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GTC convenes special meeting

General

The Oneida General Tribal Council (GTC) convened a special meeting at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center on Monday, March 19. There were 1,618 council members in attendance for the agenda that included a carry-over item from the Jan. 28, 2018, Annual GTC Meeting as well as new items.

The first agenda item addressed was Accept the 2018 Annual Land Acquisition report which was a carry-over item from the Jan. 28 meeting. During the discussion GTC member Mary Graves made an amendment directing the Oneida Land Commission to bring a plan to the 2018 Semi-Annual meeting for the development of an LLC for the purpose of developing and building apartments, condos, or townhouses that are one, two, and three bedrooms in size. After some discussion the agenda item and amendment was accepted and passed by show of hands.

The GTC then heard presentations pertaining to the Treasurer’s report regarding financial position, status, and needs of Oneida Airport Hotel Corporation (OAHC). The OAHC and a representative from Aimbridge, their management company, were present to answer questions regarding the financial and operations updates for the Radisson and Wingate Hotels. One of the hot topics that led to some lengthy discussion was the 33 rooms that have been unavailable for customer use at the Radisson since 2013.

The reasons given for the rooms still being out of service include the decision-making process of the previous hotel board and management, the rooms were not up to Radisson standards, and the lack of funds across this five year period to renovate them. The financial updates for the hotels eventually led to an amendment by Nancy Skenandore for a review of the completed, unredacted audits for the past five years on the Oneida Airport Hotel Corporation to be brought back to GTC in 60 days. The motion carried by show of hands. The main motion to accept the Treasurer’s report on OAHC also carried by show of hands.

The final agenda item entertained by the GTC was to accept the Treasurer’s report regarding the financial position, status, and needs of the Oneida Golf Enterprise Corporation. Thornberry Creek at Oneida Chief Operating Officer Josh Doxtator addressed the GTC and provided an update on the facility’s financial status and upcoming 2018 LPGA Classic.

Discussion on the Oneida Golf Enterprise topic led Nancy Barton to motion that documentation, information, resolution, and contract information about gaming restrictions and property taxes for Thornberry Creek at Oneida’s golf course be brought back to GTC at the 2018 semi-annual meeting in July. The motion carried by show of hands.

The GTC then voted by hand count to accept the Treasurer’s report regarding the Oneida Golf Enterprise Corporation and to recess the Special GTC Meeting for sixty days and to continue the next meeting where this one left off. The meeting was then adjourned at 9:45 p.m.