MINUTES for 2023-05-24 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 24,2023 Page 4 b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. 2) Tom made a motion to recommend that County enter into an agreement with State Parks for assistance in closing the gate to the cemetery. The State currently closes the gate to Kekaha Kai State Park. Can they walk across the street to close the gate to the cemetery as well. a. Doug seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed. b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. 3) The current location of the restrooms is up a hill from the pavilion, making it difficult for disabled and elderly to get to the restrooms. The WHVCDEA has been renting a portable restroom,placed behind the pavilion. Tom made a motion to have Parks & Rec permanently take over the payments for the portable toilets. a. Vice-Chair Brinkley seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed. b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. Docent Program Vice-Chair Brinkley explained there's a docent program at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. They assist in opening gates for visitors and helping to locate graves at the cemetery. The next meeting will be on June 3rd at the cemetery and are welcoming anyone that is interested. REPORT ON CEMETERIES Hawaii Island—East Hawaii Representative—Kelcie Figueira —OVS Kelcie did not attend this meeting. Cemetery Audit Update Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Michelle Hiraishi. P&R Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi announced Jaye Dempsey is now in charge of our Veterans Cemeteries on our island for P&R. He has been a part of the entire audit process and met with the auditors. We received a preliminary audit report but not the final report at this time. P&R will be meeting internally to go over the preliminary report and see what we can take care of and prepare a formal respond to the VA. We expect to get the final report about mid-March. Michelle will provide another update at the next meeting. ANNODUNCEMENTS Vice-Chair Brinkley announced the following upcoming events: