Minutes Archive

Veterans' Affairs Committee Minutes

October 12, 2005

Veterans Affairs Committee meeting convened by Veterans Committee Chairman Philip Savage at 8:05 A.M.

Pledge of Allegiance–Moment of Silence.

Roll-call of committee members:

Chair, Phil Savage Present

Co-Chair, Arnold Arquette Present

Del Turner Excused

Dave Martin Present

Todd Kaminski Present

Citizens’ Time:

None

Reading of the July Committee Meeting Minutes:

Motion was made by Mr. Arquette to accept the July Minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Martin.

Reading of the July, August, and September Activity Reports:

July, August, and September Activity Reports were read without ensuing discussion.

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

05-10	Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Application for dental surgery and dentures–$2,806.00.
	Approved for dental surgery and dentures via prior telephone vote–$2,806.00. Approved assistance to Applicant 05-10 by a 3-1 vote, Applicant 05-08 was approved assistance for dental surgery and dentures. For the record, Mr. Arquette denied approval and Mr. Turner was not available to render a decision.

******	Application 05-10 was granted an initial $1,000.00 from the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund. The Service Officer was able to secure $1,800.00 in private donations to offset the Committee approved $2,806.00. The $1,800.00 was deposited into the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund account on September 13, 2005 pending receipt of bill.

05-11	Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief Application for rent–$700.00.

	Denied for rent–$700.00. Motion was made to deny assistance to Applicant 05-11 by Mr. Martin and seconded by Mr. Arquette. By a 4-0 vote, Applicant 05-11 was denied assistance for rent.

******	Initially, Application 05-11 was tabled pending the receipt of additional information. Motion was made by Mr. Martin to table and seconded by Mr. Kaminski. Mr. Arquette denied tabling Application 05-11. However, after further review resulting in a litany of inconsistencies in Application 05-11, Mr. Martin made a motion to deny Application 05-11. Chairman Savage stipulated that Applicant 05-11 could, again, apply for assistance in the future provided that he was able to secure additional information. Chairman Savage further stipulated that the Director should seek a legal review of the documented information provided in Application 05-11.

Old Business:

Director initiated discussion regarding the Veterans Affairs office 2006 budget. The Director stated that due to reductions in the 2006 aggregate county budget, there would be some impact on the Veterans Affairs budget. The Director informed the Committee that he needed to maintain a 2006 status quo budget aligned with 2005. As a result, the Director further stated that the submitted 2006 Veterans Affairs budget would need to be cut by approximately $9,000.00. The Director stated that he would attempt to offset general office budge cuts by transferring $9,000.00 from the submitted County Burial Fund budget. The Director stated that the County Burial Fund was historically over-budgeted. Therefore, transferring $9,000 from that fund should not diminish the availability of the State mandated County Burial benefit. Finally, the Director informed the Committee that he 2006 budget meeting was scheduled with both the Finance Office and the Administrator’s Office on Friday, October 14. The Director invited the Committee to attend this budget meeting. All Committee members present indicated that they would, in fact, attend this budget meeting. Mr. Arquette, however, declined the invitation citing that his presence would make no difference in the budgetary process.

New Business:

The Director informed the Committee that the Service Officer was awarded a Letter of Commendation from the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners for her outstanding work in securing $1,800.00 in private donations to offset the approved amount Applicant 05-10. All Committee members congratulated the Service Officer for her work. The Director did state that the Service Officer’s ability to secure these private donations on a regular basis was impossible.

Chairman Savage initiated a brief discussion regarding a residency provision for Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Relief applicants. Mr. Savage stated that veterans who have not established residency in Calhoun County should seek emergency assistance in their counties of record.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 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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