2009-02-19 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 February 19, 2009 back, and it's not their responsibility to keep it separate. They should post a notice when they will be cutting the grass, but unfortunately its very difficult because of the unpredictable weather in Hilo to determine when that will be. Director Fitzgerald apologized for anybody that is not being treated fairly. Everybody is our patron and should be treated fairly. Unfair treatment is unacceptable. That is a separate issue. Nobody should go to visit their loved ones and be treated badly. He will look into matter of being treated fairly. As far as if one grave has (2) cans and the other has (6), he is aware that there is an investigation on that issue, he has seen a complaint and he or Deputy Director Honma will respond to the complainant and the Committee. There are certain rules we must follow because of the mowers. The plastic doesn't quite fit into the normal maintenance plan that workers have at that site. The role of P &R is to serve the community. Rena Cortez asked how employees mow over the stones when it's above the ground. Chairwoman Fox responded that the clearance on their mower is so they don't hit the stone. If you have cans with flowers, they can throw them away. Rena Cortez said there have been different employees there the last few weeks and when they mow, they just move it over. Carol Brulee- Wilson asked if there are rules posted at the cemetery and the ladies responded that the rules are posted near the spigots. Giesla McGuire shared that her biggest problem is that there are different rules for different graves. She knows that for (4) months you can put as much as you would like and looks at the date on the gravestone. Some graves are full, some have plastic flowers and items left for a long time. She also knows that flags and windmills aren't allowed, but sees a lot, but when she puts a windmill up, its removed. The people who are there now are fine and she hopes they stay there. Rena Cortez said it's so sad to lose a loved one and have all these problems when visiting their grave. Chairwoman Fox shared that she's not trying to belittle their problems, but other veteran cemeteries are stricter. She apologized and said we're trying to fix the problems and thanked them for sharing. Mr. Minoru Hanato asked if staff posts the cutting dates at the cemetery. Mr. Nishimoto responded that dates are not posted, because Hilo's weather is so unpredictable it's hard to post a date. Mr. Hanato recommended trying to post cutting date so families can put the flowers up after its cut.