MINUTES for 2021-08-24 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 3 Council. However, I know that we've asked for it to be waived at the two readings, but we had not received word back yet that that's been approved. Deputy Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto: Yes, Michelle that is correct. There's two more readings before the Council and just for discussion purposes too. Although the Council members did not specifically ask questions about the seven at large members. This might be a good opportunity for the committee to indicate as such or not include a provision that a majority of the members shall be a veteran of the military or something of that effect. When I was looking up the State Veterans Advisory Committee, they have a provision that majority shall be veterans. This particular provision could theoretically result in a majority of the membership not being veterans, but I thought this committee was good with that as long as the are committed to veterans' issues and causes. But I just wanted to make sure since we're having this discussion. Chair Doolittle: I think it's certainly appropriate that a majority of the members are veterans, but I don't know that we want to make a hard and fast rule about that. Anybody else have a comment about that? Opinions? Isaac Nahakuelua: Can we put somewhere in there, I don't know if its too late, but maybe half or three quarters of the committee has to be veterans or has to have served in the armed services with an honorable discharge and the other quarter doesn't have to be veterans. That would ensure some degree or an amount of veterans on the committee. Chair Doolittle: Just to be clear, J, would any changes in any of that require it to go back to committee? DCC Yoshimoto: No, it wouldn't have to go back to committee. It could still be amended at the first reading or second reading. I just thought it was something to discuss because we have this meeting today. It was just something discussed internally and when I say internally... Chair Doolittle: and we still have an even number of members, isn't that correct? DCC Yoshimoto: Correct, I believe it comes out to 14. Is it 12? I'm sorry, 12. Chair Doolittle: If we state that we need a majority veterans, that would mean seven would have to be veterans. It would be my preference; I think maybe we should do that. Anyone else? Lewis: I would also say, I thought we had that in there. Before we thought no members, before they all had to be veterans. But I think it's important to have the majority veterans. If we can amend it without having to go back to the beginning it would be really nice. Thank you for bringing it up. Chair Doolittle: Marcie, you have something to say?