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Minutes 04-13-05 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2005 AT 7:00 P.M Present: Brian Miller, Chair Blanche Girtman, Vice Chair Eddie Mitchell Joyce Mura Gregg Ornstein Phyllis Stern Brenda Lee Williams (left at 7:15 p.m.) Kurt Godfrey, Voting Alternate Thelma Lyons, Administrative Assistant Neighborhood Specialist Absent: Stanley Sorgman I. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Vice Chair Girtman. I1. Roll Call - Regular Members and Alternates The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present. III. Recognition of Visitors Chairman Miller recognized Ms. Diane Pacheco who has re-applied for appointment to the Board. Chairman Miller introduced Thelma Lyons, the Administrative Assistant to the Board's Liaison, Dan DeCarlo, who could not be present tonight. Chairman Miller distributed the Certificates of Appreciation that Board members received at the Annual Board Dinner. IV. March 9, 2005 Minutes Approval Motion Ms. Girtman moved to approve the minutes. Motion seconded by Ms. Stern and unanimously carried. Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 13, 2005 V. Agenda Approval Ms. Mura requested to add under New Business, as item (a), a discussion on the Florida Commission of Ethics fining volunteer members of government boards that fail to file annual Financial Disclosure Forms. Ms. Mura noted that volunteer members of local boards could be fined $1,500 if they do not file the annual Financial Disclosure Forms, and she would like this addressed. There was a recent newspaper article regarding the filing of the form and she would like a ruling from the City whether this Board is subject to filing an annual Financial Disclosure Form. Motion Ms. Stern moved to approve the agenda, as amended. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Girtman and unanimously carried. VI. Correspondence and Announcements Chairman Miller read a letter he received from Sherri Claude, Assistant to the Director of Recreation and Parks. Ms. Claude thanked this Board on behalf of the Advisory Board on Children and Youth for its donation to and support of the Youth Tennis Carnival at Hunter's Run that took place on April 9th. Chairman Miller asked Ms. Stern to give a brief summary on what took place at the Youth Tennis Carnival. Ms. Stern reported that some people on the Board felt there was not enough publicity about the event so that more children could have participated. Also, they would like to have been informed on how to sign up for the event. Ms. Stern noted that it had been advertised in the City's Funfare Magazine, as well as in the newspapers. Ms. Stern reported that the event was a great success, but she would like to have a greater outreach next year so that more children could participate. She noted that 39 children participated and this Board contributed drinks. Many members from the Advisory Board on Children and Youth were present, but no one from this Board attended. The children that did not have tennis rackets were given free ones to keep. Everyone had a wonderful time, but next year she would like to have more outreach to children in other areas of the City. Chairman Miller noted that Saturday was the Great American Clean-up Day that he, along with several residents of his condominium complex, participated in. Chairman Miller distributed pictures of the clean up to members. This year their clean-up efforts were concentrated in the Rosemary Scrub area at the north end of Seacrest Boulevard. Even though the County owns this Scrub, it is located in the City and no one is designated to pick up the litter that accumulates along the area. There is a convenience store in the area that generates a great deal of litter. Ms. Stern noted there was an article in the newspaper regarding the Great American Clean-up and there were no places listed within the City. Ms. Mura stated that there was 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 13, 2005 a poster on the bulletin board at her community that contained telephone numbers for people who wanted to volunteer and Boynton Beach was listed on the clean up list. Chairman Miller reported that Mr. DeCarlo sent out two announcements regarding the clean-up and one of the announcements stated that the Community Relations Board would be participating. Ms. Lyons confirmed that a notice was sent to all communities within the City. Chairman Miller read a copy of the notice that Mr. DeCarlo sent out along with a copy of the new City's Guide to Services. Chairman Miller introduced Gregg Ornstein, the Board's new member and asked Mr. Ornstein to tell the Board about himself. Mr. Ornstein provided the Board with a brief background and stated he was glad that he was appointed to serve on the Board. Members welcomed Mr. Ornstein. VII. Old Business (a) PATCH Update Ms. Lyons reported that the next PATCH Board Meeting would take place on April 21, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Treasure Chest. PATCH continues to work in joint partnership with FAU. The activities for the month of April will focus on HIV and blood pressure checks. (b) Pride In Boynton Beach Chairman Miller reported that no sub-committee meeting took place this past month. He met with Doug Hutchinson, the CRA Director, last week. The CRA is interested in participating with this Board to assist with financing, such as signs, litter receptacles, etc. He will invite the CRA staff to attend