# Oneida Business Committee (2025)

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aoneida_nation%3Ac2ede73b6c42f3b2

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

Public Packet

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Oneida Business Committee
Emergency Meeting
11:30 AM Thursday, April 03, 2025
BC Conference Room, 2nd floor, Norbert Hill Center
Agenda

Meeting agenda is available here: oneida-nsn.gov/government/business-committee/agendas-packets/.
Materials for the “General Tribal Council” section of the agenda, if any, are available to enrolled members
of the Oneida Nation; to obtain a copy, visit the Government Administrative Office, 1st floor, Norbert Hill
Center and present a valid Tribal I.D. or go to https://goo.gl/uLp2jE. Scheduled times are subject to
change.

I.

CALL TO ORDER

II.

OPENING

III.

ADOPT THE AGENDA

IV.

NEW BUSINESS
A.

V.

Adopt resolution entitled Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council
Member - Marlon Skenandore
Sponsor: Lisa Liggins, Secretary

ADJOURN

Posted on the Oneida Nation’s official website, www.oneida-nsn.gov pursuant to the Open Records and
Open Meetings law (§ 107.14.)
The meeting packet of the open session materials for this meeting is available by going to the Oneida
Nation’s official website at: oneida-nsn.gov/government/business-committee/agendas-packets/
For information about this meeting, please call the Government Administrative Office at (920) 869-4364 or
(800) 236-2214

Oneida Business Committee

Emergency Meeting Agenda
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April 03, 2025

Public Packet

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Adopt resolution entitled Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council Member - Marlon...

Business Committee Agenda Request
1. Meeting Date Requested:

04/03/255

2. General Information:
Session:

☒ Open

☐ Executive – must qualify under §107.4-1.
Justification: DRAFT materials/discussion

3. Supporting Documents:

☐ Bylaws
☐ Fiscal Impact Statement
☐ Contract Document(s) ☐ Law
☒ Correspondence
☐ Legal Review
☐ Draft GTC Notice
☐ Minutes
☐ Draft GTC Packet
☐ MOU/MOA
☐ E-poll results/back-up ☐ Petition
☒ Other: Draft Letter to Councilman Skenandore

☐ Presentation
☐ Report
☒ Resolution
☐ Rule (adoption packet)
☐ Statement of Effect
☐ Travel Documents

4. Budget Information:

☐ Budgeted
☒ Not Applicable

☐ Budgeted – Grant Funded ☐ Unbudgeted
☐ Other: Describe

5. Submission:
Authorized Sponsor:

Lisa Liggins, Secretary

Primary Requestor:
Additional Requestor:

(Name, Title/Entity)

Additional Requestor:

(Name, Title/Entity)

Submitted By:

LLIGGINS

Public Packet

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Oneida Nation

Chairman
Oneida Business Committee

To:

Oneida Business Committee

From:

Tehassi tasi Hill, Chairman

Date:

April 3, 2025

Re:

Calling for an Emergency Oneida Business Committee meeting –
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

Per the Open Records Law 7.14-4. Emergency Meetings. Emergency meetings of
the Oneida Business Committee (OBC) shall be held upon at least twenty-four (24)
hours advance public notice unless, for good cause, such notice is impossible or
impractical.
In accordance with the above section, I am calling for an Emergency OBC meeting
to be held, Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. This meeting is to take formal
action regarding the absence of Councilman Marlon Skenandore.

Page 1 of 1

PO Box 365 • Oneida, WI 54155‐0365
oneida‐nsn.gov

Public Packet

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Memorandum
To:

Oneida Business Committee

From: Lisa Liggins, Secretary
Date: April 3, 2025
Re:

Adopt resolution entitled Withholding Pay - Oneida Business
Committee Council Member - Marlon Skenandore

Background
The Oneida Business Committee met on April 3, 2025, at the regularly

scheduled Business Committee Work Session to discuss the absence of
Councilman Marlon Skenandore.

The Oneida Business Committee reviewed and discussed the attached draft
resolution and correspondence and requested the Chairman to call an
emergency meeting to take formal action regarding the same.

The Chairman called an emergency meeting for 11:30 a.m. on April 3, 2025.
Requested Action
Adopt resolution entitled Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council
Member - Marlon Skenandore and approve the correspondence.

