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 Minutes Archive |
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Veterans'
Affairs Committee Minutes
VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
Minutes: August 9, 2007
Veterans Affairs Committee meeting convened by Veterans Affairs
Committee Chairperson Todd Kaminski at 8:00 A.M.
Pledge of Allegiance–Moment of Silence.
Roll-call of committee members:
| Chair, |
Todd Kaminski, |
Present |
| Co-Chair, |
Arnold Arquette, |
Present |
| |
Dave Martin, |
Present |
| |
Philip Savage, |
Excused |
Citizens’ Time:
None
Reading of the May Committee Meeting Minutes:
Motion was made by Mr. Arquette to accept May minutes as presented. Mr. Martin seconded. By a
roll call vote of 3-0, May Committee Meeting Minutes were accepted as
presented.
Reading of May, June, and July Activity Reports:
May, June, and July Activity Reports were read without ensuing
discussion.
Applications for General Assistance from the Veterans’ Relief Fund:
| 07-04 |
Veterans’ Relief Application for
Food/Hygiene assistance in the amount of $250.00. |
| |
APPROVED $250.00 total amount requested for
Food/Hygiene assistance. Mr. Arquette made a motion to approve
Food/Hygiene assistance in the amount of $250.00. Mr. Martin
seconded. By a roll call vote of 3-0, Applicant 07-04 was approved
for Food/Hygiene assistance in the amount of $250.00. |
| |
**Significant
discussion ensued regarding the Director’s failure to correspond with
each Committee member regarding application 07-04. Essentially, the
Director only contacted Mr. Savage. Mr. Martin, Mr. Arquette, and Mr.
Kaminski were equally dissatisfied with the Director’s blatant disregard
of procedural policy governing how emergency relief applications are
ascertained by way of telephone correspondence. While the Director did
state that time was of the essence to provide assistance as quickly as
possible, each Committee member was not dissuaded in their assessment of
the Director’s failure to provide vital information that may have had a
direct bearing on the decision to grant emergency assistance. The
Director apologized to the Committee and assumed full responsibility for
his actions.** |
Old Business:
None
New Business:
As a result of Mr. Delbert Turner’s resignation from the Veterans
Affairs Committee, the Director informed the Committee of the need for a
Korean War Era veteran replacement in compliance to the applicable
Michigan Compiled Law governing appointment to each county Veterans
Affairs Committee. The Director stated that the Korean War Era is the
only era not represented on the Committee. Along with the Director, each
Committee member stated that they would actively seek a Korean War Era
veteran for Committee appointment.
Mr. Arquette requested that the Veterans Affairs Committee consider
developing guidelines for Veterans Relief applications. Mr. Arquette
reminded the Committee that there are a litany of community
organizations available to assist veterans when an unforeseen emergent
need is identified. Mr. Arquette stated that it would be fiscally
prudent to insure that each veteran who with a demonstrable emergent
need exhaust all options prior to seeking assistance through the
Veterans Relief Fund. Mr. Martin disagreed by stating that the Veterans
Relief Fund was established so that veterans did not have to seek
assistance elsewhere. Mr. Martin stated that the Veterans Relief Fund
should be the first option that a veteran pursues in the event that an
unforeseen emergent need is identified.
The Director requested that the Committee allow he and the Service
Officer to attend the annual Michigan Association of County Veterans
Counselors two-day fall training conference in Bellaire, Michigan. Mr.
Arquette made a motion to allow the Director and the Service Office to
attend the training conference. Mr. Martin seconded. By a vote of 3-0,
the Director and Service Officer were granted permission to attend the
training conference.
Mr. Martin reminded all present of the Veterans Forum to be held at
the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan on October 23, October 24, and
October 25.
Mr. Arquette made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Martin
seconded. By a roll call vote of
3-0, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40
AM.
________________________
Todd Kaminski
Chair, Calhoun County Veterans’ Affairs Committee
________________________
Scott C. Losey
Director, Calhoun County Veterans’ Affairs
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Several photos included in this 
