MINUTES for 08-28-2018 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 4 Chair Doolittle asked is there any word on what's going to happen with the money? Roddy Sueoka said it probably won't go anywhere. George Sheridan asked can they use part of the money to put in a fire hydrant. Roddy Sueoka explained they are working on that now, they are working to get everything approved. He will check on the status of this project. Chair Doolittle would like to encourage any member to submit at the next meeting to re- define the general purpose of the committee so that we can advocate for the County Council and Mayor to make a change. At least defining that we'll be allowed to comment on all aspects of veterans' well-being, anything that has to do with veterans that we should be commenting on. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson stated she like Chair Doolittle's statement of revising the purpose for the Veterans Advisory Committee and asked if appropriate to submit to the Chair examples of wording. Chair Doolittle confirmed yes, please submit to him and it can be discussed at the next meeting. (*Previously discussed topic of the issues with trying to get an identification card. Please see minutes from previous meeting May 22, 2018.) Chair Doolittle asked Roddy Sueoka about the Veterans Treatment Court system, are they still funding it? Roddy Sueoka said the last thing he heard was that they aren't funding it. Deputy Director Messina stated that Veterans Treatment Court and Drug Court has folded into each other. Tulsi Gabbard is working on getting some Federal Funds for Veterans Treatment Court. Hawaii is also putting together some bills for funding for next year that's going to go through legislature starting in January. He also added that on Thursday, (August 30) at 3:00 pm one of the veterans is graduating from Veterans Treatment Court and it would be great if everyone could support him. Right now the goal is to write a legislative package not only for our island but all the islands. Chair Doolittle asked Maurice, doesn't it make sense to fold the Veterans Treatment Court into the Drug Court? Deputy Director Messina replied no, it is completely different. When the drug court guys talk to the judge, they don't mind talking to each other. When Veterans go in, they don't want to talk in front of other people besides other veterans. If you can keep it separate, it benefits the Veterans.