Page 1 of 1

Public Packet

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Oneida Nation
Post Office Box 365
Phone: (920)869-2214
Oneida, WI 54155

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BC Resolution # Leave this line blank
Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council Member - Marlon Skenandore
WHEREAS,

the Oneida Nation is a federally recognized Indian government and a treaty tribe
recognized by the laws of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS,

the Oneida General Tribal Council is the governing body of the Oneida Nation; and

WHEREAS,

the Oneida Business Committee has been delegated the authority of Article IV, Section 1,
of the Oneida Tribal Constitution by the Oneida General Tribal Council; and

WHEREAS,

members of the Oneida Business Committee are elected to office by the members for three
(3) year terms in accordance with the Constitution and the Election Law; and

WHEREAS,

the General Tribal Council has adopted three (3) actions which provide direction regarding
the expectations of members of the Oneida Business Committee –
 Position Descriptions setting responsibilities and expectations;
 Salary identifying compensation for carrying out responsibilities and expectations;
 Removal Law identifying how members can address issues of failure to meeting the
responsibilities and expectations; and

WHEREAS,

the position description for a Council Member identifies that he or she “must at all times act
in the best interests of the Oneida [Nation],” Position Description (1), and are required “to
keep themselves informed on the department’s problems and progress,” Position
Description (3); and

WHEREAS,

pursuant to Article III, Section 3 of the Tribal Constitution which provides that “Regular
meetings of the Business Committee may be established by resolution of the Business
Committee”, the Oneida Business Committee has adopted resolutions which set forth the
regular meeting and executive session discussion schedule for the Oneida Business
Committee at which each member is required to be present unless on approved travel, at
an approved meeting, or an pre-approved time off, Resolution # BC-11-13-24-K, Setting
the Oneida Business Committee Regular Meeting and Executive Session Discussion
Schedule; and

WHEREAS,

pursuant to Section 117.6. of the Oneida Business Committee Meetings law which provides
that the annual schedule for regular meetings of the Oneida Business Committee be
presented by the Secretary for approval by the Oneida Business Committee, OBC
November 13, 2024, meeting minutes, p. 12; and

Public Packet

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BC Resolution # _______
Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council Member - Marlon Skenandore
Page 2 of 3

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WHEREAS,

the Oneida Business Committee has adopted schedules each year for Work Sessions,
Nation Building Schedules among other regular activities, OBC November 13, 2024,
meeting minutes, p. 12; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore failed to be present at the Executive Session meeting
on March 25th and the Regular Session meeting on March 26th without notifying the Oneida
Business Committee of his absence; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore has failed to be present at the work session on March
6th without notifying the Oneida Business Committee of his absence: and

WHEREAS,

the Legislative Procedures Act creates a Legislative Operating Committee and delegates
duties and responsibilities to that entity which is made up of Council Members of the Oneida
Business Committee, Legislative Operating Committee, 1 O.C. 109.4; and

WHEREAS,

the Legislative Operating Committee has adopted meeting schedules as well as schedules
for Public Meetings to receive public comment on proposed legislation, community
meetings to receive input from members on subjects, work sessions to go over proposed
legislation with legal counsel, community work sessions to discuss specific issues on
legislation, among other meetings related to their duties under the Legislative Procedures
Act; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore failed to be present at the March 19th Legislative
Operating Committee meeting resulting in canceling that meeting because of a lack of
quorum caused by his unexcused absence; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore failed to be present at the April 2nd Legislative
Operating Committee meeting without providing notice of his absence; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore has failed to be present at drafting sessions of the
Legislative Operating Committee on March 25, 2025, regarding the draft Short Term Rental
Law; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore has failed to be present at community meetings of
the Legislative Operating Committee on March 19, 2025, regarding the Elder Protection
Law, the Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Law Amendments, and the Indian Preference in
Contracting Law Amendments; and

WHEREAS,

the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Legislative Operating Committee Chairman have
contacted Council Member Marlon Skenandore to identify when he will be returning to his
duties and have not received a specified date of return; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore has not requested a medical leave of absence and
has no accrued time available to cover his time out of the office; and

WHEREAS,

the Oneida Business Committee has agreed to utilizing the opportunity of meeting and
discussion, listening to others and expressing one’s own viewpoints as a method of coming
to one-mind regarding decision-making and failure to participate in this process as an
elected official leaves a voice out of the decision-making process and those ideas or
concerns that are an integral part of coming to agreement on an action; and

