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The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon [Ordinances]

Last amended: 2003



  ORIGINALLY ADOPTED: December 22, 1986
  DATE AMENDED: 01-15-88; 06-07-89; 01-08-92; 07-07-93; 06-22-94; 08-28-02; 3-19-03
  SUBJECT: General Committee and Special Event Board
  RESOLUTION NUMBER: 181-86; 261-88; 352-89; 003-92; 037-93; 039-94; 143-02; 058-03


General Committee and Special Event Board Ordinance

Tribal Code § 230


(a) AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this ordinance is to form a more efficient and cohesive government through the establishment of committees and special event boards by the Tribal Council. Each committee is to advise and make recommendations regarding each specific committee purpose. The committee will provide a unified voice as an advisory arm of the Tribe. Each special event board is to plan, organize and conduct specific special events of the Tribe. All committees and special event boards will be regulated by this Ordinance and the relevant provisions of other Tribal ordinances and polices, except that where a committee or a special event board is established by a specific ordinance, the specific provisions of that ordinance will govern where those provisions differ from this Ordinance.


(b) GENERAL POLICY:

(1) Committees. Committees are established to assist the Tribal Council in carrying out its responsibilities, to provide quality services to the Tribal membership and to develop, maintain, and protect the assets and interests of the Tribe. Each committee is to:

(A) Act in an advisory capacity to the Tribal Council in recommending policies and procedures, identifying needs, and developing priorities of the Tribe;

(B) Report to the Tribal Council on problems, activities and other relevant information;

(C) Report to the General Council on activities; and

(D) Undertake any other duties and responsibilities as developed and approved by the Tribal Council.

(2) Special event boards. Special event boards are established to plan, organize and conduct special events on behalf of the Tribe. Each special event board is to:

(A) Plan, organize and conduct special events authorized by the Tribal Council and to recommend other special events to the Tribal Council;

(B) Report to the Tribal Council on problems, activities and other relevant information;

(C) Report to the General Council on activities; and

(D) Undertake any other duties and responsibilities as developed and approved by the Tribal Council.


(c) DEFINITIONS:

(1) "General Council" means the General Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

(2) "Tribal Council" means the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

(3) "Tribe" means the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

(4) "Committee" means a committee created to fulfill ongoing functions on behalf of the Tribal Council on a more or less permanent basis.

(5) "Ad-hoc committee" means a committee created to fulfill a specific short-term function on behalf of the Tribal Council, and which shall be dissolved upon completion of that function.

(6) "Special event board" means a board created to plan, organize and conduct ongoing or annual special events on behalf of the Tribe on a more or less permanent basis.

(7) "Ad-hoc special event board" means a board created to plan, organize and conduct a specific special event on behalf of the Tribe, and which shall be dissolved upon completion of that event.

(8) "Unexcused Absence" means an absence from any meeting of the committee for which no written excuse has been given to and accepted by a majority vote of the relevant committee (excluding the member who has submitted the written excuse).

(9) "Donation" means the voluntary transfer of funds or items of material value to a person or other entity for which no goods or services of substantially equal value are received in return.

(10) "Honorary Member" means a member of a committee who has a voice but no vote on committee business.

(11) "Staff person" means a person employed by the Tribe or one of its entities.


(d) GENERAL POLICIES: The Tribal Council may establish standing and ad-hoc committees and special event boards pursuant to this Ordinance by resolution. All committees and special event boards established pursuant to this Ordinance shall adopt bylaws consistent with this Ordinance and approved by the Tribal Council. Committees and special event boards shall be accountable to the Tribal Council. The Tribal Council reserves the power to deal directly with the committees and special event boards as necessary.


(e) NAMES:

(1) Committees: Each committee established pursuant to this Ordinance shall designate a committee name. All committees must indicate association with the Tribe by including "The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon" in the committee name.

(2) Special event boards: Each special event board established pursuant to this Ordinance shall designate a board name. All special event boards must indicate association with the Tribe by including "The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon" in the board name.


(f) MEMBERSHIP:

(1) Committees:

(A) Each committee shall be composed of a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of seven (7) voting members appointed by the Tribal Council, except the appointment of members to the Elders Committee shall be as specified in the Elders Committee's Bylaws, and a maximum of two (2) honorary members appointed by the Tribal Council. Only Tribal members may serve as voting members on the committees.

(B) A committee may only have two (2) staff persons serving at a time. Where more than two (2) staff persons serve on the same committee, the least senior staff persons shall lose their committee seat.

(C) No staff person may serve on a committee playing an advisory role to the program where the staff person is employed.

(2) Special event boards: Each special event board shall be composed of a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of seven (7) voting members appointed by the Tribal Council. Tribal members and non-Tribal members may serve as voting members of the boards, but a majority of the voting members on each board shall be Tribal members.

(3) General: The following apply to membership of committees and special event boards:

(A) Individuals may serve as voting members on no more than two (2) committees/ boards at a time.

(B) Committees/ boards may utilize the assistance of non-member resource people, who may be Tribal members or non-Tribal members. Individuals serving in a resource capacity shall not vote.

(C) Tribal Council Members serving on a committee/ board count towards a quorum but may not vote on committee/ board business.

