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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 08-28-2018 FINALVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday, August 28, 2018, 2:00 p.m. Office of the Prosecuting Attorney (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Members Emile Wery Michael Doolittle George Sheridan Marcia Brinkley Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Antonio Gaspar Carolle Brulee-Wilson Minoru Hanato Guests (Kona) Dale Ross Ex -Officio (Kona) None Ex -Officio (Hilo) Maurice Messina, Deputy Director P&R Roddy Sueoka, Office of Veterans Services Counselor Also Present (Hilo) Brittany Iyo, Secretary J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Absent Isaac Nahakuelua Dale Wilson Debra Lewis Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 2:03 pm. Quorum met with eight members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None. OLD BUSINESS Draft Letter to Mayor for Veterans Advisory Committee to Explore other Veterans Related Issues Chair Doolittle didn't bring a copy of the letter with him but he sent a letter to the Mayor and had meeting with Council Chair Valerie Poindexter related to the general purpose of Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 2 the committee and they're both pretty well on board to opening that up to be involved with every issue that has concerns for veterans. Exploring that further, the committee needs to have some open discussion and put some advice down as to what we think should be the general purpose of the committee. Anyone have ideas to add? Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson questioned, like a mission statement? Chair Doolittle said, well the general purpose of the committee as stated, so far, is a little ambiguous. It refers to the Veterans Cemeteries and at the end says "and other related issues." When he spoke to Rose Bautista, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, she said the committee already has the authority. Yet, when you go back through the minutes of all of the past meetings over a number of years there has never been a comment beyond what's happened at the cemeteries. We've always felt kind of constricted in this committee to only commenting on the cemeteries. There is a wide range of problems that Veterans in this County experience. We need to have the ability to make statements and maybe advocate that the County take positions to advocate for things that we might be able to do, short of, appropriating money to run programs. But we can advocate for some things. One of the things that are being discussed right now is our own group, Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial. We're trying to put pressure on the Veterans Administration to commit to our 2 1/2 acre site for a permanent Veterans Clinic on the east side and the Veterans Administration is not making a permanent commitment on it. This is a free 2 1/2 acre site that has already had $80,000 - $90,000 of engineering work done to prepare it for construction and the VA is silent. The Mayor is writing a letter through the Governor's office, to the new Secretary of the VA to encourage the VA to get on board and start making commitments to Veterans issues on this island and a clinic is a big one. George Sheridan asked who's in charge of the VA in Honolulu. No one has seen this guy, he's invisible. Why isn't he meeting with the Mayor? Does he ever sit down and talk to the Governor? Vets? Emile Wery said there's three people, the woman she's in charge of the medical, and someone else in charge of the benefits and someone else in charge of (inaudible). George Sheridan stated but there's got to be one person in charge. Chair Doolittle, pointed out the VA is noticeably absent in our struggle to create a Veterans Clinic. They stated that there is no land available and it's too expensive. We are beginning them to take this property. Engineering all done to VA specs, all they have to do is say yes. It would be a 65 year lease for $1 per year. These are the kinds of issues we as a committee can make statements and have the Mayor push and can get to Governor's office. He has spoken with the Governor about it and he's all for citizen groups making noise about things we feel are important in our community. These are the kinds of things this commi8ttee should be able to make public statements about and advocate for the Mayor and Council to stand up for these things. That's what the advisory committee is for, to advise the County government on the things we find important that affect Veterans Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 3 lives. This is why he wants the committee to discuss the purpose. Make Veterans issues the primary purpose and enumerate them and one of them being cemeteries. Would much rather than have us concerned about living veterans' issues than veterans that are in the ground, that we may honor all the time. We want to make our cemeteries a place of memorial but the living veterans are the ones he is really concerned about. He also thinks the committee, next year, should have remote town hall meetings to get veterans to come in and talk about what should be advocated for. We represent all Veterans in the County. Minoru Hanato stated this committee was previously called the Mayor's Veteran Cemetery Advisory Committee, that's why records show it concerns a lot with Veterans Cemeteries, both Hilo and Kona. He also stated in Kona there is discussion to build another facility to house clinic and VA and should be able to have bathrooms, kitchen, meeting rooms Chair Doolittle asked Emile if he can confirm that, as Emile was a part of the committee for a while. Emile Wery said the Governor's Veterans Advisory Committee just dealt with cemeteries so initially when the County committee was formed it was a mirror of the Governor's committee. The focus was always on the cemeteries, the part of "other related issues" was sort of ignored, unless someone specifically brought something up. When