To be honest, Marie Stone dominated all of last week as the Tribe and the Tribal Council staff awaited the Council’s decision on her future as a treasurer. Well, as you know, Marie is complicated. The circumstances surrounding her “final straw moment” brought things to a head.
Marie’s downfall is of her own making.
Here’s the short version of what happened: The TA asked for the audit needed to facilitate the housing grant that she had been holding up for 10 months. The finance staff and the accountant completed it but Marie never gave it to the TA. He found out. Asked her for it, she went off in a scathing email to the TA. The header: RESIGNATION. It was laced with curses…the most potent was “mother fucker.” Marie finally went too far. We won’t go into detail, but let’s just say the majority of the Council said
” She’s gut ta go.”
The Wednesday meeting (Marie was absent) was the start of the effort and after the meeting, the Council went into executive session. Thursday morning she was locked out of the building. She was let in, got into her office. Grabbed some papers and left. Friday (she was absent again despite a demand that she show up) was the day to decide next steps.
Thank God It was Friday
So on Friday, the Tribal Council went through a lengthy strategic planning session which we will discuss later….and we have to say the council conducted itself like a deliberative body. Absent were the nasty snide remarks and unnecessary comments that dominate the meetings. Instead, they actually collaborated and joked even when they disagreed. You can guess why.
Marie was put on administrative leave without pay for two weeks but that does not appear to be the end of the story.
Stay tuned.
