"Council Briefs: Council wants more accountability on overtime wages"

SIX NATIONS - The February 7th general meeting of band council saw 3 delegations appear before council.

Housing Committee chair George Montour accepted a plaque from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Helen Orr in recognition of Six Nations Housing's honorable mention in last December's CMHC Housing Awards.

Students from J.C. Hill school's French class told council about their planned trip to Quebec City in June. 18 students will make the trip to the provincial capital. They told council it will cost $342 each to make the trip. Ms. Harrison, the French teacher, told council that partial funding would be appreciated. Chief Williams commented that they would have to wait until the new fiscal year starts in May.

Gloria Thomas, the director of the Community Health Review, answered questions from councillors concerning $7,458 in overtime wages and consulting fees billed by the Health Review.

Chief Williams told Thomas her staff was supposed to take time off in lieu of overtime.

Thomas responded that she and her staff worked the final month of the review's mandate without drawing a salary.

Several councillors expressed concern that approving the work done and expenses incurred outside the Health Review's contract would set a dangerous precedent.

"Who should have kept track [of the extra hours]?" asked councillor Deborah Styres.

"The supervisor, Gloria," Chief Williams answered. "The question is who authorized Gloria."

Chief Williams identified the problem as being the extra month of work required to complete the project was approved by the Medical Services Branch of Health Canada but not by council.

Council approved the payment of money received from MSB to the Health Review staff.

"This better not happen again," councillor Dave Green told Thomas.

Council approved a Reciprocal Pension Transfer Agreement which will allow federal employees who are hired by council or council employees who move on to federal government jobs to take their pensions with them.

Council changed the policy for approval request to access Six Nations records. The administrative task of considering request for records was transferred to the Director of Operations. Previously, council had to pass a BCR to approve any request.

Council voted to assume administrative control of the Departmental Membership function effective April 1st. Janice Martin will administer the program.

Councillor Melba Thomas wondered if this was another example of the DIA developing programs to Six Nations.

"Are we accepting a screwed up system?" she asked.

"The only way we'll get it fixed is to do it ourselves." Chief Williams said.

Director of Operations Ken Jacobs told council it was important to administer the membership list locally in order to get a more accurate count of Six Nations members and therefore improve funding.

Councillor Deborah Styres reported on the council's gaming committee's recent trip to Foxwood, a large Native owned casino in Connecticut. She reported the committee saw no alcoholism, no compulsive gambling and no "professional" crime.

Dave Green, Lillian Montour, Deborah Styres, Nona Johnson toured the casino and the community.

Styres wanted to make sure that people opposed to gaming understand that social problems already exist on Six Nations and are not necessarily the result of gaming. "If we go ahead and open up a casino we know the casino is not to blame. We already have problems like alcoholism and compulsive gambling.

Styres wants a representative from Social Services on the gaming committee.

Chief Williams said Brantford Mayor Chris Friel told him city council would soon request a referendum on gaming in the city. Council passed a resolution empowering the gaming committee to discuss locating a Six Nations owned casino in Brantford.

Councillor Dave Johns is one of two gas station owners who have not complied with council's request that station owners get a license from the provincial Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. Johns' D and D Gas Bar and River Range Gas Bar. Council passed as resolution that letters would be sent to the two stations informing the owners that they may find their supplies cut off if they don't comply.

"I would kind of appreciate it if council kept their nose out of my business," councillor Johns said.

Chief Williams said the possible risk to the environment and the cost that council might be forced to absorb if a gas station that wasn't regulated had a serious spill made the issue council's business.

Johns responded that he was aware of what he had to do to maintain the environmental safety of his gas tanks. He strongly rejected council involving the provincial Fuel Safety Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Affairs.

"When you subject yourself to these people, that's it, bye-bye, you're done. It's more than just the environment - you open the door; you compromise everything that happens after.

Chief Williams said the provincial government would accept the liability if any of the stations they certified caused an expensive environmental spill. He felt that made accepting the provincial involvement acceptable.