Q&A
Nature of violations faced by VSOs and potential solutions
0:37:46
·
120 sec
Commissioner James Hendon explains the nature of violations commonly faced by Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) and discusses potential solutions to address these issues.
- Most DOB violations are related to boiler activities
- Many OATH violations involve paperwork issues where work was performed but necessary documents weren't filed
- Hendon mentions that the Department of Buildings (DOB) has been handling cases individually and creating educational materials for VSOs
- The commissioner suggests collaborating with unions that have relevant skill sets (e.g., boiler-related unions) to assist with addressing violations through apprenticeship programs
- Hendon emphasizes that while addressing violations is important, the underlying issue of aging VSO membership remains a significant concern
James Hendon
0:37:46
It's I don't know if it attacks the root issue, which is oftentimes that the VSOs have declining membership and are aging out.
0:37:53
And we're trying to attack the root issue to which and I want to acknowledge, the person from my team who just gave me a note who's our transition services manager who deals with our transitioning veterans, Nicole Orlando, who's seated behind us, who also is our main liaison with the Department of Buildings.
0:38:08
The when we look at these violations, the many of the DOB violations are mostly for boiler activities.
0:38:14
So call that out.
0:38:14
So it's boiler related violations.
0:38:16
And many of the oath relations are oath violations are those where the work may have been performed, but maybe certain necessary paperwork wasn't filed.
0:38:25
And so just so we know what the nature is of these things oftentimes.
0:38:29
So I just wanna call that out.
0:38:30
And that
Robert Holden
0:38:31
So so the deal just let me just jump in on that one.
0:38:33
Yep.
0:38:34
Do do they give extra time?
0:38:36
Will will they do that, or do they just hit them with a fine?
James Hendon
0:38:39
I know DOBs have been taking it case by case.
0:38:41
And I know that there there's a one standard across the board for these things.
0:38:44
I know that with the DOB side of it, it's, you know, for them, it's it's creating materials to educate the different VSOs on how to be able to stay up to code, things that they may not even know where it may not be a situation where the cure period is a solution, but just being informed about the process is a solution.
0:39:02
But it still ties back to if we don't have the bandwidth, are we able to you know, I mean, the the the VFW post I was a part of, our post commander, you know, he was 90 years old and he passed away not too long long ago.
0:39:14
So I mean, this is something that we are living through right now.
0:39:16
And so this is it's like there's these deeper issues.
0:39:18
And then another thing that we've been doing is we've been working to try to tie in with look with the different unions that have this skill set, boiler related unions, to see if there's anything they can do as having apprentices assist with addressing these violations.
0:39:27
So this is something we're aware of.
0:39:28
We're trying to apprentices assist with addressing these violations.
0:39:31
So this is something we're aware of.
0:39:32
We're trying to grind it out on this.
0:39:34
I just I don't wanna lose sight of the the key issue is the aging VSO population as far as those in these, properties and getting new blood in.
0:39:45
That's the real issue, Mr.
0:39:46
Chair.
Robert Holden
0:39:46
Yeah.
