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| Volume XXIII Number 2 | February 1, 2002 |
Council Meeting: Time For Constitutional Revision?
By Elrod BowersHOLLYWOOD - At the Jan. 18 Council meeting, Tribal members sought the Tribal Council’s approval to be recognized as the Constitutional Revision Committee. While the Council did not officially recognize the Committee, it asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs for help in setting up the Constitutional review process.
According to Committee President Lorene Gopher, the idea was hatched six months ago at a community meeting in Brighton.
Although unsure as how to proceed, Gopher asked for the Council’s approval to get started in earnest. Gopher assured the Council that there would be no major changes. "I don’t want to go around and change everything," said Gopher.
The Council was receptive to the idea of beginning the process of constitutional review. "The beauty of our constitution, and any other constitution, is that it can be changed," said Hollywood Councilman Max Osceola, Jr.
Osceola, then asked Mary Jane Willie how many changes had been made to the Seminole Constitution since its creation. A quick review showed that there had been twenty changes since 1957.
"It’s a good time to do it," said Acting Chairman Mitchell Cypress. "But we want to make it available to everybody," stressed Osceola.
Gloria Wilson, the facilitator for the interim Constitutional Revision Committee, said that officers had been elected, and nine areas of concern in the constitution had been identified. Wilson also said that the Falmouth Institute would be able to come and hold a 3-day constitutional seminar for $10,000.
"We could probably use the BIA and not pay a penny," said Osceola.
Osceola asked Acting BIA Superintendent Eddie Streeter for assistance in setting up the Constitutional review process.
The Council also:
*Approved the payoff of a loan with Banc of America Leasing & Capital for the 1999 Gulfstream GIV-SP aircraft.
According to Comptroller Suresh Geer, the Tribe will now have full release on the jet. Councilman Max Osceola, Jr., asked how much the jet was worth.
"If you sold it, you could make $30 million," said Geer.
*Established an operating account to pay for expenses in Nicaragua. Osceola stated that the Tribe is "trying to sell this operation."
*Reaffirmed that all vendors must have permits before going onto the reservation. George Johnson, of Realty, said that over 100 insurance policies had been sold to Tribal members by a vendor who had not been issued a permit.
Jean Fontana, of Human Resources, said that Tribal policyholders had agreed to have deductions made to their payroll checks to pay to the same vendor.
The Council stated that all vendors will be referred to George Johnson and must have a permit before entering the reservation and that no payroll deductions will be made to payroll checks.
*Confirmed that there is a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those involved in the shooting of Tribal Counsel Jim Shore.
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