Q&A
Collaboration between VAB and Department of Veterans Services
1:48:27
ยท
91 sec
Council Member Robert Holden inquires about the effectiveness of collaboration between the Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) and the Department of Veterans Services (DVS). VAB Chair Mercedes Elias provides insights into their working relationship.
- The relationship between VAB and DVS has evolved and improved over time
- There is open communication between VAB and DVS about both positive and negative issues
- VAB and DVS work together to prioritize issues and follow up on concerns raised in public sessions
- An ongoing issue mentioned is the delay in allocating PFC Dwire funds, which is beyond DVS's control
Mercedes Elias
1:48:27
I wouldn't say one specific example.
1:48:29
I think
Robert Holden
1:48:30
Don't worry.
1:48:30
The commissioner's sitting right there.
Mercedes Elias
1:48:32
No.
1:48:32
I'm Don't don't
Robert Holden
1:48:32
don't don't like that.
1:48:33
You have to look out.
Mercedes Elias
1:48:34
Have his
Robert Holden
1:48:34
I know he said he he couldn't get any closer,
Mercedes Elias
1:48:36
but No.
1:48:37
Listen.
1:48:37
Again, it the relationship has evolved.
1:48:40
Different members on the board have evolved.
1:48:42
I talked to the commissioner very freely about negative things, about positive things.
1:48:47
So I would say, again, I've been through a contentious relationship with the VAB, and we work much better now.
1:48:53
Is the is DBS going to do everything for everybody and fix every answer?
1:48:58
No.
1:48:58
But you have to just continuously be working on it.
1:49:00
And I think right now, we do work together to say, okay.
1:49:04
Let's shift our focus.
1:49:06
What's the priority?
1:49:07
Make sure that we get resources.
1:49:09
If we don't have an answer, how are we getting answers?
1:49:11
We do try to follow-up in our executive sessions to say these were the issues that were brought up the last meeting.
1:49:16
Where are we at with these issues now to make sure that they're addressed in the public session?
1:49:20
So I think right now, we have a good path going forward.
1:49:23
Is it something formalized in writing?
1:49:25
No.
1:49:25
But I think that there's no instance of us saying, hey.
1:49:29
Where are we at with each of these issues?
1:49:31
That something hasn't been addressed or looked into or we haven't been given an answer to.
1:49:36
I I think the only outstanding issue is the PFC Dwire funds that have continued to been delayed, delayed, delayed payments haven't been made.
1:49:43
That's something that's beyond DBS's control, which we're saying, hey.
1:49:46
Can you work in our agency and talk to the council to see, can you bypass some of the process to get those funds to be allocated to DBS directly?
1:49:54
So then that way, there's not this continuous delay.
1:49:56
That's the one issue that has really stood out Yeah.
Robert Holden
1:49:58
That's been over the past year.