the next sub-committee meeting. There are grant funds available for youth programs, painting and repairing houses and this could help the Board get into the community to reach and help people in need. Ms. Stern reported that Keep America Beautiful has a program called Clean Community Systems that provides litter receptacles with their logo on it. (c) Youth Tennis Carnival Previously addressed. (d) Literacy Program (Read Boynton Program) Chairman Miller announced that this program takes place on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month in the Library Program Room from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There are only two more dates remaining because school would be adjourning for the summer. This is a joint program between the High School and the Library and the Community Relations Board has since become involved as well. Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 13, 2005 (e) Heart of Boynton Redevelopment Program Chairman Miller reported that the Boynton Terrace Apartments would be demolished in the near future that will be financed through the CRA. This will be a tremendous improvement in the community and the land could then become available for new development. Vice Chair Girtman commended the CRA in doing a wonderful job to relocate the residents of those apartments that were greatly damaged from the hurricanes. Going back to the Great American Clean-up, Chairman Miller reported that over 100 people participated from 10 different organizations and the main focus was in District 2. In addition to the clean up at Rosemary Scrub, clean ups took place at Golfview Harbor, Ocean Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. Vice Chair Girtman announced that the Pastor and a group of young and adult men who are members of St. Paul's AME Church participated in the clean up along Martin Luther King Boulevard and commended them for their participation. Ms. Stern would like the Board to consider assisting the Advisory Board on Children and Youth next year with their project to bring a teen center to the City similar to the one in Delray Beach. Ms. Stern felt that the youth of the City are in great need of a facility of this type. Vice Chair Girtman noted the wealth of teen activities that take place at the Hester Center and there is great involvement with the Police Department in various programs. She did not think there was a need for another teen center in the City since the Hester Center is available to everyone. Vice Chair Girtman was pleased that the Old High School was being saved and renovated and was pleased that the CRA took this project over. She felt that a refurbished Old High School, along with the Children's Schoolhouse Museum, would become great attractions for the City. VIII. New Business (a) Financial Disclosure Forms Ms. Mura noted there was an article in The Palm Beach Post on Monday, March 21, 2004, entitled "Panel Okays Financial Report Fines." She read from the article that stated it was common knowledge that elected officials are required to file Annual Financial Disclosure Forms. The article then addresses volunteers that sit on boards. In March, the Florida Commission on Ethics approved 70 fines in the amount of $1,500 against volunteers who did not file Financial Disclosure Forms they were required to file. Under State law, people who did not file the Report by September 1st of each year are fined $25 for each day they are late, up to a maximum fine of $1,500. Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida April 13, 2005 Many people that serve on boards are not aware of this requirement. The State's Ethics Commission is considering backing a law that would reduce the fine, but would not eliminate it entirely. However, the article indicated that reducing the fines was unlikely to happen. Motion Ms. Mura moved that this Board receive an interpretation from the City Manager's Office or the Legal Department if members of the Community Relations Board and other City Boards are required to file Financial Disclosure Forms with the State. Motion seconded by Ms. Stern. Mr. Mitchell noted when he served on the City's Civil Service Board he was fined $250 by the State because he did not file a Disclosure Form. However, someone on the State's Ethics Commission reviewed his case and the fine was waived. He reported that members of that Board were required to file the Form annually, but when he left that Board to serve on the Education Advisory Board he was not required to do so. Ms. Pacheco stated when people are appointed to a Board they receive a Guide to the Sunshine Laws and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees. In reading through the pamphlet it mentions that appointed members of certain boards of political subdivisions, including governing bodies, such as code enforcement, planning and zoning and pension boards are required to file Disclosure Forms. She did not think that this Board fell into any of those categories since it is only an advisory board. Vote Chairman Miller called the roll and the motion carried unanimously. Chairman Miller requested that Mr. DeCaflo's Office prepare and send out the necessary letter to the City Manager for a response prior to the May meeting. Mr. Mura amended her motion to include that Mr. DeCarlo prepare a letter on behalf of the Board to the City Manager and Ms. Stern amended her second of the motion. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (April 18, 2005)