Turtle Talk

From Soo Evening News (H/T Indianz):

Board seeks Payment’s removal

Sault Tribal Board considers resolution to remove Chairman from office

SAULT STE. MARIE – Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment issued a press release early this morning announcing the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors is considering a resolution to remove him from office. Payment also indicated that this action would render him ineligible to seek re-election later this year.

The Evening News, has obtained a copy of hand written notes compiled by Board Secretary Joanne Carr which show Directors Cathy Abramson, Lana Causley, Joe Eitrem, D.J. Hoffman, Bob LaPoint, Keith Massaway, Dennis McKelvie and Fred Paquin met for a special board workshop to discuss a number of matters.

Five members of the board were recorded as absent for the session. Chairman Payment was not in attendance with other recorded absences including Directors Denise Chase, Todd Gravelle, Tom Miller and Shirley Petoskey.

While the minutes of the meeting are seemingly open to interpretation it appears as though Payment was the intended target in an “Abuse of Office” investigation from both a civil and criminal standpoint. Other items on the list include notations addressing special meetings, the organizational chart and the use of legal staff.

Payment expressed the belief that a resolution to remove him from office will be brought forth at the Jan. 15 Board of Directors meeting, but to date there is no hard evidence confirming his suspicions.

Tribal Spokesman Cory Wilson, explaining the process, indicated the picture should be much clearer at the end of the day on Thursday – the final day to submit draft resolutions for consideration.

Wilson added the board does have the ability to suspend the rules on draft resolutions once the meeting is in session.

The Jan. 15 tribal board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Kinross Recreation Center.