Loading...
Minutes 09-10-03MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD AT KRISPY KREME, 640 W. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 AT 7:00 P.M. Present Ron Washam, Chairman Anne Centi Blanche Girtman .layne Kupperman Eddie Mitchell Howard Solomon Brenda Lee Williams Robert Harper, Alternate Dan DeCarlo, Board Liaison Absent Anna Marie Noe, Vice Chair .lose Rodriguez Pledge of Allegiance The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Roll Call of Regular Members and Alternates The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. III. Recognition of Visitors Chair Washam recognized the presence of former Commissioner David Katz in the audience. IV. August 13, 2003 f4inutes Approval f4otion Mr. Solomon moved to adopt the minutes as presented, seconded by IVls. Girtman and unanimously passed. V. Agenda Approval There were no additions, deletions, or changes to the Agenda. Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2003 Motion Ms. Girtman moved to accept the agenda, seconded by Mr. Solomon, and carried unanimously. VI. Correspondence and Announcements Chair Washam expressed the excitement of everyone when he remarked about the East Boynton Beach Little League winning the National championship and competing in the World championship games. Chair Washam was proud to represent the Board at the welcoming celebration held at the airport where the boys enjoyed themselves immensely. Mr. Solomon related a newspaper article highlighting the Little Leaguer's visit with the President of the United States. The parents and kids were in a rented bus, which drove onto the tarmac at the airport. The kids were escorted by the Secret Service to meet the President. The President spoke with the kids for a few minutes and they traded baseball caps and so forth and the kids were thrilled. Mr. Solomon continued, saying that in the article it said that the kids were going on the David Letterman show and might march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Chair Washam stated that the Community Relations Board stood ready to do whatever was necessary to assist the Little Leaguers. Ms. Kupperman reported that the School District was launching its adult literacy cable channel on September 16, 2003 at the former 1TV Station at 505 S. Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The channel will be accessible to the 465,000 homes, businesses, and institutions receiving cable services in the area. Ms. Kupperman invited all Board members to attend. It is called The Education Network (T.E.N.) and it will be on Adelphia Cable Channel 19. Chair Washam thought that this could be a very useful tool in reference to Youth in Government Day. Mr. Solomon stated that about three weeks ago, on a radio show he does once a week, he participated in a discussion about what was going on in Boynton Beach with the Chamber of Commerce and the CRA. Mr. Solomon thought Ms. Kupperman might want to come on his radio show to talk about the new cable station and she agreed to do so. Ms. Kupperman said that on Saturday, September 20, at the Boynton Beach Mall at 11:00 a.m., the Great Adult Spelling Bee was taking place with Steve Weigel as MC and Wordmaster and she invited all to attend. There are 25 corporate teams participating as a fundraiser for adult literacy with each team giving $700 to compete. Ms. Centi announced that Lena Rahming of the HeadStart Center advised her of a remembrance to be held at the Center on September 11 to commemorate the terrorist 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2003 attack on the Twin Towers in New York two years ago. She invited any interested persons to attend. VII. Old Business A. PATCH Update Mr. DeCarlo stated that Brian Edwards would come before the Board with an update at the October meeting. He felt that most of the members would want to come to hear his presentation. Chair Washam thought it would be a good idea to invite the Commissioners and Mayor to listen to this presentation also, He stated that a lot depended on budgeting and the money that comes from the State. He thought it would be interesting to see how the Board could keep this program going and watch it grow in today's climate. VIII. New Business A. Bond Issue on November 4, 2003 Expansion of the Art Center Remodeling of the Municipal Pool at Wilson Center Expansion of the Senior Center Expansion of the City Library lVlr. DeCarlo elaborated a bit about each of the above projects. Mr. Solomon asked Mr. DeCarlo if the City had any plans to build a Library Annex out west. Mr. DeCarlo did not think so but stated that additions were constantly being made to the County Library out west. Chair Washam hoped that the bond issues would pass. He thanked Mr. DeCarlo for the update. B. Welcome New Alternate, Robert Harper Mr. Harper stated that he was an ex-IBM employee. He moved to this area in 1984 to start the Personnel function for the Personal Computer Division. When he retired from IBM, he began a relationship with the Education Partnership of Palm Beach County. In doing that he began training in facilitative leadership, primarily the principals and leaders of the School Improvement teams. This led to his current work in training and problem solving with an organization called Interaction Associates. His strengths lie in the running of the grievance programs at IBM where employees were able to write Speak Ups. He investigated and helped solve these grievances. He also ran the Open 3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 10, 2003 Door program where an employee could bring his problem(s) to the Chairman of the Board if necessary. As he read what the Community Relations Board does, he felt that he might have some skills to bring to the Board. Chair Washam welcomed Mr. Harper and gave him a little background and history about the Community Relations Board in Boynton Beach. He stated that he liked to believe that the Community Relations Board, which was originally started in 1962 as the Race Relations Board, had made a difference in the community over the years. This Board advises the City Commission as to a specific recommended course of action in a particular area, in order to make the community a better place. Adjournment There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was duly adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Collins, Recording Secretary (091203) 4