Back to Providence Special Commission on Veterans Affairs

Special Commission on Veteran's Affairs - Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 4:30PM

June 13, 2024

Call to Order and Roll Call

00:01 - 01:14

The Special Commission on Veterans Affairs was called to order by the chair. A roll call established a quorum with three members present and two absent.

Discussion Relative to Additional Commission Members

01:14 - 03:36

The commission discussed filling vacancies and seeking candidate nominations, specifically aiming to recruit a female veteran. Members suggested cross-referencing municipal veteran tax exemption records to help identify potential candidates.

Discussion Relative to Veterans Benefits and Tax Exemptions

03:36 - 08:54

The commission reviewed Rhode Island General Law 44-3-4 regarding municipal veteran tax exemptions. Members directed legal staff to research tax exemption practices across neighboring cities and towns to benchmark options for Providence.

Discussion Relative to Commission Objectives and Annual Veterans Day Event

08:54 - 15:33

The commission discussed scheduling for the annual Veterans Day ceremony to prevent overlapping with regional and statewide holiday events. A motion was passed to schedule the city's annual Veterans Day observance on November 7, 2024.

Legal Review of Veterans Tax Exemption Statute

15:33 - 17:39

The city solicitor reported on Rhode Island General Law 44-3-4, noting the statute enables municipalities to grant veteran exemptions of at least $1,000. The commission agreed to review budgetary impact and local veteran numbers at the following meeting before considering an ordinance.

Future Meeting Schedule

17:39 - 19:37

The commission established meeting dates for July, September, October, and November, while agreeing to recess during August. Members also requested calendar invitations be distributed in advance.

Adjournment

19:37 - 19:50

A motion to adjourn the meeting was introduced and seconded. The motion was unanimously approved, and the meeting concluded.

Unknown

00:01 - 00:06

A problem with the, tool. We have to actually adjust it. Broken.

Unknown

00:07 - 00:07

So think

Unknown

00:07 - 00:08

they would

Unknown

00:08 - 00:08

set that up.

Unknown

00:13 - 00:20

Fixing that and it gets a game day, and it's not working right. That's another bad The flag up. Don't want that. Don't want that.

Unknown

00:20 - 00:28

Yeah. But you're only, like, another week. Like, there's not the next Friday. Five days tomorrow. Five days tomorrow.

Unknown

00:28 - 00:35

We did the burning of the flights. Yeah. The other one. The I will Retiring of the flights. Yeah.

Unknown

00:36 - 00:59

I was just telling because the flag was Thank you. I'd like to call the special commission on Veterans Affairs to order for June for June thirteenth, Thursday. It is about 01:38.. May I have the roll call, please?

Unknown

01:00 - 01:01

Chair Fischardo?

Unknown

01:01 - 01:02

Present.

Unknown

01:02 - 01:03

Vice Chairman Taylor?

Unknown

01:03 - 01:04

Yep.

Unknown

01:05 - 01:10

Officer Ayanuchi is absent. Kenneth Race is absent. Kasim Yar?

Unknown

01:10 - 01:11

Here.

Unknown

01:11 - 01:14

We have three present and two absent. We have a clerk.

Unknown

01:14 - 01:53

Thank you very much, Rob. So on the agenda before you today, we have three items to discuss. The first one is to discuss relative to additional members of the Special Commission on Veterans affairs. We, last time, when we talked about, including and and bringing some nomination forward, the names, particularly, a female, veteran, And we wanted to get some some names so that way we can submit for at least bring it before the body of the city council. Does anyone have any names at this at this moment?

Unknown

01:56 - 02:30

Seeing that we don't have any names, we do have also a letter from commissioner Kenneth Reese indicating that he is stepping down as it as it was stated before, that he couldn't serve at this time. So we have that letter on on file. And it's an email that Aaron has to provide to the committee. Okay?. Alright.

Unknown

02:30 - 02:43

So I will encourage you if there's still time if you have some names to put forward in terms of another veteran to serve on this committee, let me know. Alright? Any questions regarding that?

Unknown

02:44 - 03:01

If I may Yes. I recommend... I know that the city of Parliament has a list of all of them to assume some form of of a exemption in the in the city. I recommend we will utilize that list and and see Canvas at list to see if there is a woman veteran that's on that list, which she's willing to serve at any capacity.

Unknown

03:01 - 03:02

What list is that, sir?

Unknown

03:02 - 03:14

So every every city municipality maintains a list of veterans that are receiving some form of a a tax exemption based on their veteran status. And that's held in the clerk's office, and it's open record.

Unknown

03:15 - 03:17

Can you check that if we do that that?

Unknown

03:17 - 03:19

We don't have that list here in this department. We don't keep

Unknown

03:19 - 03:20

Not in the clerk's No.

Unknown

03:20 - 03:21

That would be What

Unknown

03:21 - 03:23

about in taxation? What about the taxes? That's fine.

Unknown

03:23 - 03:26

It it might be there. We have a Baron on that.

Unknown

03:26 - 03:37

So if we can put on the list that we can research that list on... From the taxation department. Great. Thank you for that suggestion. Yes, sir.

Unknown

03:37 - 03:51

Second item for discussion relative to veterans benefits in the city of Providence and the Rhode Island, general law 44 dash three dash four veterans exemptions. There is a... Do we have a copy of that?

Unknown

03:51 - 03:54

I sent it out to everybody after I made it. I sent it out, emailed everybody.

Unknown

03:55 - 04:02

So Aaron, had to be in another meeting. He had copies of that. Just asked him if he could forward it to us.

Unknown

04:02 - 04:03

I'm sorry.

Unknown

04:03 - 04:04

I'm sorry?

Unknown

04:04 - 04:05

No. He didn't provide the copies to me.

Unknown

04:05 - 04:07

She's here for Aaron.

Unknown

04:07 - 04:08

Yeah. Okay. Okay. Alright.

Unknown

04:08 - 04:09

I can receive that as well.

Unknown

04:10 - 04:21

Excellent. It was just... I just told him a few minutes ago since he had a double duty for today. So you send out the link. I've reviewed it.

Unknown

04:21 - 04:27

Essentially, in the city of Providence, we don't have any exemption. Correct. So therefore

Unknown

04:27 - 04:32

What we do for the house, the home? There is an exemption, taxation.

Unknown

04:32 - 04:34

It's only Taxes.

Unknown

04:34 - 04:35

The house taxes.

Unknown

04:36 - 04:46

It's only, like... It doesn't have... It's not clear how much it is. That... Based on the state law because

Unknown

04:46 - 04:55

we went out today and talked about Hussein. He was the first one to put in for For the exemption? Yeah. But he's done for the exemption for veterans.

Unknown

04:55 - 04:57

Well, according

Unknown

04:57 - 04:59

to that state law, when I reviewed it

Unknown

04:59 - 05:01

Oh, not the state law. I'm talking about bus in the city.

Unknown

05:02 - 05:19

Well, we don't give any other exemption. How much do you think Probably not a lot. It it says minimum at least a $1,000, but the law doesn't stipulate how much it is. Are you aware of any

Unknown

05:20 - 05:21

I'm not. I'd be happy

Unknown

05:21 - 05:24

to do some research for the next meeting. Are are you thinking that you