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Osage Tribal Council Report Card |
Need for Special Meetings
Special meetings it would seem can at times be necessary to vote on an issue that is time critical and nearing the deadline for making a decision. However, as you browse through the list of Tribal Council meetings that have so far been held by the 31st Council, you will find a total of 15 special meetings held in only 9 months. Out of the 21 total meetings that have been posted on the Tribe's Official web site, only 1 was actualy held on schedule. Although in all fairness, there are 2 special meetings listed on dates that correspond to dates of federal programs meetings.
Special meetings to deal with non-critical agenda issues such as: (exerpted from Special Tribal Council meeting held on August 14th, 2002 - - -
RESOLUTION NO. 31-51: Motion to accept the attorney contract for Terry Mason Moore.
Motion by John Williams, second by Dudley Whitehom.
RESOLUTION PASSED: YES 8, N0 0
RESOLUTION NO. 31-52: Resolution approving Gaming Commission made up of private citizens. Motion by Harry Roy Red
Eagle, second by Jerry Shaw.
RESOLUTION PASSED: YES 8, NO 0
RESOLUTION NO. 31-53: Motion to approve resolution as drafted to hire Christy Red Eagle as
Gaming Manager at the Hominy Gaming Facility. Motion by Jerry Shaw, second by Jodie
Satepauhoodle.
RESOLUTION PASSED: YES 6, DUDLEY WHITEHORN NO, HARRY ROY RED EAGLE ABSTAIN
RESOLUTION 31-54: Resolution approving amendment to Policies & Procedures of the Osage Tribe of Indians,
Effective December 1, 2000. Motion by Harry Roy Red
Eagle, second by John Williams.
RESOLUTION PASSED: YES 8, NO 0
along with :
Miscellaneous Business.
Frank Harrison, Chief Financial Officer, requested direction with the organizational chart.
can hardly be considered critical business that could not wait for a regular Tribal Council Meeting.
However it needs to also be understood that each Tribal Council member is paid $103 + travel expenses for each meeting they attend. This particular meeting cost the Osage Tribe a minimum of $824 for 2 hours and 16 minutes of the new Council's time. Remember too, a major campaign issue was the supposed amount of unnecessary expenditures and wasted Osage dollars by the previous Tribal Council, yet not even two months into term, this "major issue" has apparently been forgotten as holds proven in the number of subsequent Special Meetings being held for other than critical Tribal matters by the 31st Tribal Council.
Looking back from July 2002 to date, (April 19th, 2003), we see 15 Special Meetings actually reported by the new Council on their web site. This equals at least $12,315 in suspect expenditures that has gone directly into the pockets of 31st Tribal Council. Can satisfactory reason be given to explain the need for "special" meetings to simply vote "Yes" on non-special issues such as those listed above?