HOLLYWOOD — Tribal Council passed two ordinances Nov. 8 that will give the Seminole Tribe control over the business and residential leasing of its land through the Helping Expedite and Advance Tribal Home Ownership Act of 2012, or HEARTH Act.

Signed into law by President Barack Obama, the HEARTH Act allows Indian Tribes to enter into certain leases without approval from the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. It will help expedite the leasing process, according to the Tribe’s General Counsel Office.

The Tribe will now be required to draft Tribal regulations for leases in compliance with federal law.

In other news, Council voted to increase the Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission members’ monthly meeting stipend from $2,000 to $3,000 after tabling the resolution at the Oct. 11 Council meeting.

Brighton Councilman Andrew J. Bowers Jr. suggested a $1,000 increase as opposed to the original $2,000 the commission requested. It passed 5-0.

Council also approved a license plate reader supplement for retrieving information scanned from vehicle license plates for the Seminole Police Department; permanent cable and telephone service lines for Big Cypress’ Elder Services and Herman L. Osceola Gymnasium; and audits and tax return work for Seminole Gaming enterprises and Seminole Tribe of Florida for fiscal year 2013.

Five commissioners were also appointed to the Seminole Water Commission: Josephine Motlow North for Hollywood and Linda Billie for Big Cypress, who will serve two-year terms; and Joseph Scott Kippenberger for

Hollywood, Wovoka Tommie for Big Cypress and Amos Tiger for Brighton, who will serve three-year terms.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13 at the Brighton Veteran’s Building.