(D) No person having been convicted of a crime against a child shall serve on a committee or a board that provides activities for children.

(E) An individual owing a debt to the Tribe may not serve on a committee/ board unless arrangements for repayment of the debt have been made.

(F) Members shall be at least 18 years of age unless a committee's/ board's bylaws provide otherwise.

(G) The Tribal Council shall appoint additional members to a committee/ board in excess of the maximum allowed under this section (f) if the Tribal Council finds that the number of members is insufficient to carry out the committee's/ board's responsibilities.

(H) Members shall attend all committee/ board meetings unless they give written or verbal notice to the Chairperson at least three (3) days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that no notice is necessary if injury of the member or sickness, injury or death of a family member or dependent caused the absence.

(I) Members shall provide input on all matters properly before the committee/ board and support all committee/ board decisions. (J) At the end of each member's term of office or upon resignation or removal of a member or upon other vacancy by a member, the member shall deliver all papers, records, and books and other items in the member's possession that relates to the committee/ board to the member's successor, or to the committee/ board Chairperson.

(K) All committee/ board member appointments will be for two (2) calendar years, beginning in January 2003.


(g) VACANCIES:

(1) Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Tribal Council for the duration of the unexpired term.

(2) Vacancies shall occur upon expiration of a member's term, when a member resigns for any reason, is removed, or has unexcused absences from three (3) consecutive regular meetings.


(h) REMOVAL OF MEMBERS: Members serve at the pleasure of the Tribal Council and may be removed prior to the expiration of their term, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Tribal Council.


(i) VOTING: Each member shall have one (1) vote on each matter. Members must be present to vote. No proxies will be permitted.


(j) QUORUM: A majority of the members must be present to constitute a quorum. Committee/ board action is valid only when a quorum exists.


(k) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Immediate family members shall not serve in a voting capacity on the same committee or board at the same time. No member may vote on any action directly involving a member of his or her immediate family. A member may take part in discussion and count toward a quorum regarding action involving a member of his or her family. Immediate family members include father, mother, adoptive mother, adoptive father, daughter, son, spouse, person in a spousal relationship, brother, sister, stepbrother and stepsister.


(l) APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS: Each committee and board shall elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Officers shall serve for the duration of their current terms on the committee/ board.


(m) DUTIES OF OFFICERS:

(1) The Chairperson shall:

(A) Issue notice of meetings;

(B) Preside at all meetings;

(C) Make reports to the Tribal Council and the General Council as provided in the committee's/ board's approved bylaws;

(D) Act as the representative of the committee/ board in communications with individuals, groups, and organizations; and

(E) Develop and submit for approval of the Council an annual operating budget.

(2) The Vice-Chairperson shall:

(A) Act as presiding officer in the Chairperson's absence; and

(B) Compose all resolutions and recommendations as agreed upon by the committee/ board.

(3) The Secretary shall:

(A) Take minutes of all regular and special meetings;

(B) Maintain all official records of the committee/ board;

(C) Take attendance at meetings and record unexcused absences;

(D) Provide copies of all meeting minutes to the Tribal Council within five (5) days of approval;

(E) Keep an accurate financial statement;

(F) Conduct all banking activities through accounts approved by the Tribal Council;

(G) Maintain all of the committee's/ board's additional financial responsibilities; and

(H) Provide the Tribal Council or its designee with financial reports, as requested.


(n) MEETINGS:

(1) All meetings shall be open to the public; provided, however, the meetings may be closed to the public when dealing with confidential material. The committee/ board may invite guests to attend meetings.

(2) The committee/ board shall periodically publish its meeting schedule in the Tribal newsletter. All regular and special meetings require four (4) days written notice. Notice shall be given to each member and shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the Tribal Headquarters. Notice shall include the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting

(3) Regular meetings shall be held on a date set by the committee/ board.

(4) All regular and special meetings shall be held on Tribal property in Grand Ronde, unless the committee/ board obtains the prior approval of the Tribal Council to hold a meeting elsewhere.

(5) Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson at his or her discretion, but the Chairperson must call a special meeting upon written request of three (3) or more members of the committee/ board.


(o) COMPENSATION: Voting members may be compensated for their services at a rate set by Tribal Council and shall be reimbursed for expenses according to such policy as the Tribal Council may adopt.


(p) FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY:

(1) All committees/ boards dealing with finances must document all financial transactions, including, but not limited to, requests, donations, purchases, and travel vouchers. The Secretary shall be primarily responsible for the financial accountability of the committee/ board.

(2) All financial transactions shall be within the parameters of the committee's/ board's approved budget.

(3) Decisions on committee/ board purchases require prior approval of the committee/ board; such approval shall be recorded in the meeting minutes.

(4) Committees/ boards are prohibited from making donations of any kind from committee/ board funds. Any donations made to the committee, however, will be delivered to the Secretary for appropriate handling.


(q) SEVERABILITY: If a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Ordinance to be invalid or illegal under applicable Federal or Tribal law, such provision shall be severed from this Ordinance and the remainder of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.


I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon General Committee and Special Event Board Ordinance.

___________________
Tribal Council Secretary

 

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