VETERANS COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2009
1. Call to Order: The regular meeting of the Veterans Commission was called to order at 7:02pm on January 5, 2009 in Town Council Chamber by Bernie Corona.
A. Roll Call: Present - Bernie Corona, Dominic Fulco, Mary-Ann Roczynski, Kirk Allison, Paul Barry, Stan De Mello, William Miller, Arden Passaro and J. Roger Pelletier
B. Pledge of Alliance
C. Opportunity for Residents to Speak – Robert Crelan, a Commissioner from the East Hartford Housing Authority and Robert Counihan, Executive Director of the East Hartford Housing Authority came to speak to the Commission about the possibility of offering low income units in the King Court area for veterans with families. Although by law they can not make specific preferences as to who gets the housing (i.e. vets) they currently have openings that they would like to fill, but they are filling up slow. Many of the units are in dire need of repair and the Housing Authority is working with local government to try to come up with the funds to update the units. As far as units for senior or disabled citizens and/or vets, there is a 2 year waitlist. Mr. Counihan told the Commission to
let interested parties know of the openings.
2. Approval of Minutes – The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Old Business
A. Budget – A review of the budget was done by the Veterans Commission noting the Mayor’s request to cut %5 from the budget. To do this, the Commission will not meet for the months of June, July and August.
B. Blue Star Banner – The Commission decided to re-run a small article in the local newspaper about the Veterans Commission distributing Blue Star Banners to the immediate family members of a service person serving in a war zone. The Commission is not able to purchase the banners yet; the article is being published to collect the names and address of interested parties and the banners will be mailed to them upon purchase.
C. Commission Open Hours – The Commission once again discussed doing away with the open hours on the 2nd Monday and 2nd Thursday. General consensus was that since they started, very few if any have come to see the Commissioners. It was recommended that they should be by appointment. Mary-Ann made a motion to discontinue the 2nd Monday and 2nd Thursday open hours, seconded by Arden Passaro. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
4. New Business
A. Open discussion on how to get more veterans to come to the Commission for help and info. The Commission decided to send out a letter to Goodwin College informing them of the Commission and letting them know that they are available for area veterans. Mary-Ann will draft a letter to the college president and request a meeting.
B. Mary-Ann was approached by one of John Larson’s aides regarding a veteran’s mother’s request to have a stretch of highway renamed after her son. The veteran was killed in Iraq and his mother would like for the state to name the stretch of highway between Main St in East Hartford and the Route 2 entrance in Glastonbury after her son. More information is needed regarding the subject; item tabled for further discussion.
5. Adjournment – A motion was made by Paul and 2nd by Stan deMello to adjourn. Bernie adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m.
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