Pleasant Point financial state causes layoffs

Reported financial difficulties for the Passamaquoddy tribal government at Pleasant Point have led to a number of layoffs of personnel, with more possibly being considered. Some specific information, though, is not available, as tribal officials say the actions are internal tribal matters that do not fall under any of the state or federal freedom of access laws.

At a tribal council meeting on January 6, councillors, in a divided decision, reportedly voted to relieve Chief Rick Phillips-Doyle of his duties as chief administrator of the tribal government, but he would still retain his position as the elected tribal chief. Concerns were raised about overspending in certain tribal government programs, and the council reportedly voted to hire other staff to perform his duties. During the meeting, questions were raised about the legality of the action, according to tribal members at the meeting.

Non-tribal media are not permitted to attend the meetings, and Doyle, Lt. Governor Thomas Lewey and several tribal councillors were unavailable for comment. Councillor Ed Bassett stated that the actions at the meeting are an internal tribal matter and that it's not a high priority of the council to inform the non-Native community of their actions. "We need to inform our own community first." Councillor Fred Moore III said he could neither confirm nor deny the reported action by the council.

Dana Altvater, the project manager in the tribal government's planning department, says he was laid off as of December 30 but understands that he will be called back in several weeks. Other staff also have reportedly been laid off.

Last month, the emergency dispatch service at Pleasant Point was ended and the dispatchers were let go. The dispatch operation had served the community for 28 years. Three full-time and one part-time dispatchers, along with five part-time reserves, were relieved of their positions, with the transition in the dispatching service to the Washington County Regional Communications Center, based in Machias, effective January 1. "Any community in the county has the right to use that service," says Joey Barnes, who was serving as Pleasant Point police chief until he resigned at the end of last month. "It's just basically phone line changes." He points out that Pleasant Point residents will need to remember to no longer call 853-2551 for emergencies but instead call 911. No one will answer at the 853-2551 number unless an officer happens to be at the police station.

Tribal councillors held an informal meeting with members of the Pleasant Point community on January 2 to discuss the tribe's financial problems and the layoffs. About 20 tribal members attended, but any members of the media were asked to leave the meeting. Tribal councillor Denise Altvater says the council plans to call more such meetings in the future to present information to the community.