed amendments to the Tribal Council Ordinance. The proposed amendments: 1) add a new section setting forth Tribal Council ethics policies and procedures including standards of conduct, drug testing, filing a complaint of violation of such policies, appointment of hearings officer by Chief Judge of the Tribal Court, investigation and determination of hearings officer, appropriate sanctions for violations and appeal to Tribal Court; 2) deletes the provision au thorizing reprimand of concil members; and 3) makes other technical amend ments. Comments followed. OTHER BUSINESS A Tribal member asked the following: a. sought clarification on an alleged embezzlement matter at Spirit Mountain Casino. Chairwoman Kennedy asked that the Tribal member meet with council to relay any information heard, b. commented on the quality of the food and beverage service areas at Spirit Moun tain Casino. Chairwoman Kennedy stated that she presented these concerns to General Manager Mike Larsen and Guest Services Director Randy Dugger at the last Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. (SMGI) Board of Directors meeting held on February 28, 2005. c. raised concerns over a non-Tribal member regarding her ability to talk to council member Valorie Sheker-Robertson. Chairwoman Kennedy stated she would entertain a motion from the council members to go into Executive Session. Executive Session: Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to go into Executive Session. Motion carried 5-0-0. Time: 6 p.m. Meeting resumed at 6:24 p.m. Chairwoman Kennedy stated that no decisions were made in Executive Session and clarification was reached regarding the issues referenced above. Several Tribal members shared comments on the perceived level of customer service at the casino. Discussion followed. Chairwoman Kennedy stated the casino's food & beverage services are in spected regularly. In addition, council would take under advisement the idea of hiring a quality service inspector. Vice Chairman Leno stated the following: 1) that the council is planning to build a new facility for the Tribe and the Casino's Human Resources Divisions; 2) the board is looking at expanding the new employee orientation time; and 3) announced that the Tribe has hired a new General Manager for the Casino, who should be here next week and begin the licensing process with the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission. Council member Reibach offered to forward comments to the next SMGI Board of Directors meeting in April. A Tribal member asked the following: 1. Did council ever find out who authorized the church? 2. How long has the church been running? 3. How many. Tribal Council members attended the church? 4. Who paid for the re modeling materials the windows, woods, etc. that Mr. Reibach referred to last week? 5. Whose political meeting was it that Reyn said he had attended? 6. Is the church insured? 7. Is the church still open and operating? Chairwoman Kennedy stated the following: 1. The council has met on this topic and consensus was reached by council to continue usage of the property by the members of the church; 2. The council approved a request from the church members for a special weekend event to be held on this site; 3. Two members of council attend this church; 4. Permission had been granted by the Public Works Department, which is authorized to allocate usage of Tribal buildings; 5. Religious services have been conducted on Tribal property, for instance, at the Tribal Community Center. Risk Management Manager Deborah Larsen stated that the property has been insured since purchased by the Tribe and there are no additional premi ums with the property being used as a gathering place for the Church. General Manager Cliff Adams advised that the property is being used by other Tribal programs. The members of the church covered the cost of materials and volunteered their labor. The church has not been billed for usage of the build ing. Vice Chairman Leno stated a political event was planned for St. Michael's Church but for reasons unknown, the church was not opened. It was then suggested to use this church. Council members Jack Giffen, Jr. and June Sell Sherer also attended this political gathering. Discussion followed. 7:33 p.m. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Tribal Youth Take Spring Break Camping Trip To Camp Cooper .. V 1 Positive Influence From March 22 through 25, Youth Education held its second annual Spring Break Camping Trip. Students ranging from the sixth through the 1 2th grade were invited and enjoyed a three night stay at Camp Cooper on Bald Mountain. The students participated in story-telling around the campfire, an archery contest and skits to help teach team-building skills. Students from Grand Ronde and Chemawa Indian Boarding School attended the annual event.
