Council member forced out on leave

A tribal council member facing ethics charges amid controversy and backlash from tribal members was placed on administrative leave last week under an “Emergency Action Order.”

Andrea George, elected to represent the Nespelem District of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation last summer, was placed on paid leave by the Executive Committee of the Colville Business Council, of which she is one of 14 representatives voted in by members.

The Executive Committee issued the Emergency Action Order “for a situation that poses an immediate risk to the health, safety, welfare of Colville Tribal member, and/or threatens to disrupt operations of Tribal government,” according to a press release from the tribes.

The action was taken Feb. 7.

The press release cited the CBC’s authority to do so under Resolution 2018-481, which states that the Executive Committee can declare such emergencies “if there is not a time for the CBC to respond effectively through its committee processes.”

George was the subject of undisclosed ethics charges considered by the council’s Rules Committee at a Feb. 1 meeting as protesters outside the building chanted support for George.

Under the resolution cited, the Executive Committee must prepare a recommendation for the full council’s consideration. It normally meets at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month, which will be Feb. 21.