GINA B. GOOD / PVT Paula Elefante, treasurer of the Pahrump Powwow, stood up to intense questioning about financial accounting for the event during the town board meeting. The board declined Elefante's request for $6,000 and by the end of the evening, she was in tears. RELATED STORY Two special meetings address Powwow funds Advertisement

Wow, it was pow! as Paula Elefante, treasurer for the Pahrump Powwow, took a beating for not following through on required financial reconciliations for last year's powwow.

She added fuel to the fire by coming to the town for a last minute bailout for this year's event, which is next week, Nov. 20-22.

The board, lead by Vice Chairman Bill Dolan and Clerk Vicky Parker, let Elefante know in no uncertain terms that her behavior was not acceptable.

Elefante's request for $6,000 for expenses the town has normally covered in the past was not granted.

The board told her to follow protocol by requesting the funds from the Pahrump Tourism and Convention Council (PTCC). Funds come from room taxes, which are overseen by the PTCC before it comes to the board for approval.

Member Mike Darby was Elefante's only sympathizer on the board, asking his peers, "Are we going to publicly flog her, or are we going to have the event?"

"I don't like to wait until the 13th hour," said Dolan. "We have policies and procedures in place to make things equal for everybody."

Paula Glidden, who chairs the PTCC said, "We have been asking Ms. Elefante for the information for six months. We have been reminding her. No one came to us."

Glidden also said organizations approach the PTCC six to 12 months ahead of planned events with their requests.

PTCC member Kelly Buffi reminded the board that last year when the tourism advisory board granted money to the powwow, it was at a special meeting. "Paula did contact me to be on the September agenda. I spoke with her at that time. I didn't hear back from her in time for her to be on the agenda."

Agendas must be posted for the public three days before the meeting, not counting the day of the meeting, holidays or weekends.

"A big part of this," continued Buffi, "is that we never received any documentation from last year's event. We need to know how prior money has been spent. How do we know if an event has grown without documentation?"

PTCC member Tim Lockinger said, "This is a continuing problem with the powwow. They need to submit the receipts."

Elefante admitted she was at fault, but after her request for funds was denied, she vowed to still have the event.

Rooms at local hotels are booked by tourists coming from near and far, vendors are committed from many areas and Native American dancers and drummers are coming from farflung reservations and communities.

Elefante said people from Holland, Finland and Canada will attend.

During public comment just before the close of the meeting, many residents spoke in favor of funding the powwow, including Henry Amaya, vice president of the Pahrump Powwow committee. "I am very disappointed he said."

Harley Kulkin said, in part, "You should have given them money with contingencies. This is a public event that has a terrific turnout."

Donna Cox said, "The powwow is the best thing this town has." She said the board's decision to deny funds "is going to bite you in the butt."

Directly after the conclusion of the town board meeting, Chairman Nicole Shupp as well as Dolan and Parker said they support funding the powwow. "It just has to be done the right way," said Parker. Dolan added that he attends the powwow each year.

The Pahrump Powwow is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Admission to the powwow is free of charge, but Elefante said this year donations are more important than ever. Dolan said he will be generous as usual with his donation.