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Committee folds veterans outreach recommendation into Human Rights & Equity subcommittee
Summary
George Smith’s proposal to improve veterans outreach and access to benefits was moved into the existing Human Rights & Equity subcommittee and passed unanimously (15–0), so the county will study options under that committee rather than creating a new subcommittee.
The Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to handle a veterans-outreach proposal within the existing Human Rights & Equity subcommittee rather than creating a standalone veterans subcommittee.
George Smith proposed including veterans outreach and easier access to the veterans service office in charter-review work, citing an estimated county veteran population of roughly 27,000 and concerns about homelessness and service access. "We have well over, I think the last count was 27,000 veterans in Fayetteville County," Smith said (speaker used county as context for the scale of the issue). He asked for a subcommittee to study ways of making resources more visible, including a web-based link to veterans services.
Committee members supported folding the issue into an existing subcommittee. The chair proposed adding veterans, seniors and LGBTQ+ issues to the Human Rights & Equity subcommittee; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with 15 affirmative votes. The chair said membership adjustments will be finalized and subcommittee chairs will coordinate next steps and any staff research needed.
Members discussed operational alternatives and noted the county executive’s communications office could also help create a central online resource, while others noted a charter change may not be necessary to improve outreach.
