Loading...
Veterans Advisory Council Minutes - 01/22/2014V TEXAS Veteran's Advisory Council Minutes January 22,2014 Larry Petrash, Chairman Presiding Call to Order VAC Chairman Larry Petrash called the first meeting of the Veterans Advisory Council to order approximately at 5:25 PM. Invocation was given by Larry Jackson. Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance was led by Larry Petrash. Minutes of the last meeting-None Attendance: We had a quorum of members present for the meeting, with 6 of 9 members present. Those attending were as follows: Absent: William O'Connor, Jody Pacheco, Tim Shatto Committee Reports Larry stated that we needed to organize the VAC committees. We decided that we would start with the Legislative, Veteran's Groups (VFW, DAV, American Legion), and the VCAP committees. Larry stated there was a lot going on legislatively in the state. MOAA is quite active in this arena and will prove to be a valuable resource for the VAC. Ad Valorem taxes are the subject of much discussion now in the state legislature. Invocation Larry Petrash, Chairman Tim Ingle, City Council Liaison Larry Jackson, Member Manuel Borrego, Member Dick Crislip, Member Jim McGinn, Member CITY OF WICHITA FALLS 1300 7th Street • P.O. Box 1431 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76307 • t: (940) 761-7409 • f: (940) 761-7499 www.wichitafallstx.gov Veteran's Advisory Council, Minutes of the Meeting, January 22, 2014, Page 2 Legislative - Larry stated that there was a lot going on legislatively, for veterans in the state. MOAA is quite active in this arena and could provide much insight. Ad Valorem (property taxes) for widows of disabled veterans is a hot topic. Veteran's Group Membership - DAV, VFW, American Legion (VSOs) Liaisons Larry stated that we needed to make sure we had good, effective communication with these groups. He said that would be a good role for Dick Crislip as these groups are well represented on the North Texas Veterans Council, of which Dick is President. Veterans Community Assistance Program (VCAP) Larry stated that this group was formed on November 25, 2013 and is now organizing. They have had three meetings to date and will soon have its third meeting. Work is being done to apply for tax exemption under tax code 501 ( C) (3). New Business Introductions-Larry asked each of the members present to introduce themselves and provide a little background information about themselves. Review Membership and Ordinance Qualifications--The membership and qualifications stipulated by City Ordinance were reviewed. Chairman Larry Petrash stated that it was determined by personal discussion with Jody Pacheco that she was not eligible for membership on the VAC because she is not a veteran as required by city ordinance. Tim Shatto has vacated his position on the council because he has moved his residence to Austin, Texas. It was also determined that we would invite County Judge Woody Gossom to attend our VAC meetings in an advisory capacity. Determine permanent meeting place After discussion of some alternatives in where our group could meet, Chairman Larry recommended that, for now, we would meet in the City Council Conference Room. This was unanimously approved. Meetings - How often? Must be at least Quarterly per ordinance It was recommended by Chairman Larry to meet once a month until we picked up momentum as an organization and reached a full complement of 11 members on the council. Larry stated that in his view we would need that so as not to lose momentum and establish a solid sense of direction for the VAC organization. Veteran's Advisory Council, Minutes of the Meeting, January 22, 2014, Page 3 Council Members Vision-What do you want to accomplish Members of the VAC felt that the organizations mission and vision is consistent with their own. Officers/Exec Committee of VAC Larry stated that we needed to elect additional officers of the VAC. He stated that he was elected Chairman by the City Council for a period not to exceed five years, as required by City Ordinance. The group stated that they would prefer to wait until additional members were appointed to the VAC before we had our election of additional officers. Determine Committees-We will appoint additional committees as they are needed. Amend ordinance to state that members must either reside, or work, in Wichita Falls Chairman Larry Petrash stated that our founding city ordinance states that members of the VAC must reside in Wichita Falls. He stated that many of our personnel resources, that would make good members of our council, live "outside" the city limits of Wichita Falls but work "in" Wichita Falls. They spend their dollars "in" Wichita Falls and are assets to our community. He recommended that we revise our city ordinance so that it reads as follows: "Each member shall be a city resident, or work full-time within the city limits of Wichita Falls, and be a veteran of the armed services. Members shall serve without pay." Motion was made by Manuel Borrego, and seconded by Dick Crislip. The motion passed unanimously. This revision is to be submitted to the City Attorney for revision as soon as practicable. VCAP-Community Blueprint Chairman Larry Petrash provided a handout describing the difference between the VAC and the VCAP. The VCAP is a coalition of the steering committee, veterans service organizations such as the VFW, DAV, American Legion, and the group of veteran service providers coming together to inform / educate each other with regard to the services to veterans being offered in our community. Our effort will be to identify gaps in services and enhance them with capital resources (funding, as it becomes available) or providing additional services in those areas where needed. The VCAP has nine focus areas: Behavioral Health, Transportation, Education, Employment, Family Strength, Financial / Legal, Homelessness, Reintegration, Volunteerism. By City Ordinance 56-2013, the Veterans Advisory Council was formed to encourage and facilitate communication between City leadership, military veterans, and veteran service organizations on issues important to veterans. Larry handed out a copy of the city ordinance to everyone present. Tim Ingle and Larry Petrash helped to write the founding ordinance with the vision that the VAC, as a council, would help to build awareness and support in the City of Wichita Falls and surrounding communities to help our veterans. Veteran's Advisory Council, Minutes of the Meeting, January 22, 2014, Page 4 Wounded Warrior V - Chairman Larry stated that plans were being made to contact Ft Sill to coordinate MOAAs Wounded Warrior program. Our goal is to assist in this community wide program. VAC Website-Tim Ingle stated that he would work with the City's IT department to facilitate a website for the VAC. Next Monthly Meeting - 24 February 2014 Adjourn-The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM Respectfully Submitted?