Tribe to vote on buying building

HOGANSBURG — For most managers, 200 employees scattered across 12 buildings is a communication nightmare.

For Jeffrey C. Whelan's, it's everyday life, although things may change if a tribal referendum passes later this month.

Mr. Whelan is the local Social Services commissioner and director of Human Services for the St. Regis Mohawk tribe, overseeing programs ranging from daycare to services for the disabled. The division, which is one of the largest in the tribe, does not have a central location and the five main managers Mr. Whelan relies on are scattered across the reservation.

"Right now, we do a lot of phone calls, a lot of e-mails," Mr. Whelan said. "If they're in a meeting, or sometimes we need signatures, we have to track them down."

The division is hoping that tribal members pass the referendum and allow the tribal administration to purchase the Burning Sky building; the former home of an office supply company that has been empty for several years. The building, located at 358 state Route 37, could have a training room and offices for about 15 of the division's top management.

The purchase of the building, if approved, is just the first step in Mr. Whelan's vision. It will cost $250,000.

"Our short-term goal is to have a place where upper management can be under the same roof," he said. "The long-term goal is that we would like to see all of our programs, minus our six 24-hour services, under one roof."

That goal is a way off. The tribe has spent about a year looking at empty buildings on the reservation to house the management office. Tribal officials have considered at least five other buildings over the past 12 months.

"All of these (other buildings) are possible for us; the door hasn't been shut on any of them," Mr. Whelan said.

Already this year, the division has acquired five more programs, including day care, domestic violence and vocational rehabilitation. Next year, it will get two more, according to Mr. Whelan.

The referendum is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the tribal community building. There are two questions being posed to its members; whether members support the purchase of the Burning Sky building and whether they support the tribe pursuing off-reservation gaming in the Catskills. A recent reversal of public policy made it possible for the tribe to operate a casino hundreds of miles away from its territory.

The tribe will hold a public meeting about the two questions from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the community building.