BAY MILLS — The Executive Council met Nov. 24 with all council members present. This was the first regular meeting of the new council: Chairman Jeff Parker, Vice Chairman Allyn Cameron, Treasurer Diane Teeple, Secretary Greg Parker and Councilperson Alexander Easton.
Colleen Lavey, a tribal member who recently in the starred in the Sault Community Theater's “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” requested that Bay Mills Indian Community act as corporate sponsor for the Theater's upcoming musical, “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which she is producing. Royalties are much more expensive for musicals. A play like Cat on Hot Tin Roof costs only $60 per night in royalty payments, but a musical is more like $1,040 for three nights. After sets, scripts, music, costumes and such expenses, the musical will cost a total of $1,500 to produce.
In return, the tribe will benefit by the advertising in local newspapers and on the programs — the sponsor's appears on everything, said Lavey, who is also handling promotion. The play is set for April 2003, she said, so she needs an answer by January.
Jeff Parker said the council will look at it and give her an answer by January.
The council gave its approval for the tribe to participate in the state's Workman's Comp. Program. Tribal Attorney Kathryn Tierney said the state wrote a letter stating that the tribe has participated in the state's program since 1993, and was never asked to do a limited waiver of sovereignty in order to go through the state program. Now they have asked and provided a draft proposal. It was done in practice, but the tribe has never been asked to do so before, she added. The tribe has no program to substitute, said Tierney, adding that the waiver can be rescinded at any time.
Michelle Willis informed the council that the Bay Mills Immersion School, funded by an Administration for Native Americans (ANA) grant is now in its third year and has far exceeded its expectations. Having outgrown the cultural center, the program now needs another source of in-kind match for its grant. It now works through the Child Development Center and the Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School. She also wanted to know the program's place in the tribal organization.
Greg Parker suggested that, since the tribe administrates the grant, her program would come under the tribal government and her supervisor would be Corrine Cameron as administrative assistant for social programs. The council discussed other sources of in-kind matches, such as CDC tribal funding, Cameron's salary, space cost, or administrative fees. Willis told the council requests for proposal for the next ANA cycle is in February and March.
Eric Hillman of Accounting asked the council to approve three percent funding for the tribe's 401(k) retirement plan next year. He commented that moving the enrollment start date from employees' sixth month anniversary to one year improved plan participation. The council passed a resolution funding next year's 401(k).
The council passed a resolution to apply for a grant that would help fund an additional dentist and help upgrade the health clinic's support services.
In other business, Allyn Cameron passed along a request by Andrew LeBlanc Sr. for a change in traditional healer.
The council approved Greg Parker's request that the 2004 indirect cost proposal, the Accounting Department budget and the space cost budget be approved. He said early approval will take care of “over recovery” and improve the tribe's indirect rate in the future.
Corrine Cameron said a tribal senior constructing a home with $50,000 in senior home funds needs $1,800 to hook into the Brimley sewer system. The council decided to check with Housing before making a decision.
The tribe ran short on its 2003 quota of tax-free cigarettes for members. Tierney recommended individual quotas be set at two cartons per member each week. With this kind of tracking, it would be easier to negotiate more cigarettes if needed.
CFO Mike Brooks requested upgrading software needed to track individual quotas, at a cost of $650.
Chairman Parker said it would be easier to track by packs and suggested 21 packs per week. A motion to develop a policy on individual quotas for tax-free cigarettes for members while Brooks develops the software passed.
Council members talked over some of their goal for the next two years.
The vice chairman noted that he would like to continue working on alternate energy sources and alternate development opportunities — to get all of Bay Mills' “eggs out of one basket.”
Secretary Parker said if he could establish a regular practice of review with managers, he'd be happy.
Jeff Parker said he would like the council members to come up with five key areas to focus on in the next year, that they could develop in a workshop. He chose five because there are five council members. He said these goals would also help the council keep the GTC updated.
