Commission Meeting
August 17, 2015
Conference Call
Approved at the 9/23/15 meeting
Commissioners in attendance:
Jamie Bissonette Lewey (Chair), Dick Gould (State), Joan Nass (State), Steve Holmes (Passamaquoddy Tribe - Sipayik), John Banks (Penobscot), Bert Polchies (Penobscot), Linda Raymond (Maliseets)Regrets: Roy Partridge, Brian Reynolds, Matt Dana
Others in attendance: Robert Checkoway, Jim Matlack, Diane Oltarzewski, Greg Sample, Gale Toensing
Minutes recorded by John Dieffenbacher-Krall.
The meeting took place with a quorum as provided under MITSC Bylaw I.F.
Joan Nass moved, John Banks seconded to approve the minutes for 7/22/15 as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Jamie Bissonette Lewey stated two drafts of the MITSC Annual Report 2014-2015 had been previously circulated to the entire Commission, the latest one August 11 (and sent again August 12). She announced the goal of obtaining approval for the body of the report with additional work to be done writing the executive summary and inserting all of the appendices. Commissioners were asked to submit any potential changes or edits to John Dieffenbacher-Krall by close of business on August 21.
John Dieffenbacher-Krall reported as of 8/16/15 MITSC’s two bank accounts totaled $124,033.83 available for FY 2016 expenses. After subtracting the projected budget for the MITSC report comparing the MIA and MICSA at an estimated $86,000, the Commission has $38,033.83 available. Taking into account the reduced funds available Jamie Bissonette Lewey proposed reducing the Executive Director’s hours for September and October to no more than 24 hours per week. John Dieffenbacher-Krall was requested to create a work plan for the period November 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 describing how essential tasks could be completed assuming no additional funding is received by the Commission. Bert Polchies moved that effective for September and October 2015 the Executive Director is asked to work on average no more than 24 hours per week and that the Commission expresses its appreciation to John Dieffenbacher-Krall for his dedication and service to the MITSC and his willingness to make this adjustment to his contracted hours. The motion passed unanimously.
John Dieffenbacher-Krall reported Mr. Bruce Maytubby will assume the Bureau of Indian Affairs Eastern Regional Office Director position September 9. The MITSC plan is to have an initial telephone conference call with Mr. Maytubby followed by an in-person meeting. Jamie Bissonette Lewey asked Commissioners to review the most recent draft of the letter to Mr. Maytubby. She requested each Commissioner email John Dieffenbacher-Krall by close of business August 19 to provide explicit approval of the letter or any additional suggested changes.
Jamie Bissonette Lewey announced she is pulling together a one-page snapshot of the proposed report. A report review committee has been recruited including Roy Partridge, Gail Dana-Sacco, Corey Hinton, Maria Girouard, Darren Ranco, and Bonnie Newsom. One of the review committee’s responsibilities is to narrow the research. The Congressional Record contains a huge amount of information.There are four proposed areas of research:1) Reservations and relinquishments2) Definition of sustenance3) The amendment provision in MICSA4) Examining MISCA sections 1725(h) and 1735(b) Jamie laid out a timeline for the initial phase of the research. She expects a scoping document will be produced by the end of August. That will be followed by a request for proposals (RFP) ready by mid-September. She announced Roy Partridge and Gail Dana-Sacco have agreed to co-chair the review committee. Jamie will staff it.
Jamie Bissonette Lewey asked if the Commission’s usual fourth Wednesday of the month meeting schedule would work for everyone in September. Everyone on the call indicated their availability for September 23. Bert Polchies moved, Joan Nass seconded a motion to adjourn. It passed unanimously.
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