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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 2022-02-23 FINALVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m. Zoom Video Conferencing and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Members Michael Doolittle Isaac Nahakuelua Marcia Brinkley Debra Lewis George Sheridan John Hiduchick-Nakayama Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Minoru Hanato Antonio Gaspar Guests Nicole Gray, Office of US Representative Kai Kahele Wendy Schwartz, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Ex-Officio (Hilo) Michelle Hiraishi, Deputy Director P&R Kelcie Figueira, Office of Veterans Services Also Present (Hilo) J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Brittany Iyo, Secretary Absent Brian Harrington Douglas Gora Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 10:04 am. Quorum met with eight members present, (Mrs. Debra Lewis was a few minutes late). STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC There were none. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES Chair Doolittle introduced the minutes from the last meeting of November 30, 2021. Vice -Chair Marcia Brinkley made a motion to accept the minutes as is. George Sheridan seconded the motion. Eight ayes. Minutes accepted. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS Letter from Raymond Welch RE: DAV Membership on Committee Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and welcomed comments. Vice Chair Brinkley: made a couple remarks; as a member of the committee, she speaks only for herself and not for anyone else. She is no longer a member of DAV and has never tried to represent DAV. She disagrees with the statement that commissioned officers of the public health services and commissioned officers of NOAA are not veterans. There are several definitions that the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to determine who is a veteran. His last concern was a non -veteran would be in control of the committee and would try to move the committee away from its stated purpose. She didn't feel was correct because there are many governing bodies for the boards and commissions, and whoever may try to do that would be removed by the Mayor or County Council. Chair Doolittle agreed and asked if there was anything that needed to be done legally to address the concerns of Mr. Welch. Assistant Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto agreed that the comments made were accurate and there is no further action necessary. Discussion closed. Hidden Heroes Cities and Counties Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Marcia. Vice Chair Brinkley announced that guest speaker Ilihia Gionson was not able to make it to the meeting, so we'll continue this topic at the next meeting. Veterans Memorials — Kalakaua Park Chair Doolittle announced the topic and deferred to Marcia. Vice -Chair Brinkley wanted to bring awareness to the committee regarding the memorial at the Kaldkaua Park. The memorial is deteriorating and has become a homeless hang out area. P&R Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi stated that we'll have our Park Maintenance staff do an assessment of the memorial and repair what they can. Vice Chair Brinkley also mentioned that maybe there would be veterans' groups or civic groups that would be willing to help upkeep the memorials. The committee will continue to work on getting a list of all veterans' memorials and groups to help maintain them. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 3 State/Federal Funding for Cemeteries Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked for comments. Kelsie Figueira was in contact with Office of Veterans Services Colonel Ron Han and State funding can be shared with the County but would have to work directly with County administration. Capital Improvement Projects require match of State and Federal funding. Chair Doolittle asked how the County cemeteries are funded and how funds are allocated. Nicole Gray explained she also spoke to Ron Han and federal money is specifically for land purchase and builds. Maintenance is County and that should be for all the Counties and County Veterans Cemeteries. She also offered that PTA might be available to assist with (volunteer) projects for maintenance of veterans' memorials. Brittany Iyo and Deputy Hiraishi agreed and added the cemeteries maintenance budget comes directly from the department's operating budget. Cemeteries have their own accounts but overall comes from the County's operating budget. John Hiduchick-Nakayama made a motion to create an ad -hoc committee with the purpose of fact finding for the entire committee with respect to the cemeteries and veterans memorials, visiting each and report back to the committee. An ad -hoc committee be formed on each side of the island, one for East Hawaii and one for West Hawaii Veterans Cemeteries. John will lead the East Hawaii group which will include: Laurie Soares, Isaac Nahakuelua, and George Sheridan. Marcia Brinkley will lead the West Hawaii group and will include: Minoru Hanato and Antonio Gaspar. Vice Chair Brinkley seconded the motion. All (eight) ayes. Motion passed. `Debra Lewis joined meeting after the vote. Military Honors at Funerals (Varying Branches of Service) Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked for comments. Minoru Hanato explained that the volunteer groups are taking care of military honors at funerals. They will continue to assist families with requests for honors at funerals. Discussion closed. NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 