Appeals Commissioners Jim Van Stippen, Sandy Skenadore and Jean Webster presided at a Preliminary Review on Wednesday August 21, 2013 to determine if allegations made in Brian Doxtator’s petition to remove Tribal Chairman Ed Delgado were sufficient grounds for removal.
A public Hearing was scheduled for September 5 & 6, 2013 at which Doxtator will be required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his allegations merit removal.
Chairman Delgado maintains he followed the Tribe’s Code of Ethics which requires him to protect the health, safety and welfare of the Tribe and to comply with customs and traditions which include protecting children, elders & Tribal resources.
The Code of Ethics also makes it clear that if the Chairman is aware of a problem and fails to act he could be accused of ‘inaction.’
Doxtator’s charges are based on the Chairman’s attempt to provide travel assistance to an elder needing life-saving dialysis, his agreement with the Environmental Dept. Director to provide a certificate of appreciation and wood to a long-standing community sweat lodge, as well as his attempt to encourage the Southeast Oneida Tribal Services Board to reconsider their scoring regarding a bidding process for a new SEOTS facility which Delgado says he only did in the interest of protecting financial resources.
Delgado believes he fulfilled his job description which demands he be responsive to the Tribe’s needs and he wonders if Doxtator would have brought charges against him had he not taken the actions cited.
As a candidate Delgado promised that he would be fiscally frugal and would protect people by having an open office for Tribe members to express their concerns and needs, and Delgado has said that he views community ceremonies such as sweats an important component of addressing some of those needs.
Chairman Delgado has noted that it was after he told the local media he felt General Tribal Council made the right decision at its May 5, 2013 meeting to prohibit OSGC from building incinerators on the reservation that the attitudes of some Business Committee and community members changed.
If Appeals Commissioners decide that the Hearing evidence merits removal, a special GTC meeting would be scheduled within 45 days at which time the Chairman could address GTC about the allegations.
The Removal Law states that a vote of 2/3 majority of attendees would be required for removal.
Oneida Eye remains confident that GTC is far too wise than to fall for the unethical political games of Brian Doxtator and other members of the Oneida Seven Generations Corporation fan club.
It’s very clear what should be done:
[Oneida Eye is of the opinion that both Brian Doxtator and Ed Delgado are dirtbags who deserve each other, but there are better reasons to remove Delgado than those contained in Doxtator’s petition.]
