HomeMy WebLinkAbout110215_ca02JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Carolyn Avery, Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE: October 28, 2015
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION re: Establishment of a Veterans Advisory Board
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Jefferson County Veterans Assistance Fund was established per RCW 73.08.080 to provide
tax funds for the provision of emergency relief funding for indigent veterans who have been
residents of the State of Washington for at least one year, and their dependents, to pay for certain
short term, emergency assistance with food, shelter, utilities and other necessities of life.
It is the position of Jefferson County that all veterans who have resided in Jefferson County
continuously for 6 months and have served our country honorably, deserve to be treated equally
and with respect, dignity, compassion and fairness; and
On January 3, 1994 the Board of County Commissioners of Jefferson County adopted Ordinance
01-0103-94 authorizing the execution of an agreement between Jefferson County and the
Jefferson County Veterans' Service Officers Association (See Attached) for the disbursement of
funds from the Jefferson County Veterans Assistance Fund.
RCW 73.08.035 requires that the legislative authority for each county establish a Veterans
Advisory Board and solicit representatives from either local branches of nationally recognized
veterans' service organizations or the veterans' community at large, or both, to serve on the
Board. No fewer than a majority of the board members shall be members from nationally
recognized veterans' service organizations and only veterans are eligible to serve as board
members.
Jefferson County's Veterans' Service Officers Association meets the requirements of a Veterans
Advisory Board. The proposed Resolution clarifies this fact and makes it transparent and clear to
the public that Jefferson County has fulfilled the requirement of RCW 73.08.035.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve RESOLUTION re: Establishment of a Veterans Advisory Board.
REV1EVjTDBY:
Philip Mor ey, unty Administr for Date
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In the Matter of Establishment of a I RESOLUTION NO.
Veterans Advisory Board
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Veterans Assistance Fund was established per RCW
73.08.080 to provide tax funds for the provision of emergency relief funding for indigent
veterans who have been residents of the State of Washington for at least one year, and their
dependents, to pay for certain short term, emergency assistance with food, shelter, utilities and
other necessities of life; and
WHEREAS, it is the position of Jefferson County that all veterans who have resided in
Jefferson County continuously for 6 months and have served our country honorably, deserve to
be treated equally and with respect, dignity, compassion and fairness; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County recognizes that the efficient disbursement of public funds
for indigent veterans and their dependents can only be accomplished with the cooperation of the
veterans organizations who draw on these funds; and,
WHEREAS, the various veterans' organizations of Jefferson County have consented to
establish the Jefferson County Veterans' Service Officers Association to be the organization to
work with the County in the disbursement of these funds through a voucher system; and
WHEREAS, on January 3, 1994 the Board of County Commissioners of Jefferson
County adopted Ordinance 01-0103-94 authorizing the execution of an agreement between
Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Veterans' Service Officers Association for the
disbursement of funds from the Jefferson County Veterans Assistance Fund; and
WHEREAS, RCW 73.08.035 requires that the legislative authority for each county
establish a Veterans Advisory Board and solicit representatives from either local branches of
nationally recognized veterans' service organizations or the veterans' community at large, or
both, to serve on the Board. No fewer than a majority of the board members shall be members
from nationally recognized veterans' service organizations and only veterans are eligible to serve
as board members.
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WHEREAS, The Jefferson County Veterans' Service Officers Association met on
October 23, 2015 and unanimously voted in support of serving as the Jefferson County Veterans
Advisory Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners
does hereby establish a Jefferson County Veterans Advisory Board that is compromised of the
Jefferson County Veterans' Service Officers Association members. The Jefferson County
Veterans Advisory Board shall advise the County pursuant to RCW 73.08.035 on matters related
to local indigent veterans. The Jefferson County Veterans Advisory Board shall be subject to the
Open Public Meetings Act per Chapter 42.30 RCW.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this of , 2015.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
David Sullivan, Chair
Phil Johnson, Member
ATTEST:
Carolyn Avery Kathleen Kler, Member
Deputy Clerk of the Board
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