BAY MILLS &mdash The Bay Mills Executive Council met Aug. 9 for a regular session with all members present.
The council adopted the name “The Protector” for the new conservation boat following a submission to the name contest.
One of the two previously used conservation boats has been sold. Ben Carrick asked the council to lower the minimum bid on the second boat from $8,000 to $6,000. The council adopted this proposal and began accepting bids on the boat with the lower minimum bid.
Culture Committee member Norma Bennett asked permission to send out a letter of interest to 21 Ojibwe Tribes in the region seeking feedback on a proposed Ojibwe Nations Assembly. Bennett attended such an assembly in the past of the Potawatomi Tribes and described it as a huge success. Bennett's request to send the letter and gather feedback was approved.
Bennett also asked the council to consider modifying the employee grievance procedure to include protection for summer youth workers. Presently youth workers are not included in the employee procedures as their term of employment is generally six weeks. The need was brought to light when two youth workers were sent home after their unsatisfactory performance involving “horseplay.” The regular probationary period of six months is not applicable to youth workers as they are only employed for six weeks. Bennett asked the council to place guidelines on the workers to teach responsibility to the young adults. Tribal Chairman Jeff Parker agreed with Bennett and the council opted to look into the matter further.
A tribal member's request for a job waiver was denied because they had previously received two waivers. Parker noted that the current the six-month waiting period for re-employment with the tribe is designed to encourage employees to follow the proper procedure when changing jobs, such as proper notice or transfer, not just quitting their post. Job waivers are normally limited to one per person.
