Petition rules must be followed precisely
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Editor,
The ordinance establishing rules for formulation and submitting petitions are plainly written out in Ordinance No. 53A:
“4. Filing of Petition (in Part)
Under Filing of Petition: The Tribal Secretary shall acknowledge in writing his receipt of the petition indicating the exact number of signatures which are attached. Upon this written acknowledgement of the petition, the Tribal Secretary shall publicly post at the Tribal Office the matter proposed in the petition which shall remain posted for a period of thirty (30) days.”
The petition was filed on May 7, 2013. To date this step has not been followed.
“5. Challenges (in Part)
Once an official filing has been made the Tribal Secretary shall have copies made of the petition and its signatures and shall keep these copies at the Tribal Office for fifteen (15) days, during which time they shall be available for examination by authorized voters of the Tribe upon request. During this fifteen (15) day period challenges of signatures may be filed with the Tribal Secretary. Challenges will be considered on the following grounds: a. Forgery of signatures; b. Lack of proper qualifications of a signer. No challenges will be considered which is not accompanied by supporting evidence in writing. In event an individual name appears on a petition more than once, all but one of the names shall be stricken.”
Presently, the copy of the petition is sitting on the counter outside the Tribal Chambers with a sign that reads: petition do not remove. The Rules set forth in Ordinance No. 53A are to be followed precisely. This is not being done.
When you read in the Char-Kootsa News any articles or resolutions set for by the Council concerning the Nez Perce/Salazar Settlement Funds please keep in mind that the Petition for Referendum filed May 7, 2013 addresses the original Resolution #12-180 dated July 26, 2012. Any actions taken by Council on the Nez Perce/Salazar Settlement Funds after July 26, 2012 is in direct conflict with the matter of the petition filed May 7, 2013 and Resolution #12-180 dated July 26, 2012.
Sharon Rosenbaum
President,
People’s Voice, Inc.
