1976-03-01 Char-Koosta News

              CHIEF JACKSON TAKES LEAVE
Law and Order Chief Lloyd Jackson was granted a 12 month leave of absence   by the Tribal Council, enabling him to accept a posi^ tion on the Police Force of Island of Samoa.
Jackson told the Council his reasons were varied ...."The primary one being to expand my work experience." He has signed a two year contract with the Samoan Government, but stated that he may return to the Tribal Law and Order   Dept. before the contract ex-
He supported L&O Lieutenant Tom Paro as interim Chief of Police, stating that he had been in the process of training Paro for the interim duties.
He thanked the Council for their continued cooperation, which...."enabled me to build a realistic, workable police department that has the admiration and respect of the surround ing agencies and public."
Jackson has been Chief of Law and Order for 4V2 years.
pires.
NEWSPAPER OF THE SALISH, PENP D'ORIELLES AND KOOTENAI.
¦^OF THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION'
RIBES
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 21
NEW MOON OF THE GOOSE FLIGHT
HOUSING BOARD FIRES DIRECTOR
A special Council meeting was held February 1 7, to conduct an open hearing requested by Roger Shourds, former HUD director and his secretary Jo Ann Kuntz. Shourds and Kuntz had been terminated by the C.S.& K.T. Housing Board on February 5th.
In a letter of notice of termination the board cited several reasons for the 4 to 1 vote of the board. Among them were;
Vour continued attitude over the past four months has led to an intolerable situation whereby the operation of the Housing Authority has been placed in jeopardy/ The letter had been signed on behalf of the board by Vice Chairman Roger McClure. Chairman Archie Olson, who was the only member to vote against the termination, refused to sign the letter. He told the special Council hearing that, "I could not in clear conscience sign my name to the letter because I did not believe the reason s given to be true." He stated that Roger had been Director for about 31/2 years... and that the problems had not  come about until the last   couple of board members had been appointed.
Shourds told the Council that he had requested the hearing not to reinstate himself as director, but to bring the problem out in the open.
He said, " I am seeking employment elsewhere," "Under no conditions would I work with the present Board members." He further stated that if the four Board members were replaced he would give his assistance to the H.U.D. Program until a new director was chosen.
Board members Roger McC! ire Alvin Sloan, Loren Peterson ai d Councilman Harold Mitchell each told the reasons why they had voted for termination of the two employees
McClure stated that he felt the Board was not getting the cooperation it should have had from the Director and his secretary. He stated that he felt he was doing what he was appointed to the board for, which was taking an active interest in the Housing Program... asking questions, he felt, did not get ad^ quate answers to. "What he (Shourds) wanted was a "rubbv.-stamp" Board to akay his programs, no questions asked!"
Loren Peterson, another Board member who voted for the termination, agreed with McClure. He said, "Board meetings were nothing but arguments and fights," He told the hearing members that for several months nothing was accomplished and he felt only two alternatives
MARCH 1, 1976.
ARLEE & ELMO MEETINGS
Councilmen John Malatare and Pat Left-hand have announced that they will hold District meetings to discuss the Pack River Land Sale, Kerr Dam Lease situation, Cabin Creek mining and any topics brought up by the audience.
Malatare and Whitworth will hold the Arlee District Meeting Sunday, February 29, at 7:00 P.m. in the Community Center at the Pow Wow grounds.
Lefthand has set Monday evening, 6:30 P.M., March 1 st as his District's Meeting. It will be held at Koostatah Hall, in Elmo.
were available., either replace the board or fire the staff.
Board member AI Sloan stated he had many 'run ins' with the Director and his Secretary, both during working hours and his personal life. He said the situation had become impossible to work   out . He mentioned several situations where he felt he had been personally harrassed by Shourds and Kuntz. Sloan's statement brought several members of the audience to their feet in defense of Shourds, and the tone of the meeting took on heated and sometimes bitter testimony with accusations thrown back and forth by members of both sides of the situation.
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