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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0476.000 2012-2014 Jv_ s hk, E. Crawford William P. Kenoi Nancy \�\l/. Y Mayor • g�.,t ; Director Deanna S. Sako Deputy Director • 7rE OF............... County of Hawaii Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 (808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569 7") W n 7.1 CD -i:7 October 17, 2013 4 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair and Members of the Hawai`i County Council .o Hawai`i County Council 25 Aupuni Street LA) — Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Re: Resolution Accepting Donation Enclosed is a resolution accepting a monetary donation of$25 from Robert and Patrice Tomaso, P.O. Box 187, Claverack, NY 12513. This money will be given to the Hawai`i Fire Department's Discovery Harbour volunteer fire company in honor of Robert and Patrice Tomaso's late nephew, Joe Maben. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call Tracey Brosnahan from the Hawai`i Fire Department at 932-2921. E'(A141–ot Nancy Crawford Director of Finance Enc. cc: Fire (ee5, to– V6) Comm. � 7� Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Ref. To:eie=e1.4.nC21 Ref. Date OCT 1 7 2013 Form #: B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Fire DATE: 10/10/13 STAFF CONTACT: Tracey Brosnahan PHONE: 932-2921 A. REQUEST: Prepare a resolution to accept a monetary donation of$25 from Robert and Patrice Tomaso. Please send a letter of appreciation to: Robert & Patrice Tomaso P.O. Box 187 Claverack, NY 12513 B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): This donation was given to the Discovery Harbour volunteer fire company in honor of Robert & Patrice Tomaso's late nephew, Joe Maben. Joe was a volunteer firefighter from Hudson, New York. The Hawaii Fire Department currently has 25 volunteer fire companies. Volunteer company 11C Discovery Harbour is located in Naalehu and has 5 volunteers. SIGNED: DATE: 4` ? Department Head Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department September 7, 2013 C/o T.James P.O. Box 706 Na alehu, HI 96772 Dear Discovery Harbour Fire Department Members: My name is Patrice Tomaso and I live in a small town in upstate New York. My beloved nephew,joe Maben was a volunteer firefighter.While playing in the New York State Firemen's' softball tournament on Saturday, August 3rd 2013 he collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. He was just 36 years old. (Joe had Type I Diabetes.) His passing also came on the heals of the passing of my husband's brother Lou (55) just three weeks prior to Joe's passing. Their passing so close to each other has taken our breath away. Joe loved being a volunteer firefighter and became a junior firefighter at the age of 14. Wherever he travelled he always sought out the local fire departments and would stop by to take photos and to introduce himself. When Joe died he left behind a community of broken hearts. Much loved it was heartwarming to hear how many lives he touched in such a short time. He was like a son to me and my husband, his Uncle Bob (his hero) and the grief that we feel from his passing has been felt so deeply that we are having a difficult time trying to find our way out of such brutal darkness. His fire department organized the most honorable and huge tribute to Joe in the form of a Firematic funeral. Never has there been a funeral of this type so large and filled with so much love and respect. The city of Hudson, where he grew up and resided was shut down so that Joe could be carried on the fire truck past the fire houses and his childhood home to his final resting place. Firemen and officials lined the streets as his funeral procession came through. (I have enclosed one of the photos from the funeral.) I learned that there is camaraderie within the fire department that is so unique and one that I have never witnessed with any other organization. The support that Joe's fellow fire fighters have given us and his family has been truly amazing and very much appreciated.Joe's fellow firefighters looked out for him and now they look after us. It is my belief that in order to try to find one's way out of such unspeakable grief you must do for others. And Joe always extended himself to everyone and anyone with whom he came in contact. In that vein I have enclosed a check for your fire department for S25 to use in whatever way You see fit. It is not much but my goal is to give$25 to one or two volunteer fire departments a month in every state until I have given to one fire department in all 50 states. I figure that it will take me a bit less than two years to accomplish that goal. Then after reaching the initial goal I will begin all over again selecting one or two volunteer fire department a month until the day I die. I only ask for one thing in return. Could you take a photo of some (or all) of your fire fighters (even with your Dalmatian or a department dog if you have one,) in front of your fire department building and/or truck It doesn't have to be anything fancy.Just take it with your camera on your phone and email it to me at _;m I plan to put together an album with photos from across the country and eventually present it to Joe's fire department. And I would love to see the faces of the volunteer firemen and women from all over the country. Firefighters are truly unique, brave, caring and selfless individuals. May you always get the respect and gratitude you so richly deserve. Sincerely, Patrice L. Tomaso Claverack, NY VALERIE T. POINDEXTER ",;1 o`" � KAREN EOFF• Chairperson : -• 1d�%. BRENDA FORD . '.'^-`''/, DRU KANUHA •GREGGOR ILAGAN -' ' ZENDO KERN Vice Chair ?4 ::0. DENNIS"FRESH"ONISHI �r! �' MARGARET WILLE J YOSHIMOTO HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai`i Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 October 17, 2013 J Yoshimoto, Council Chair Hawai`i County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 RE: Resolution No. 196-13 : A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Monetary Donation of$25 to the Hawai`i Fire Department. Pursuant to Section 2(g) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of Hawai`i, this written request is submitted with my approval that the above-referenced matter be waived from the Committee on Finance to the full Council for immediate action. In reviewing this matter, timely approval is crucial. It is therefore advantageous that approval is granted and the matter be placed onto the next Council agenda for review. However, in the event this request is denied, for whatever reason, I understand the matter shall be referred to the Committee on Finance for placement on its future agenda. Sincerely, ..,11:e?'1:),47-,- (lf s,../._-3(-,-.(--Lci,---J,-):74'1------ ----77. Valerie T. Poindexter, Chair Committee on Finance Approved/Date/Waive to Council: Disapproved/Date/Refer to FC: Iffi‘d (7:7—f---t Yoshimoto, Council Chair - J Yoshimoto, Chairperson Hawai`i County Council Hawai`i County Council VP/sc Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer