HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 10, 2012 Approved MinutesSt. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council
Meeting Summary February 10, 2012
Meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Ron Knepshield and Vice Chair Cathy LaValle
presiding. The meeting was called to order with representatives from the following 18 organizations
in attendance:
Band of Brothers: Rich Vassar, Dave Slaght
82nd' All Airborne: Rich Vassar
AFSA Elmer Andrews Chap. 564: Roy Brewer, Cathy LaValle
AL Post 40: Dan Kenny
AL Post 318: Bill Arnold
Legion Riders Post 318: Fred Masters
AL Post 355: Hal Ripperger; Lynn Steele
AL 355 Auxiliary: Flo Ripperger
AL 358: Lynn Steele
Legion Riders Post 358: Dave Slaght, Diane Almodovar
AMRA FL-1: Ron Knepshield
DAV Chapter 113: Cathy LaValle
Marine Corp League Chap 666: Mike Seale
Space Coast All Airborne: Mike Girraffa
Special Forces Assn. 85: Rich Vassar
Special Forces Motorcycle Club: Rich Vassar
USSVI TC Base: Jerry Padrta, Jordan Kahle
Vietnam Veterans of America Chap. 566: Joe Lusardi
County Staff attending:
Beth Ryder, Director Housing & Community Services
Donna Carlsen, County Veteran Service Officer.
2012 Election of Chair. Ron Knepshield nominated for Chairman for 2012 by Lynn Steele,
seconded by Hal Ripperger. No other nominations were heard. Members returned a unanimous
vote.
OLD BUSINESS:
Status of recommendation made during November, 2011 meeting "for the St. Lucie County Veterans
Advisory Council to make a formal recommendation to the St. Lucie County Board of County
Commissioners to realign Veteran Services as a division, with a Manager reporting directly to the
Director of the Housing and Community Services Department"
Members, Mrs. Ryder and Ms. Carlsen discussed. Chairman Knepshield explained that a formal
recommendation to the Board had not been made as yet. Anew issue has come up due to the
vacancy created when the Van Transportation Supervisor resigned. The County has now posted
the position and it includes additional job duties of counseling veterans and assisting them with
claims, but for the same pay grade.
After much discussion, Ron read the original recommendation and a motion was made to amend it
to include two new items: "adjust the pay grade for the Van Transportation Supervisor to be
commensurate with that of a VSO, and in order to be qualified, the candidate must be a war-era
veteran." and "to re-address the budget for Veterans Services as needed."
Chairman Knepshield asked if he could give a presentation to the BOCC during public comment:
Mrs. Ryder answered that yes, he could.
St. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council -February 10, 2012
Motion to accept the amended recommendation was made by Lynn Steele and secohded by Rich
Vassar. Motion for new recommendation to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners
approved with unanimous vote.
The new recommendation reads as follows
"The St. Lucie County Veterans Advisory Council will make a formal recommendation to the St.
Lucie County Board of County Commissioners to:
1. Realign Veteran Services as a division, with a Manager reporting directly to the Director of the
Housing and Community Services Department.
2. Adjust the pay grade for the Van Transportation Supervisor to be commensurate with that of a
Veteran Service Officer, and in order to be qualified, the candidate is required to be a war era
veteran.
3. To re-address the budget for Veterans Services as needed.
There being no further business, motion to adjourn made by Cathy LaValle, seconded by Jerry
Padrta. Meeting adjourned 10:30 a.m. Next meeting to be convened as needed.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Hagerhorst
Housing & Community Services -Veteran Services
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