cemetery #3 was being built, it was pushed by Senator Inouye. The thing with these cemeteries, these are State Cemeteries, not County Cemeteries, State cut a verbal deal with the Counties that the State would give counties the money to maintain the cemeteries. When we had the recession, the State started cutting back the money they were giving to the counties for the cemeteries, when the issue came up the response was that there was nothing in writing. It got to the point where the cemetery in Kauai was a disaster. Back in February he went to a meeting at cemetery #2 and the VA gives money to the State for cemeteries and the State is supposed to allocate to the different cemeteries. A lot of the money stays in Oahu because of Kaneohe Cemetery. He continued, $800,000 was allocated to Veterans Cemetery #2 to enlarge, maintenance building, repaint all the roofs so that they were all the same color, fix the fence, although nothing wrong with the fence and put up two more flag poles. It was supposed to be done in March and it's still not done. Someone came back and said we're supposed to have a fire hydrant. Without being cynical, he imagines the $800,000 would drift off to another cemetery. Chair Doolittle asked was there any groups on this island that were consulted with? Roddy Sueoka said the money that was allocated is because in 2016 we had an inspection of the cemeteries and in order for us to get the monies, we needed to clean up things at the cemeteries. Although the fence is fine, we need to make these changes to comply with the inspection. The fire hydrant was an issue because when the contractor came in, they said they needed the fire hydrant according to regulations and be compliant. The Corps of Engineers said we couldn't start the project until we satisfy their requirements. 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. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 5 Chair Doolittle apologized, he thought it was a Veterans Drug Court. Deputy Director Messina confirmed no, it is the County's drug court. Emile Wery Veterans Services Organizations take care of their own people. The VFW in Hilo got some guys that are messed up and other members monitor them. VSO's depending on how focused or strong they are, take care of their own. Deputy Director Messina VJO similar to VSO. The courts got a new VJO who came from Florida and his job is to get more participation in the Veterans Treatment Court. Veterans Treatment Court has three goals, 1) take the homeless guys off the streets help them out as best as they can, 2) help get their convictions expunged and 3) make sure they don't drop off the face of the earth which is what the problem is now. Chair Doolittle asked what the rate of recidivism is. Deputy Director Messina explained 0% right now in Hawaii and that is because there aren't that many of them and everyone keeps in touch, you become friends. Hawaii is one of the lowest in the nation for recidivism. Once a year, everyone gets together and tries to help one another out. Everyone who has graduated comes back and helps out the guy who is graduating. For a guy to finish Veterans Treatment Court, they have to have a job, have a place to live and get off of probation. If they don't comply with any of those requirements, you can't get out of Veterans Treatment Court, that's because Veterans Treatment Court has a lot of services available to them. Chair Doolittle asked is there a large percentage of those in Veterans Treatment Court homeless? Deputy Director Messina said not necessarily, some of the guys are there because of drugs and other things, but you can't be a violent criminal. You can't have a violent offense to get into Veterans Treatment Court. Right now they are doing a large outreach campaign to Police Officers, Attorneys to let them know, if you have Veterans to encourage them to go through the application process to be a mentor. There are about three or four on each side of the island. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson asked if there are any females (in the program). Deputy Director Messina answered yes. In fact the Probation Officer for Veterans Treatment Court in Hilo is a female, past Army Officer. We've had two females in Veterans Treatment Court and we actually transferred them to a Veterans Treatment Court in the mainland closer to where their family/support system is. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson asked if it's true that you have to match (mentors) gender and branch of military. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 6 Deputy Director Messina said that was before we had a Veteran Probation Officer. Because someone who doesn't understand Veterans didn't understand that Veterans can help Veterans. It doesn't have to be gender specific, it doesn't have to be branch specific. Chair Doolittle asked if anyone else has anything else they want to bring to the table? Emile Wery said the way the Charter reads, it's all other Veterans issues, so any issue that comes up falls under that category. Chair Doolittle stated that he believes that as well but J (Yoshimoto) stated in our first meeting that wasn't really the understanding. Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto explained basically how the code reads "At the request of the Mayor or the Council, the committee shall discuss and make recommendations on other veteran related issues." So there's two ways we can look at this, you sent the letter to the Mayor so the Mayor will hopefully send a letter back to the committee saying yes, you have the authority to look at any issues that affect veteran related, that would be the best case scenario. The other option would be to ask a Council member to amend the code to basically broaden your scope of authority, so you don't have to go back and forth each time. Either way gets the job done. Chair Doolittle agreed, he spoke to Valerie Poindexter and said she was on board with the change and she would advocate it for us. Rose Bautista told him the letter is not needed. Michael replied to her that maybe we don't but it's better that we do and put it in the code. Michael is recommending that we make the change in the code, for the long run. Let's make the change so it's pointed out that we are really here to advocate for veterans and anything we need to advocate for the betterment of veterans. Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto asked is Chairwoman Poindexter going to introduce legislation to make that change. Chair Doolittle stated, he thinks she wants the Mayor to give his blessing in a letter and he'll review that with her. She also has a sister who is married to the number three guy at the VA. We had a telephone conference with her as well because we were trying to push on the east side Veterans Clinic that were trying to push. We're trying to make as much push as we can to get a whole umbrella over the top of Veterans in this County at least, more responsive to Veterans. Does anyone have anything else to add? Minoru Hanato asked to clarify how National Guard Veteran can be buried at Veterans Cemetery. Do they have to be a retired, 20 year service member or the National Guard member have to be in a combat area at one time or another? If the National Guard Veteran didn't finish his 20 years and he never went to a combat area, he can't be buried at a Veterans Cemetery. He thinks we should change that ruling. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 7 Deputy Director Messina mentioned the committee could write a petition to the VA because the VA makes that policy. It's not something we can have a separate policy in our County for than the rest of the nation. Minoru Hanato asked does that go the same for the whole nation. Roddy Sueoka explained yes, because the National Guard Veterans don't get enough points, when you total up the number of active duty days, they don't have enough. George Sheridan answered, points shouldn't have a play into that. If you're a Veteran, you're a Veteran. Emile Wery replied, if you're in the National Guard and you were active in '68, everyone that was activated in '68, is a Veteran, because you have that active time. But if you join the National Guard and you never get activated, you retire at 20 years and wait till age 60, you don't get all those other entitlements. It has to be more than six months, so if you only do basic training and AIT, you come back to the unit and you stay in the unit you have not accrued enough active duty time to warrant those benefits. That's how it's always been. Roddy Sueoka further explained because of the one week and a month, if you total it, it isn't fair to an active duty guy because an active duty guy, in one year the amount of days that he serves, whereas the National Guard guys they a barely get to the 180 days of active duty which is six months for active duty. Chair Doolittle confirmed if your unit is activated, you automatically qualify for benefits, you must be active for six months. George Sheridan agreed. Minoru Hanato described when he was drafted, he served for two years and he got Title X from the Department of National Defense. If you are only joining the National Guard you get on orders called Title 32, if you serve 181 days you went to basic training, AIT or Military Service School then you get Title X, then you qualify to be buried in a Veterans Cemetery. If you complete your 20 years' service, you get a letter saying you're entitled to retire with pay when you become 60 years old and if you want you can be buried in a Veterans Cemetery. Some members when he was with National Guard, because of downsizing, they only served 18 years but the office gave them 20 years' service in writing. Deputy Director Messina asked what Minoru Hanato's second item was. Minoru Hanato introduced Mr. Dale Ross, President for the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 8 Dale Ross proposing to install a stone to mount plaques in the scattering garden at WH. He has gone to County Council to request funds for this purpose. The funds will amount to $7,000. Right now, those that are scattered in the garden don't have any kind of marker. They want to make sure those that are scattered there are recognized. Does anyone has questions? (Minoru Hanato interjected with his question for an update of the WHVC additional niche installation, please see next section of minutes.) Chair Doolittle explained he will be at WHVC for the funeral service of the latest casualty from Afghanistan if anyone will be there, he would like to meet with them and look at the scattering garden. Dale Ross confirmed he will be there and they can meet to discuss the stone and location. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson asked if Chair Doolittle could elaborate on the funeral service for Reymund Transfiguracion. Antonio Gaspar stated on Thursday Sept 6 1700-2200 wake service at Old Airport pavilion and on Friday, September 7 there will be a church service at 0815 at Saint Michael's church and burial will be at WHVC following that. Chair Doolittle restated the dates and times of the services. He encouraged everyone to be at the graveside service for Sergeant First Class Reymund Transfiguracion. This concludes old business. Status Update: WHVC Additional Niche Installation Minoru Hanato we requested more niches be installed at cemetery #3 supposedly they will begin installation at the end of this year with it finishing beginning of next year. They originally said the niches that were installed five years ago were supposed to last 20 years. Now, five years later and we only have a few left. Deputy Director Messina introduced Brittany Iyo, to give an update. Brittany Iyo stated that we are moving into the second part of old business update. She spoke to P&R Park Planner and the bid is opening today for contractors to bid on the project. Hopefully by the next meeting we will have awarded the contractor with the job and will have a date for "Notice to Proceed." Deputy Director Messina explained, it