HomeMy WebLinkAboutM072613Service Officers present:
CHAIR
VICE -CHAIR
SECRETARY & TREASURER
OFFICER AT LARGE
OFFICER AT LARGE
Others present:
Jefferson County
Service Officers Association
MEETING MINUTES
July 26, 2013
Dick Wiltse, VFW #7498, Port Townsend
Gary Lane,VFW #7489, Port Hadlock and American Legion
Bud Schindler, VFW 10706, Brinnon
Robert (Alex) Alexander, VFW #3213, Quilcene
John Braasch
Karl Bach, American Legion #26, Port Townsend
Robert Lakey, American Legion #26, Port Townsend
Andy Okinczyc, American Legion #26, Port Townsend
Carolyn Avery, Clerk for the SOA
Leslie Locke, Administrative Assistant BOCC
Lauralee Kiesel, Assessor Technician II
Chairman Dick Wiltse called the meeting to order at 1:59 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: Member Schindler moved to approve the special meeting minutes of the
August 22, 2012 meeting as presented. Vice -Chair Lane seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
Officers for 2013: Chair Wiltse opened the nominations for 2013 Officers. Member Schindler moved
to keep the current officers for 2013. Member Lakey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. The
following Service Officers Association (SOA) members will continue to serve as Executive Board Officers for 2013:
Chair: Dick Wiltse
Vice -Chair: Gary Lane
Secretary/Treasurer: Bud Schindler
Correction to Service Officer Contact list: Member Bach and Member Okinczyc pointed out the
correct spelling of their names for the Contact list. Clerk Avery will update the list to reflect the correct spelling of
their names.
Review of Expenditures 2012 to current: The Veteran Service Officers reviewed the expenditures.
Member Okinczyc pointed out that Vice -Chair Lane is on the list as having received 2 benefits in 2012. It was
requested to be looked into to see if this was a clerical error. Clerk Avery was then asked by service officer members
to make copies of prior years expenditures and put them in alphabetical order. Clerk Avery left the meeting to do so.
Discussion regarding the current year's funeral benefits followed. Vice -Chair Lane stated there had been a high
number of funeral benefits this year. The members reviewed the funeral benefits paid out over the years. The general
consensus was that this rate would keep rising as the years go by.
Additional Business: Veterans Stand Down Event: The Jefferson County Veterans Stand Down
will take place on July 29, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.
Veteran's Service Officer Meeting, July 26, 2013 Page 1
Discussion re: Raising the levy amount: Executive Administrative Assistant Leslie Locke of the
Commissioner's Office joined the meeting and introduced staff from the Assessor's Office to help explain the
Veteran's Assistance Fund millage rate. Ms. Kiesel stated that last year, the budget request was for 2013 was $41,800.
She explained that the Veteran's Assistance Fund could only request for 1% more than that plus new construction.
Ms. Kiesel stated that if the organization wanted an actual dollar figure on what 1% of last year's request would be it
is $42,218. A member asked if the organization asked for a 5% raise from last year, would that be possible? Ms. Locke
replied that per the RCW, that would not be possible. It was pointed out by a member that in 2012, the fund spent more
than was allocated. Ms. Locke called and checked on the 2012 budget request. It was $41,350 and the fund spent
$55,000. Ms. Locke explained that most likely a budget appropriation was approved to cover those costs.
Member Schindler moved to ask the Commissioners for a millage rate that matched the Veteran Assistance Fund
spending rate. It was estimated that $41,350 was the millage rate and the spending rate was $55,800. Vice -Chair Lane
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
Gas and bus vouchers: The officers agreed to continue providing bus vouchers but they would not
supply gas vouchers.
MEETING ADJOURNED: Member Braasch made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:19 p.m.
Member Alexander seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
Veteran's Service Officer Meeting, July 26, 2013 Page 2