Loading...
Minutes 10-12-05 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005 AT 7:00 P.M. Present: Blanche Hearst-Girtman, Vice Chair Eddie Mitchell Joyce Mura Gregg Orenstein Brenda Lee Williams Diane Pacheco, Alternate Thelma Lyons, Interim Neighborhood Specialist Absent: Brian Miller, Chair Alfred Levy Phyllis Stern Stanley Sorgman Kurt Godfrey, Alternate I. Pledge of Allegiance Vice Chair Hearst-Girtman acted as Chair in the absence of Chair Miller and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Mura led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. Acting Chair Hearst-Girtman announced she had received a telephone call from Chair Miller stating that the following persons were going to be absent from the meeting due to a Jewish Holiday, Yom Kippur: AI Levy, Brian Miller, Phyllis Stern, and Stanley Sorgman. III. Recognition of Visitors There were no visitors. IV. Minutes Approval, September 14, 2005 Motion Ms. Williams moved to accept the September 14, 200S minutes as written. Ms. Mura seconded the motion that passed unanimously. V. Agenda Approval Acting Chair Hearst-Girtman requested to add a discussion about Boynton Beach High School to the agenda. Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 12, 2005 Motion Ms. Mura moved to approve the agenda as amended. Ms. Williams seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VI. Correspondence and Announcements Ms. Lyons stated there were no announcements. VII. Old Business A) Pride in Bovnton Beach Review community projects suggested by Ms. Phyllis Stern & Mr. Alfred Levy. Each board member was given a two-page document authored by Ms. Stern and Mr. Levy. They had also been given the document at the previous meeting. Mr. Mitchell felt that the authors should be present to acquaint the board members with their views. Others concurred. Motion Mr. Mitchell moved to table Item VILA until the next Community Relations Board meeting. Ms. Mura seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VIII. New Business 1) CERT Training Overview Ms. Mura is a member of the Fire Department's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and suggested the board invite Deputy Chief Ness to a meeting to explain the program. This is the team that goes out after an emergency like a hurricane to help its neighbors when rescue and fire cannot get to them in a timely manner. The training consists of a seven-week course with minor first aid, search and rescue, and fire suppression. Ms. Mura is a member of the team and recommended the training for everyone on the board. It was her hope that the other board members could interest other members of the community in participating in the training. Ms. Lyons will prepare a letter inviting Deputy Chief Ness. 2) Boynton Beach High School Chair Hearst-Girtman and other board members expressed concern over the FCAT testing and school rating issues at the Boynton Beach High School. They brainstormed to think of ways and means by which the Community Relations Board might be able to help. They spoke of the school having 3 principals in four years and how this had to have an effect on the school. It was felt that concerted action on the part of the board would be more beneficial than individual efforts. A suggestion was made to meet with the principal as a group and talk with her to see what the board could do on behalf of the community to improve the children's grades and get the children interested in themselves, the City, and the City's reputation. The board would be asking the new principal what she needed from the community and would then try to help bring it about. It was noted that the previous two principals had reached out to the community to try to get help. To date, the new principal had not done so, although it was recognized that she had her hands full with a new school at the start of a school year. 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 12, 2005 Other members suggested talking about this in their churches to raise the level of awareness in the community. Comparisons were drawn between Park Vista, Atlantic, and the Boynton Beach High School, and concern was expressed at the ranking of the latter. Some theorized it might be a discipline problem - others mentioned lack of motivation on the part of the students and the potential of apathy or a lack of awareness on the part of the parents. The strong connection between COBWRA residents and Park Vista High School was noted and the question surfaced, "Why not here in East Boynton?" Board member participation on the SAC of Boynton Beach High School was also suggested as a means of helping the school. Ms. Pacheco recalled meeting the previous principal last year when he initiated the Read Boynton program at the Library. She was disappointed when he left and heard the program was not continuing. They had not heard from the high school about continuing it. There was some question about whether Boynton Beach High School was going to be considered as a magnet school, but some thought that this was not moving forward. Ms. Williams felt that not having a sign in front of Boynton Beach High School at either entry was a sore spot. Ms. Lyons agreed, commenting that she had brought this up to the City Manager and that the School Board was working on getting a sign. After working with the principal, it was thought that the next point of contact could be Tom Lynch on the School Board. Mr. Mitchell felt it was important to meet with the new principal first to find out her ideas, goals, and thoughts on the matter. The consensus of the board was that Ms. Brenda Williams would contact the Boynton Beach High School principal since she had gone to school with her and knew her well. Ms. Williams will represent the board in this discussion and bring back her comments to the board. If Deputy Chief Ness was unavailable for the November meeting, the board considered inviting the Boynton Beach High School principal instead. 3) December Meeting The board will vote at the November meeting about whether to have a December meeting. It was thought that the board usually took December off due to the holidays. 4) Next Meeting The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 9, at City Hall, Commission Chambers. IX. Adjournment Since there was no further business before the board, the meeting duly adjourned at 7:4S p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~~-I Susan Collins Recording Secretary ( 101305) 3