is moving forward. NEW BUSINESS Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 9 Request to Erect Memorial Stone at WHVC Scattering Garden Deputy Corporation Counsel Yoshimoto recommends the committee make a motion and vote as far as whether it has a recommendations to provide, per the code this committee has the power to provide recommendation. Chair Doolittle asks the members in Kona if they'd like to make the motion. Minoru Hanato made a motion for the committee to support the project of erecting a memorial stone. George Sheridan seconded the motion. Unanimously in favor. Reports on Cemeteries Chair Doolittle confirmed already discussed and asked if there are any announcements. ANNOUNCEMENTS Emile Wery announced that on Veterans Day, November 11th a Sunday, Veterans Cemetery #1 will have a ceremony that starts at 11:OOam. This is the centennial date for World War 1 Armistice. VFW in Honolulu will have their ceremony at the Natatorium. The Natatorium is technically the only World War I Memorial in the state of Hawaii. Korean War Veterans got all the approvals for our memorial, they are just waiting for the contractor to come back. The memorial will go up next to the Vietnam memorial. We still have an issue with the Vietnam Memorial are wrong and he doesn't know if the County will resolve it. Deputy Director Messina explained yes, the County will resolve it. As far as the County is concerned, prior to that memorial going up the names that are on that and the names on the one at Veterans Cemetery #1 they will be the exactly the same. Emile Wery another issue is there are two sites on the interne, DOD sites, one lists all the Korean War KIAs by State and the other lists KIAs by city or town. The site also states whether the person is KIA or non -hostile. Non -hostile can mean several things, two are listed non -hostile external gunfire and the other one, non -hostile hand grenade, (chuckles) we all know what that means. But they don't have a Purple Heart, so they can't be on the KIA list. Some of the Korean War Veterans are concerned because of the families. Three of them are on the plaque. Technically they don't have a Purple Heart, they are not KIA, and additionally three of them on the memorial were not even killed. Chair Doolittle asked if there is anything the committee needs to do regarding that? Emile Wery answered no. Chair Doolittle asked if anyone else has announcements. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 10 Marcia Brinkley stated she has a few. The Women Veterans conference that was supposed to happen this past weekend was postponed so if anyone would like to sign up to either be a vendor or presenter or Veteran can contact Maricar at the Hilo Veterans Center. The Veterans Day Parade will be on the day before Veterans Day on the 10tH You can register now on the website hivetparade.org, registration is free, and donations are welcome. The parade Marshall will be Lt Hughes and the Community Marshall will be Hope Services. Deb hasn't announced the Corporate Marshall yet. Anyone that wants to be in the parade please encourage them to sign up. The one thing we need help with and would like to get help from the County on, there are about 20 veterans from the veterans home that want to attend and they've run into issues with wheel chair transportation and we're hoping the Council on Aging can help with that. The last thing is on the World War I Centennial, the World War I Centennial Organization would encourage communities to ring bells at 11:00 am local time she wants to communicate that to both sides, if there are no bells nearby, there are recorded bells, they would like the bells to peeled 21 times and the State of Hawaii would like to sign on to that, there's a proclamation in front of the Governor for that. Chair Doolittle asks if there are any other announcements. Minoru Hanato announces that November 11th, Veterans Day program will be at WHVC at 11:00 am. There is always a van running up the road to pick up families and guests that want to come out. Every year they rotate between American Legion and DAV and VFW. Whoever hosts the function, they plan the program and all organization assist with manpower. Anyone who wants to attend is welcomed. Refreshments are provided following the ceremony. Antonio Gaspar added American Legion will be in charge on November 11 for the Veterans Day ceremony. They are requesting that Parks & Recreation provide a portable toilet because the restroom facilities at the cemetery is too far from the committal shelter. They need at least two, one ADA and one regular. Deputy Director Messina explained that we will bring it up to the Director. Brittany Iyo interrupted requesting a letter or email detailing information regarding the ceremony. P&R was never notified of any ceremonies in the past. If we receive something in writing the Director can make a decision and we can respond. Minoru Hanato added that P&R has always been notified about ceremonies at the cemetery, but it has always been verbal notification. Brittany Iyo asked that everything be put in writing so we have a paper trail of what was done, for future reference. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 11 Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson reminded that she put herself out there as a point of contact for the gate code at WHVC. There is a small problem, she's found that although there's a line on the lock, the numbers need to be lined up just above the line. She's found this out through people who call her for the code. A couple of times they've had to call her back that it does not work. She is asking in the future maybe we can get a better lock. Chair Doolittle asked if there were any other announcements, none. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for November 27, 2018 Emile Wery motioned to adjourn the meeting. Vice -Chair Brulee Wilson seconded the motion. Chair Doolittle confirmed meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Britt-cmy rye Secretary