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Home My WebLink About2009-10-15 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, October 15, 2009, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) * * VIDEOCONFERENCING — EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE MEETING — DISCONNECTED SEVERAL TIMES Present Absent Members Carolle Brulee- Wilson Penny Fox Edward Lee George Mukai Delbert Nishimoto Emile Wery George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Robert Welter Guests (Hilo) None Guests (Kona) Boss Hanato Ex- Officio (Hilo) Clayton Honma, Deputy Director, P &R Ex- Officio (Kona) Robert Fitzgerald, Director, P &R Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Herb Lum, (State Veterans Advisory Board - W. Hawaii Rep) Renee Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Don Bennett Wendall Kekumu Gilbert Sampaia Norman Stahl John Young Call to Order Chairwoman Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:04 pm - (10) members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 October 15, 2009 PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — June 18, 2009 The minutes of the June 18, 2009 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Lum reported that Veterans Cemetery Phase II C is approximately 75% complete. The Committal Shelter is completed except for the rock veneer wall. The equipment building and restrooms all have the walls up. They are currently working on roofs and framework. The Columbarias were suppose to be moved last week to the new area. There are (4) existing columbarias and (4) additional were delivered. Director Fitzgerald said the new ones got put in, but the existing columbarias are still in its temporary location. He will report on it later on the agenda. Minoru Hanato responded to a question asked about where the potable water was coming from for the new restrooms. He said there is still a question, but thinks it should be coming from a waterline from Kukio. The tank is currently all in pieces. Responding to a question if project will be finished for Veterans Day, Minoru responded maybe only the committal shelter. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii - Gravesites/Maps Director Fitzgerald reported that Lisa of Data Systems is working on mapping the cemetery. She will be using a numbering system to account for blank spaces. It's close to the system we've been using. Lisa brought the sample map for members to see. She still needs the overall map of the area which includes the projected growth of the cemetery. Director Fitzgerald said that John Grogan, President of the WHVCA will get map to her. Lisa also commented that there were times they couldn't dig the hole because they would hit rock. So rather than not show it on the map at all, there will be something on the map that shows not useable for burials. Chairwoman Fox said those areas should be used for urn burials. Lisa also noticed online that a person who was disinterred from the cemetery was still listed. Nathalie Santos will ask Janice Higa of our office to fix the record. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 October 15, 2009 Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Proiect (Dr. Richard Stevens submitted a written report dated October 2009 - copy attached.) Chairwoman Fox asked members to read report and asked for questions. Members did not have any questions. NEW BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Proposed Peace Garden Director Fitzgerald reported that John Grogan, President of WHVCA said it is currently off the table since they have not come to an agreement as to what they would like to do. Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Move Columbarias Director Fitzgerald sent a letter dated October 14, 2009 to all families informing them about the relocation of the columbarias and urns to its permanent location at the cemetery. He said because of the ongoing construction and movement of the columbarias the cemetery will be closed during the relocation October 28 -30, 2009 to give the contractor time to move the urns without it being a safety issue. News release will be issued on closure. Director Fitzgerald also asked for volunteers to observe procedure to confirm everything is done properly. The process will also be documented and filmed by representatives of the construction company, State and County. The urns will be removed from the columbariums prior to moving. The last time the urns were left in, but this time it will be removed first because of the unevenness of the ground. Director Fitzgerald said to get final approval on the building permit, the small building and container will have to be moved from the cemetery grounds. Director Fitzgerald asked about the greenhouse and Minoru Hanato said they are unsure about the greenhouse yet. EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS ANNOUNCEMENTS Veterans Day Parade Emile Wery announced that the Veterans Parade will be held in Hilo on Saturday, November 7th beginning at loam. Staging area is Wailoa Park and the route will be the same as the Merrie Monarch Parade. Three bands will be participating, the Navy, Waiakea High School and Hawaii County Band. Marching Units are coming in from Honolulu. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 October 15, 2009 Yellow Ribbon Ceremony - Waikoloa Chairwoman Fox announced that on October 25th there will be a yellow ribbon ceremony held in Waikoloa to welcome back the 60 day return of the National Guard and Air National Guard staff from Iraq and Afghanistan. Participation is mandatory for over 450 soldiers. If your service organization wants to get a table there to talk to them, call Carol at 985 -9520 and she will be given the contact information for Michelle who is coordinating event. Event begins at loam, people running the table will be provided a great lunch. Table, chairs and tablecloths will be provided. There will be two hours contact with soldiers and their families and leave at 3pm. The event in September was really well run. HILO PX — Input for Improvements Chairwoman Fox said Erica the Director of AEFES and Dana Wyatt the local manager will both attend the DAV Chapter 9 meeting on November 14th at l lam at Nani Mau Gardens. They want feedback on out what items veterans would like to find at the PX and how the PX can be improved. The meeting is open to anyone that would like to attend and give input. They are very serious about making changes and improvements and listening to what people want. Chairwoman Fox suggested on the 26th of September that it would be nice to see Reyn Spooner shirts in the PX and in two weeks there will be shirts for sale there at a large discount. She also said items in the AEFES catalog and from other exchanges such as Hickam can be brought in with no shipping charge to this location. Chairwoman Fox asked members to send representatives to this meeting to provide input. Veterans Day Ceremony — Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Minoru Hanato invited everyone to attend the November l It Veterans Day Ceremony with a potluck lunch to follow. Ceremony to begin at l lam. Veterans Day Ceremony — Veterans Cemetery I — East Hawaii Chairwoman Fox announced there will be a Veterans Day Ceremony in Hilo at Veterans Cemetery I and will provide more information later. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 3pm at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office conference room. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathafie Santos, Secretary