4 Chair Doolittle asked for nominations of officer for Chair and Vice -Chair. Debra Lewis nominates Michael Doolittle for Chair and Marcia Brinkley for Vice -Chair. Sheridan seconded the nominations. Chair Doolittle asked for any other nominations. There were none. Seven ayes, nominations confirmed as: Chair: Michael Doolittle Vice -Chair: Marcia Brinkley Chair Dolittle thanked the committee for their vote of confidence and expressed gratitude and pride in the efforts of the committee. Discussion ensued about the complete membership of the committee and a motion was made by Lewis to put on the next agenda, the "Removal of DAV from the Veterans Advisory Committee Membership". Vice Chair Brinkley seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed to add this item to the next agenda. West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery AED w/Guest Speaker Stephen Fredette Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Antonio Gaspar. Antonio Gaspar explained that his guest was not able to attend the meeting due to a work obligation. He went on to explain that the AED (portable defibrillator) is missing and has been missing for a while and we need to get a new one. Iyo explained that we were made aware it was missing and Parks & Recreation is in the process of ordering a new one and will be installed once it is received. Discussion closed. Mental Health w/Guest Speaker Wendy Schwartz Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and the guest speaker. Wendy Schwartz works for the VA in suicide prevention as a Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator and the goal of the program is to integrate the VA's full public health approach to suicide prevention. Suicide is public health issue throughout the United States and veterans are at increased risk for suicide. Studies show that suicide rates among veterans are 52% higher than non -veteran adults. There are about 130,000 living in the Pacific Islands and only about 55,000 of those veterans registered for care at the VA. They provide resources before the crisis occurs with three priority areas: 1) Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 5 Identify servicemembers, veterans, and their families and screen for suicide risk, 2) Increase connectedness and improving care transitions and 3) Increasing lethal means safety and safety planning. The overall goal is to reduce the amount of suicides. Chair Doolittle concurred and added that reducing stigma, talking more can help to lessen suicide. He introduced Isaac Nahakuelua who is working on his doctorate and is a mental health professional with the State. Schwartz agreed that reducing the stigma about mental health will help. Wendy provided her contact information and invited anyone to contact her to discuss further. Wendy. Schwartzgva. gov (808) 758-4129 Chair Doolittle thanked Wendy for being present and sharing with the committee. Discussion closed. Responsibility of Veterans Cemetery and Vietnam Memorial Maintenance Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Isaac Nahakuelua. Isaac Nahakuelua brought up this discussion because through other topics of the committee's agendas, he was curious as to the budget of the local cemeteries. He discussed research on funding, guidelines and laws o the cemeteries and the responsibilities of each government agency that affects the local veterans cemeteries. He talked about the ownership of the cemeteries and how according to property tax information State of Hawaii is the fee owner but also brough up Executive Orders as noted on the website. He posed the question if the State of Hawaii - Office of Veterans Services (OVS) would be willing to take the cemeteries back (ownership and maintenance). A discussion ensued. Kelcie Figueira of OVS explained that it would ultimately be up to the State's administration, but she didn't think it would be feasible as they do not have blue collar workers (such as maintenance workers) under their staffing. This is something that would also have to be budgeted under the State's budget for salaries of new employees and maintenance operating budgets. Lewis thanked Nahakuelua for this deep dive and thorough research and that we will continue to look at options to support our local veterans' cemeteries and Parks and Recreation staff. Chair Doolittle agreed that the key is to find ways to provide financial or labor support our local cemeteries. Discussion closed. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 23, 2022 Page 6 REPORT ON CEMETERIES Hawaii Island — East Hawaii Representative — Kelcie Fi2ueira — OVS No update Update of Veterans Cemetery Inspection Reports Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi for an update. Deputy Hiraishi explained the response Director Maurice Messina sent to Col. Han regarding the Site Inspection and finding. The letter is attached to these minutes. There will be a re -inspection date of December 2022. ANNODUNCEMENTS Vietnam Veterans Day Sunset Ceremony March 29, 2022 Vice Chair Brinkley announced the National Vietnam Veterans Say Sunset ceremony will be held on March 29, 2022, at the Vietnam Memorial. The ceremony will begin at 6:00 pm. Laurie Soares will send the flyer with more information to all veterans' groups before the event. She encouraged everyone to attend. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2022, at 10:00 am. Hanato motioned to adjourn. Nahakuelua seconded. Chair Doolittle: All in favor? Nine ayes, meeting adjourned at 12:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brig rya - Secretary