2009-02-19 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 February 19, 2009 Absent Don Bennett Richard Highley Wendall Kekumu Gilbert Sampaia Norman Stahl John Young Call to Order Chairwoman Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm - (9) members present. She introduced P &R Director Bob Fitzgerald and Deputy Director Clayton Honma. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Veterans Cemetery II - Concerns - Unfair Rule Enforcement Gisela McGuire and Rena Cortez shared concerns regarding Veterans Cemetery II. Their husbands are buried there and they feel that they follow the rules diligently, but cemetery employees make their own rules. Employees have different rules for different graves. Gisela shared that the only time she had more than (4) plants on her husband's grave, was during Christmas time when she added a poinsettia plant. She knew they would throw everything away that was illegal on December 7th. She didn't have anything illegal, nothing over 3' tall and nothing breakable. To her horror when she got to the grave there was absolutely nothing on it, but when she looked around there were a lot of graves where everything was gone, but there were plenty with the same poinsettia and plants that were removed from her husband's grave. She called to complain and was told she couldn't put anything on there unless it's in a coffee can and then was told plastic pots are fine. Then somebody said you can only put (2) pots there, but in the rules it states (4). Nothing was artificial and not over 2' high. They are very concerned. Employees throw everything away. Gisela had miniature roses on the grave which are good because they stay low and don't grow over 2 feet. They don't know what to do, staff aren't very nice when they ask questions, in fact they are very nasty. Rena Cortez added that she was told only (2) cans are allowed and both have to be close to the headstone, but there are other graves that have (4) and (6) cans and are set all over the grave. Would like to know how come rules aren't the same for everyone. Everything is taken off of their graves without notice and when she called, employees told her to come down and take a look, she found two of her empty pots, but no flowers. Her husband was a pilot and her grandson made a little bi -plane at school and left it on the grave which was removed. He was upset. Employee told her she could look through the (5) big full rubbish bags to find items. Chairwoman Fox explained that the reason employees don't like items like the bi -plane left on the grave is because when they cut the grass they cut over the top of the stones and if they have to pick up every little piece, it takes time. They usually put it in a bag in the