Minutes Archive

Veterans' Affairs Committee Minutes

May 12, 2004

Veterans Affairs Committee meeting convened by Veterans Committee Chairman Phil Savage at 9:00 A.M.

Pledge of Allegiance–Moment of Silence.

Roll-call of committee members:

Chair, Phil Savage	Present
Co-Chair, Arnold Arquette	Present
Dell Turner	Present
Todd Kaminski	Present

Citizens’ Time:

None

Reading of the April Committee meeting Minutes and April Activity Report:

April Veterans Affairs Committee meeting Minutes were read and accepted.
April Veterans Affairs Activity Report was read and accepted.

Applications for General Assistance from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Fund:

04-07	Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Application for rent–$575.00
	Approved for rent–$575.00

04-08	Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Application for electricity–$44.00, septic tank–$140.00, waste removal–$40.40, and energy–$76.43
	Approved all amounts totaling–$300.83

Old Business:

Mr. Savage requested that the Director commit time venturing into surrounding communities for the purposes of advertising the Calhoun County Soldier’ and Sailors’ Relief program–specifically the Albion area. Mr. Savage indicated that the primary mission of the Calhoun County Veterans Affairs office, as defined by state statue, was to, first, facilitate the emergency relief program. The Director disagreed with Mr. Savage’s interpretation of law and stipulated that the primary mission of the Calhoun County Veterans’ Affairs office was to serve all veterans’ needs whether they entailed emergency relief, federal claims processing, burial benefits, etc (as stipulated by the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners). Emanating from the discourse between Mr. Savage and the Director, Mr. Savage instructed the Director to formulate letters to local service organizations specifically delineating the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief program. Mr. Savage further instructed the Director to investigate the establishment of satellite offices for the sole purpose of processing Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief applications for committee review. The Director reminded Mr. Savage that he did, in fact, establish a satellite office in Albion a couple of years ago–16 hours per month. However, the satellite office was terminated after nearly a year due to lack of clientele. The Director informed Mr. Savage that he did not have an extra 16 hours per month to spend in an office that did not generate any work. Mr. Savage asked the Director why terminating the satellite office was not documented. The Director responded by stating that at the time of termination, the Committee did not meet regularly nor did the Committee seem interested in day to day office affairs. As a result, the Director acted in the best interest of the office and the veterans served and utilized those 16 hours to serve veterans’ needs directly as opposed to serving the potential of veterans needs that, subsequently, never materialized.. The Director also reminded Mr. Savage that he and the Service Officer do, in fact, venture out of the office at the request of veterans and/or family members and have never avoided leaving the office to process any type of claim or request for assistance. Even though each instance has not been recently documented, the Director simply requested that the committee trust that he is factual in his statements. Mr. Savage instructed the Director to document his travels for report back to the committee. Again, Mr. Savage made his instructions very clear that the Director was to only seek Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief applications for committee review. If, by chance, a federal claim–i.e. redistribution of federal tax dollars brought into Calhoun County–is stumbled upon, then inquire (with the presupposition that federal claims result in a redistribution in federal tax dollars brought back into Calhoun County). The Director’s confusion as to Mr. Savage’s comments prompted him to ask for input from other committee members.

Mr. Savage asked the Director why he was not accredited. The Director responded by stating that the accreditation process is extremely costly and would not further enhance neither the knowledge possessed by the Director nor the status of the Director’s position as a recognized veterans’ advocate.

New Business:

On behalf of Military Order of the Purple Heart local Chapter 110, Mr. Turner expressed their gratitude to the Service Officer for her letter of Thank-You regarding a recent emergency situation through which they were able to assist.

Mr. Kaminski stated that he will, again, be called to active duty and will be deploying to the Middle East on or about June 7. Mr. Kaminski indicated that he would most likely be gone one year. Mr. Savage requested that Mr. Kaminski resign his appointment on the committee in hopes of appointing a veteran who would be available for meetings. Mr. Savage further stated that once Mr. Kaminiski returns from his tour in the Middle East, he would be more than welcome to seek reappointment provided that the Persian Gulf War era slot was available.

The Director informed the committee that a letter of intent was submitted by Mr. David Martin to be appointed to the committee. Mr. Savage indicated that he recruited Mr. Martin to serve on the committee.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 A.M.

________________________
Phil Savage
Chair, Calhoun County Veterans’ Affairs Committee

________________________
Scott C. Losey
Director, Calhoun County Veterans’ Affairs

Calhoun County
315 West Green Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: (269) 781-0700

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