Veterans' Affairs Commission - February 9, 2021 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
February 9, 2021 - 6:00pm
Location: 
San Francisco, CA
Related Meeting Content:
Agenda

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES (approved)

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 6:00 pm

Hosted Remotely via MS Teams

https://tinyurl.com/y6b22rpf

 

VICTOR OLIVIERI, PRESIDENT

IKRAM MANSORI, VICE PRESIDENT

STEPHEN MARTIN-PINTO, SECRETARY

WILLIAM BARNICKEL, MATTHEW BRAUER, DOUGLAS BULLARD, HANLEY CHAN,

DEBORAH DACUMOS, GEORGE ISHIKATA, JEFF MARSHALL, CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD, MYLES TUCKER, RAYMOND WONG

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

ROLL CALL

Victor Olivieri – present

Ikram Mansori – present

Stephen Martin-Pinto – present

William Barnickel – present

Matthew Brauer – excused absence

Douglas Bullard – present

Hanley Chan – present

Deborah Dacumos – absent

George Ishikata – present

Jeff Marshall – present

Christopher McDonald – present

Myles Tucker – present

Raymond Wong – absent

 

President’s Report

  • Submit all agenda items by morning on the Friday before monthly meeting
  • When meeting with supervisors, use meeting template (emailed by secretary)
  • Annual retreat scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 6:00pm

 

Vice President’s Report

  • Nothing significant to report

 

Secretary

  • Nothing significant to report

 

Legislative Committee

  • Strategy for Legislative meeting discussed
  • Focus will be on one state and one federal issue
  • Building relationship with legislators
  • HR444 (extend the current 12 year cap on vocational training)
  • AB1809 Priority to Disabled Veteran owned Enterprises in contracts
  • Dedicated fund to support student support for veterans

 

Communication Committee

  • Update website
  • Facebook accounts need to be re-created – not able to recover password

 

Events Committee

  • Nothing significant to report

 

Rules Committee

  • Review of roles of Rules Committee
  • Finalize amendments to bylaws
  • Review of applicants to Veteran’s Affairs Commission

 

Finance Committee

  • Review of organization and purpose
  • Budget review
  • County Veteran Service Office budget

 

Ad Hoc Committee

  • Nothing significant to report

 

District supervisor outreach

  • District 3 (Aaron Peskin) – On January 22, Cmr. McDonald discussed Veteran’s preference in Below Market Rate program – also discussed was the veteran’s justice program.
  • District 10 (Shamann Walton) – Cmr. Tucker introduced self to Sup. Walton

 

January Meeting minutes

  • Cmr. Martin-Pinto makes motion to approve with edits
  • Cmr. McDonald seconds approval
  • Minutes approved

Agenda Changes

  • None

 

Annual Retreat

  • Scheduled for February 27, Saturday, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

 

Old Business

  • Cmr. Barnickel met with Sup. Mar
  • Will arrange for meeting with MOHCD by end of February or early March
  • Objective will be to have 11 supervisors support amendment to Below Market Rate (BMR) program to allow Veteran’s preferences
  • Cmr. Martin-Pinto makes motion to continue item to the next month
  • Cmr. McDonald seconds motion; motion passes

 

New Business

  • Spencer Dayton reports on Non-profit malfeasance
    • Jacob Angel – president Military Health
    • Suspected of fraud and embezzlement
    • ~$120000 stolen from Beyond a Buddy foundation
    • Service Dogs were abused
    • Has some political connections
    • FBI and other law enforcement agencies contacted
    • Also suspected of credit card fraud
    • Cmr. Olivieri makes motion to draft letter to District Attorney, Attorney General of California, Board of Supervisors, and Mayor
    • Cmr. Chan approves; motion passes
  • Veteran’s Center Relocation
    • Lease will expire in 3 years
    • Need assistance in finding new location with up to 10 spaces of parking and ground floor access
    • Ask district supervisors for available space
  • County Veterans Service Office report – Alfred Sims and John Gallagher
    • High number of veterans served
    • Many Veterans have safety concerns getting to CVSO due to crime
  • Swords to Plowshares
    • Needs elevator for 3 story building in Presidio
    • Adaptive equipment – contact Lana Nieves at lana@ilrcsf.org
  • Shall the Veteran’s Affairs Commission create criteria to assess the suitability of the next Attorney General in relation to veteran’s affairs?
    • No motion made to continue or take action on item
  • Bylaw amendment
    • Adjustment of Article 4, Section 6, subpart C
    • Delete phrase (per authorization)
    • Motion made by Cmr. Ishikata to approve deletion
    • Cmr. Tucker seconds motion; motion passes. (Per authorization) phrase deleted. This gives the President and Vice President more authority and flexibility to represent Veteran’s Affairs Commission.
  • Review of applications
    • Motion made by Cmr. Olivieri to postpone until retreat
    • Motion seconded by Cmr. Ishikata; motion passes
  • Cmr. Bullard needs access to email
  • admin.vac@sfgov.org email in process of creation
  • Twitter and Facebook accounts need to be re-created

 

Good Welfare

  • Nothing significant to report

Public Comment

  • None

Meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM