General council to consider ordinances, amendments
Published 4:56 pm Wednesday, April 4, 2001
By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
The Poarch Creek Tribal Council has called for a general council meeting to be held Saturday. Members of the general council are all tribal members over the age of 18.
The ordinances are possibly outdated and are in conflict with changes in the federal government concerning Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The tribe may be looking at changing its housing program, according to new regulations outlined by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination of 1996 which is administered by HUD. The new regulations prompted the tribal council to adopt new ordinances which conflict with existing ordinances. The tribal council is requesting a vote of the general council to clean the slate of the outdated ordinances. If the general council so votes, new ordinances will be enacted which will comply with federal regulations.
Legal advisors who evaluated the tribe's constitution determined that the power to repeal or amend ordinances did not rest solely in the hands of the general council as was the past interpretation and intention of the constitution. The tribal council is introducing an amendment which gives that power to the general council, unless otherwise mandated by changes in federal law. In this instance, the power to repeal or amend a constitution may be exercised by the tribal council.
Other items on the agenda are
reports from key service departments, including housing, health and social services. These three departments will make presentations and take questions from the general membership. All departments will be present for questions, however, they will not make presentations.
and overview of Creek Indian Enterprises by CIE president Eddie L. Tullis and other managers of the tribe's businesses.
Election Board Chairman Patricia Hodges will give an election board report and answer questions concerning the process for this year's elections.
The meeting will be held Saturday, April 7, 1 p.m., in the PCI Wellness and Activities Center. It is open to the entire community, however, questions will be taken only from tribal members. A timed public comments period will be available at the end of the meeting for tribal members to address the public.