Message from the Chief

Dear Citizens and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that the Penobscot Nation employees will be returning to tribal offices to provide services during regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm) as set forth below beginning Monday, March 21st.   In consultation with our Health Department staff and federal partners, we determined that we can safely begin implementing our return to workplace plan.  While we are encouraged that covid cases numbers are down, we must remain diligent in following established protocols which are set forth below along with specific departmental information.

Departments

Public Safety: Public Safety will continue to provide regular service operations. For service or questions please call 207-817-7358.

Housing Department:

• All staff will be in the office for regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm).
• In person meetings will be conducted by appointment only.
• Home inspections will resume.
• Renters are reminded to report any problems by calling the Housing office at 817-7370.
• For service or questions please also call the Housing office.

Penobscot Nation Health Department: 

• Emergency triage approaches will cease.
• All remote staff will return and normal in person operations and services will start for all programs.
• Telehealth visits will continue to be an option.
• The fitness center will resume operations.
• For service or questions please call 207-817-7400.

Social Services:

• All staff will be present in office for regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm).
• In person meetings will be done by appointment only.
• The day care and youth programs both will re-open on Monday, April 4^th.
• The food pantry will re-open to the public beginning Friday, March 25^th. The protocol will be one family at a time with masks and gloves to be worn while picking out food. Delivery services will cease at that time.  

** we are continuing to assess the return to normal in person senior meal operations.  People’s health and safety are our primary focus, and we will have more information on this service very soon.  All deliveries for elders will continue.

Finance Department:

• All staff will be in the office for regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm).
• In-person meetings will be conducted by appointment only.
• If you need to drop off paperwork, it can be placed in the brown drop box outside the entrance to Finance.
• For service or questions please call 207-817-7311.

Penobscot Nation Judicial Center: 

• Tribal Court will resume regular business hours and will be utilizing technology for some services as well as in-person by appointment only for other programs.
• For service or questions please call 207-827-3415.

Education/Career Development:

• The computer lab and library will open by appointment only beginning Monday, April 4^th.
• All students and program participants meetings will be by appointment only.

Tribal Clerk: 

• Resuming regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm).
• By appointment only.
• For service or questions please call 207-817-7351.

Front Desk: 

• Resuming regular business hours (8am to 4:30pm).
• All questions about appointments should be directed to the front desk by calling 207-817-7303, and you will be transferred to the appropriate department.

Protocols

• Anyone exhibiting any symptoms shall not to be present in the workplace until medically cleared (this includes anyone with a negative home test but still exhibiting symptoms).
• Masks must continue to be worn at all times within tribal facilities.
• The public must make an appointment to be present in tribal facilities.
• In person group meetings and public gatherings will be very limited and require pre-approval from Directors and the Chief’s office in consultation with the Health department.
• The ban on workplace travel is lifted as of April 1st and will be evaluated by Directors on a case by case basis.
• Anyone traveling for work or other reasons must provide a negative test before returning to work.

*Exposure to Covid 19: Any employee who has been exposed and determined to be a close contact by the Health Department shall quarantine as follows:

• Unvaccinated: 10 days with negative test and no symptoms
• Vaccinated without booster: 5 days with negative test and no symptoms
• Vaccinated with booster: 3-5 days with negative test and no symptoms

*Testing positive for Covid 19: Any employee testing positive for covid 19 shall quarantine as follows.

• Unvaccinated: 10 days with a negative test and no symptoms
• Vaccinated with or without booster: 5 days isolation and a negative test and no symptoms.

I want to thank everyone and let you know how proud I am for your patience, commitment and diligence during what has been an extremely difficult and long period of time.  We are all excited to finally be moving back towards normal operations. As we continue to work on programs and relief efforts during the recovery phase of this pandemic, we will be sure to get the information to you as soon as possible.  I understand how much stress this pandemic has caused us all.  Hopefully, the positive trends continue, and in the coming weeks we can safely enjoy more social interactions within our community. 

Thanks again for all your efforts and work that has kept our community safe and provided much needed services to our people.   I thank you for your attention to this letter and hope you and your families are well.   I will see you soon.

In Brotherhood,

Kirk E. Francis, Chief.