Fort Peck tribal leaders managed to have a full board meeting in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
Councilman Dana Buckles was selected by the TEB to serve as the acting Chairman for the September 28-29, 2020 meeting.
Chairman Floyd Azure and Vice Chairman Charles Headdress are in quarantine. It’s not known if they were exposed to COVID-19, as of press time.
TEB members Jestin Dupree, Tom Escarcega, and Emerson Young were also absent from the meeting.
Before selecting Buckles to Chair the meeting, the TEB consulted tribal attorney Majel Russell on the legality of this.
It is okay, Russell said, but there is nothing in the Tribal Constitution to deal with this kind of situation.
To change this, a referendum must be held during a regular or special election.
Tribal leaders spend a majority of the afternoon session on the phone with Russell. When the call was finished the council recessed for the day and will resume their meeting.
Also on the agenda is the approval of the Tribal Budget 2021.
More information will be available as this story develops.
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