Veterans Committee amends resolution and refers it to Veterans Services Committee

The Sullivan County Veterans Committee voted to amend a pending resolution and to refer it to the Veterans Services Committee.

At the July meeting, Terry Bernardo moved to amend the resolution so it would read that the resolution was “introduced by the veteran committee” rather than by an individual. Kat Scott seconded the amendment. The amendment was adopted by voice vote; committee members present voted in favor.

Roll call earlier in the meeting recorded committee members present as Luis Alvarez, Nick Salamone, Terry Bernardo, Matt McPhillips and Kat Scott. The recorded tally on the motion as amended was five votes in favor, zero opposed.

Context and subject: A committee member had described the resolution as addressing tax exemptions that some other states give to veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled, including waivers of school or property tax and certain retirement‑income exemptions. The presenter said such laws exist in some states but that “it has not been voted in in New York as to date, as far as I know.” The committee did not enact a county tax change at the meeting; the action taken was to amend the resolution’s introducer language and to refer the matter to the Veterans Services Committee for further consideration.

Procedure and attribution: The motion to amend and the subsequent motion (to move the resolution as amended) were made on the record and seconded. The committee chair asked for and received a voice vote on the amendment and on the motion as amended; the minutes show the motion carried with five ayes. No amendment language beyond the change to the listed introducer was adopted at the meeting, and no county policy or tax exemption was enacted at this session.

Next steps: By voting to refer the resolution, the committee directed that the item be considered by the Veterans Services Committee; the transcript does not specify a date for further review or whether staff will prepare fiscal or legal analyses before the next committee action.