Public Packet

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BC Resolution # _______
Withholding Pay - Oneida Business Committee Council Member - Marlon Skenandore
Page 3 of 3

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WHEREAS,

the Oneida Business Committee has determined that the General Tribal Council did not
intend to provide a salary for Oneida Business Committee members who fail to be present
at meetings, work sessions, Legislative Operating Committee meetings, work meetings
and community meetings; and

WHEREAS,

the Oneida Business Committee determined that some action must be taken as elected
officials to uphold their responsibilities to the Nation; and

WHEREAS,

Council Member Marlon Skenandore has notified the Oneida Business Committee by email on April 3, 2025, that he agrees with the actions of the Oneida Business Committee
that he has not earned the salary for pay periods ending March 29th and April 5th; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, directs that the salary of Council Member Marlon Skenandore shall
be withheld for the pay period ending March 29, 2024, and for pay period ending April 5, 2024, as he failed
to meet his duties and responsibilities as an elected member of the Oneida Business Committee.

Public Packet

Marlon Skenandore, Council Member
[insert address]
[insert work email address]
[insert personal email address]
RE: Attendance

AF

Dear Mr. Skenandore:

T

April 3, 2025

The Oneida Business Committee met on April 3, 2025, at the regularly scheduled
Business Committee Work Session to discuss your ongoing absence from your duties
on the Oneida Business Committee. Since March 19, 2024, you have not appeared for
scheduled meetings of the Legislative Operating Committee and Oneida Business
Committee. You have also been absent from work meetings of the Legislative Operating
Committee.
In addition to the more formal meetings of the Oneida Business Committee and
Legislative Operating Committee, we also note that you have missed the following
meetings.
 State of the Tribes Leaders Breakfast appointment on March 18th.
 Crucial Conversations training which was scheduled specifically around BC on
March 21st and 24th with no notice given regarding your absence.
 Westwood 3rd grade Oneida Culture Presentation on March 21st. Your assistant
Fawn Billie was able to arrange for Brandon Yellowbird Stevens, Vice-Chairman
and Jonas Hill, Council Member to cover this event.
 GLIFC-Tribal Elder Food Box Program standing meeting on March 25th.
 Hunger Relief Federation monthly call on March 27th.
 Rapid Fire appointment on March 31st.
 Recycling and Solid Waste work meeting on March 31st.
 NFL Draft Updates appointment on March 31st.
 Legislative Operating Committee, Legislative Reference Office and Law Office
Probate Discussion appointment on April 1st.

D
R

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During this period of your absence Tehassi Hill, Chairman, Brandon YellowbirdStevens, Vice-Chairman, and Jameson Wilson, Council Member/Legislative Operating

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Public Packet

Committee Chairman, have contacted you regarding your attendance at meetings and
your lack of presence in the office. We have also attempted to provide coaching,
assistance, guidance and support to you before and during this time.
The Oneida Business Committee for this term has committed to discussion which
includes each of us speaking out a subject or issue, expressing our opinions, and
listening to each other to allow us as a body to formulate solutions with one-mind. This
is a time-consuming process, but all of us agree that better decisions are made when
we use our historical methods of governance processes. Your voice and ideas are
missing from this process which causes gaps in coming together with one-mind to
provide governance for the Oneida Nation and its members.

AF

T

We do not believe that the General Tribal Council’s action in identifying a salary for a
full-time member of the Oneida Business Committee applies if you are not present. As
such, we have adopted resolution # BC-04-03-25-A Withholding Pay – Oneida Business
Committee Council Member – Marlon Skenandore, which withholds pay for the two pay
periods you were not at work and did not have personal or vacation accrued to cover
the hours. (See attached.)
We remind you that the Oneida Nation does provide Employee Assistance Services that
are available should you need assistance. The Oneida Nation Employee Assistance
Program can be reached at (920)490-3706; if carrying the Nation’s health Insurance,
another option is Aurora Employee Assistance Program which can be reached at
(800)236-3231. In addition, if you do not feel you can return to work, please contact the
Human Resources Department to file a Leave of Absence and notify the Secretary of
your actions.
We regret that this action was taken; however, as elected officials we have a
responsibility to represent the membership, and we believe you must participate to carry
out that duty.

D
R

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Sincerely,

[insert signature block – 9 BC members]

Page 2 of 2

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aoneida_nation%3Ac2ede73b6c42f3b2. Public record. Not legal advice.