The Public Safety & Veterans Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators met on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 3:06 PM in Committee Room at the Michaelian Office Building. Chair David Tubiolo presided. Legislators present: Tubiolo, Clements (remote), Cunzio (remote), Smith. Absent: Woodson-Samuels. Guests: Joshua Gaccione (Director, Westchester County Veterans Service Agency) and Travis Melby (Program Administrator, Veterans Service Office). The meeting focused on the revival of the FAVOR discount program for veterans, agency performance, outreach, staffing, digitization of records, internship programs, and the Veterans Advisory Committee. The meeting adjourned at 3:51 PM.
FAVOR Program Revival: Director Gaccione announced plans to relaunch the FAVOR card, a discount card for veterans at participating Westchester County businesses. The card will be a barcoded card (similar to the Parks card) rather than the previously envisioned card with photo/rank. An initial order of 5,000 to 10,000 cards is planned. The target launch date is August 9, 2026 (Veterans Appreciation Day at Playland). Registration will require an online form with secure transmission of personal information (including Social Security numbers) for veteran verification; the IT department is involved. The program will also include a comprehensive online directory of veteran-owned businesses and participating merchants.
Agency Performance & Outreach: The agency reported over 925 client interactions (veterans and family members) in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an increasing number of post-9/11 veterans. Staffing: 9 personnel total, but only 3 Veteran Service Officers (VSOs). There is one vacant Grade 12 VSO position. A Grade 10 VSO position was identified as needed to increase capacity. Outreach efforts include social media, newsletters, events, partnerships with local chambers of commerce and American Legion halls, and legislators' district newsletters. The number of veterans in Westchester County is estimated between 40,000 and 60,000 (conservative estimate; not more than 60,000). The agency is also handling pension work for Putnam and Rockland counties.
Digitization of Records: Records from 1980 to present are being digitized in two efforts: (1) transfer of older records (10+ years untouched) to county archives, with work done by interns; (2) uploading records of active clients to the VETPRO system for efficient claims processing. The work is ongoing due to accuracy requirements.
Internship Programs: The agency has established a VA Work Study site, allowing veterans enrolled in school or training to work as paid interns (funded by VA) on qualifying veteran-related tasks. Additionally, a new intern named Desmond joined through a military early-release program (SkillBridge or similar), allowing him to work at the agency 120 days before his military separation, with the military providing his compensation.
Veterans Advisory Committee: The committee has lost members and needs new members to be identified, recommended by legislators, and sworn in. Director Gaccione acknowledged delays in the appointments process and committed to working with the County Executive's office to get pending candidates sworn in. Chair Tubiolo noted the matter would be handled through the Appointments Committee.
Other Outreach Opportunities: Discussion included coordination with the Business Council of Westchester, chambers of commerce, and using large public events (like Kensico Dam Sunday events) for program promotion.
This meeting is being recorded and summarized. All right. Thank you everybody for joining. Today is what's it? It is Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Happy Cinq Domato. It is 3.06 p.m. I would like to begin today's meeting. We are joined also with uh veterans and public safety. Sure. Opening up the committee, 3 or 6 p.m. Appreciate being a join and looking forward to our wonderful conversation with our wonderful veterans and employees who work so hard. Let's do attendance. So I am present. Vice Chair Clements, you're online. Yes. We saw you. Mark uses yes. Okay, thank you. Let's say Cunzio. Here. Thank you. Legislator Smith. Here. Okay, and we have a quorum. Thank you. We're opened up. It's public safety and governments. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. And uh like to open up. I am here. Uh let's hit an ambulance here. And uh legislator Smith. Here. Right? Thank you. So today's meeting is to discuss uh reenacting or resurrecting the county favors program. Uh a little about a little bit about this program. It's a program to offered uh discounts to veterans in Westchester County. Uh it's a program that is uh very good initiative to have veterans uh be you know discounted on different goods and items in West Chester County is something that they will opt into and along with businesses. Uh so I'd like to invite to the table our director of veterans, uh Josh Gotchio. And director and Travis, may you please when you sit, please give your full title and introduce yourself as well. Thanks, Travis. Thank you. So Travis is passing out a few issue documents here. Yes. I do love the trees, so I'm sorry I had to make so many paper copies. No worries. I just want to say thank you to both Josh and Travis for serving us proudly in the United States of Forces.