The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2008-11-20 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, November 20, 2008, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Absent Members Don Bennett Penny Fox Edward Lee Delbert Nishimoto Norman Stahl George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Richard Highley Guests (Kona) Tom Leone Ex- Officio (Hilo) Patricia Engelhard, Director, P &R Joseph Flores (OVS) Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Herring Kalua, State Veterans Advisory Board - EH Representative Herbert Lum, State Veterans Advisory Board - WH Representative Keith Ribbentrop, State Veteran Liaison Carolle Brulee- Wilson Wendall Kekumu George Mukai Gilbert Sampaia Robert Welter John Young Call to Order Chairwoman Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:07 pm - (9) members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Obituaries - Flag Photo for all Veterans Mr. Leone asked Chairwoman Fox the status of request submitted to newspapers to insert a flag on all Veterans obituaries. He had not heard anything and asked if she had. Chairwoman Fox said she has not yet received a response, but will keep trying. She waited for two hours and could not get a meeting with Mr. David Bock of the Hawaii Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 November 20, 2008 Tribune Herald to discuss request. Delbert Nishimoto will instead try to get her a meeting with the owner of the newspapers. Mr. Leone asked Deputy Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen if there is any legal recourse and the response was no. Mr. Lum suggested going straight to Stephens Media since the practice of inserting flags in veteran obituaries is being done by Honolulu Advertiser which has the same owner as the West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune Herald. PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES — October 16, 2008 The minutes of the October 16, 2008 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - East Hawaii Representative Mr. Herring Kalua Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Herring Kalua - Report Veterans Cemeteries I and II Columbariums Mr. Kalua said the columbariums for East Hawaii Veterans Cemeteries I and II are being worked on. The old columbariums will be removed and the new ones will be the same as those being erected at veteran cemeteries statewide. Mr. Herb Lum - Report Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Expansion Proiect Update Mr. Lum reported that he was concerned because the State has not released the 2.7 million dollars provided by VA for Phase II -C Project at Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii. He learned that funds will be released as work is done during various phases of the project and the state is invoiced. The contract is on schedule and will begin on the first of January. The contractor is in the process of obtaining building permits. Work will begin upon receipt of permits. Columbariums Mr. Highley asked Mr. Lum if moving of temporary columbariums is in the current contract. Mr. Lum responded that the moving of columbariums is in the contract, they will move it and also assume responsibility for moving the contents. They will also be installing the new columbariums. There will be a total of (6) columbariums, 3 old and 3 new ones. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 November 20, 2008 Mr, Highley asked if contents of columbariums would be removed before moving and Mr. Lum responded that the contractors are professional and should know how to handle moving. Mr. Highley said its been brought to his attention that every unit has a crack across the center of the columbarium and the problem has to be addressed before moving it to avoid having urns fall out. Mr. Lum suggested Mr. Highley communicate his concern to Mark Moses of VA. Mr. Highley said he has written a letter to Mr. Moses two or three months ago and never received a response and asked if he should attempt to at least receive acknowledgement of his letter. Mr. Lum asked if John Grogan, President of the West Hawaii Veterans' Cemetery Development and Expansion Association was aware of this concern. Mr. Highley said he sent a personal letter directly to Mark Moses not through the WHCDEA because that organization is not responsible for what is done at the cemetery. Mr. Lum said the strategic plan of the Veterans Cemetery states that WHCDEA provides guidance and veterans' perspective to the Office of Veterans Services. Mr. Minoru Hanato said John Grogan is aware of the cracks in the foundation of the columbariums and told him he needs to let OVS know about the problem if its moved. Mr. Lum suggested they follow up with John Grogan to communicate that concern. Director Engelhard said she would communicate the concern to Gina Ichiyama of DAGS if its explained clearer to her. Mr. Hanato said three of the columbariums have a crack in the center of the face plate concrete base and if its lifted or moved there will be a problem. He said there are four (4) bolts in the front and eight (8) bolts in the back. There may not be enough cement in the foundation. He has communicated this concern at meetings and to Gina of DAGS and nothing has happened. Director Engelhard said she will again communicate it to Gina and now that they are moving it something should happen. Use of County Equipment Mr. Hanato thanked Director Engelhard for use of the backhoe. He shared that he was able to move cinders, vaults and some of the County's items. He also made a road to save time and avoid needing a 4 -wheel drive to obtain access to the other side. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 November 20, 2008 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Proiect (Dr. Richard Stevens submitted a written report dated November 16, 2008 - copy attached.) Meeting Dates for 2009 Chairwoman Fox said that member Dr. Norman Stahl shared at the last meeting that holding meetings on the third Thursday of the month would be an issue for him. She opened floor for discussion and asked if others had problems with holding meetings on the third Thursday of the month. No one else had a problem with that day. Chairwoman Fox asked if there were suggestions for a better day then the third Thursday of the month. Mr. Lee said Mondays are good for him. Director Engelhard said for parks staff, Mondays would be really hard. Dr. Stahl said that any other Thursday works for him except the third Thursday. Following a discussion, secretary Nathalie Santos was assigned to check on availability of conference rooms for the second Thursday of the month and check if changing day would be possible. Nathalie will notify members of the meeting dates for 2009 by mail. NEW BUSINESS None EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS None ANNOUNCEMENTS Wreaths Across America Program - West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery III Mr. Gaspar announced that the Wreaths Across America Program will be held at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, December 13th beginning at lam. Colonel Valerie Hoke is the coordinator. Chairwoman Fox said the event would not be held in East Hawaii this year since they could not find a coordinator. Senator Dan Inouye - December 10, 2008 Keith Ribbentrop announced that Senator Dan Inouye will hold a Town Meeting for veterans only on December 10th at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo from 6pm to 7pm. He invited all in attendance to attend. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 November 20, 2008 Honorary Diplomas Mr. Highley announced that he received applications for veterans who may qualify to receive honorary diplomas from the Department of Education. (Contact DOE Military Liaison Cherise Imai at 808 - 271 -5724 for additional information ). MEMBERSHIP UPDATE Mr. Highley's Term Expires - December 31, 2008 Mr. Highley said his term as an Independent member on this committee expires at the end of the year and he does not want to make a commitment to continue at this time. He suggested the slot be filled by someone on the east side since the attention for the last five (5) years has been on the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery and improvements there. The attention has been very successful and East Hawaii would benefit from a representative from that side. Chairwoman Fox recommends keeping that independent slot for the west side since there already are a number of members from the east side. She asked Mr. Leone if he was interested in applying since he has been attending the meetings and he declined. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held in February 2009, meeting announcement will be mailed when meeting is confirmed. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:37 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Santos, Secretary