Minutes 08-30-00MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD ~MEETING HELD IN
CONFERENCE ROOM "C", WEST WING, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2000 AT 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT
:Ron Washam, Chairman
Beth Miller, Vice Chairperson
David Carter
Joy Currier
iBlanche Girtman
Hansome Jones, Alternate
Brett Sherman
ABSENT
Anne Centi
Eddie Mitchell
Brenda Williams
David Katz, Alternate
ALSO PRESENT
Dan DeCarlo, Neighborhood
Specialist
I. OPENING, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
As Chairman Washam was late coming to the meeting, Vice Chair Miller presided and
led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Vice Chair Miller called the meeting to order at
7:10 p.m.
I. ROLL CALL, REGULAR MEMBERS, ALTERNATES
The roll was called and it was declared that a quorum was present.
I1. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
There were no visitors.
II1. AGENDA APPROVAL
Vice Chair Miller asked if there were additions, deletions or changes to the agenda. Ms.
Girtman made a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Currier seconded the motion that
carried Unanimously.
Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
August 30, 2000
IV. MINUTES APPROVAL - AUGUST 2, 2000
Vice Chair Miller asked if there were any additions, deletions or changes to the minutes.
There were none. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as written.
The motion carried unanimously.
V. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Ms. Currier expressed concern about the fact that the minutes of the public
hearing regarding the renaming of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard were summarized
rather than provided in verbatim form. She felt eloquent statements were made and
should have been transcribed in their entirety. The members did not want anything
taken out of context. Vice Chair Miller agreed that in-depth minutes should have been
prepared since this was a meeting that was sanctioned by the Commission. Ms.
Girtman agreed with these remarks.
Chairman Washam pointed out that the policy of providing capsulized meeting minutes
that touch on the high points was explained to the Board last year. He felt it was not
important to have verbatim minutes as long as the minutes conveyed the correct
message.
When Ms. Currier, Ms. Girtman and Vice Chair Miller insisted that a verbatim transcript
of that meeting be provided, Mr. DeCarlo said he would relay to the City Clerk's Office
that this request had the consensus of the Board.
2) Vice Chair Miller stated that the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice
Commission was having an academy which started September 11 and that it was free,
at the Courthouse, and she highly recommended it. She suggested that interested
persons could make arrangements by calling Jerry Wardrop at 355-1503.
3) Mr. DeCarlo announced that a meeting was set for PATCH for October 11, 2000
from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Library. This was set so the Commission members
could all attend. Mr. Ray Adams will be making a presentation and there will be some
people from other PATCH groups also. An invitation will be sent to the Steering
Committee members so they can get a good idea of what PATCH is all about. Chairman
Washam added that the Community Relations Board members could attend but were
not required to do so. He said that this presentation would help the Commissioners
decide whether to go ahead with the program or not.
4) Ms. Currier said that several people were signed up for the mentoring program
during the Governor's Mentoring Program kick-off.
5) Chairman Washam stated that there would be an artificial reef program on
Ocean Avenue in Lantana on September 23, 2000 and some of the Boynton and
Lantana schools had been invited to come out. He stated that this was a four-year
project that is coming to fruition, putting artificial reefs into the Intracoastal Waterways
near the Lantana Bridge to rejuvenate the fish population in the Intracoastal and the
ocean. They decided to make it like an ecology day where everyone could be brought
together to watch the reefs being deployed. Schools will be there doing projects. There
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
August30,2000
20
volunteers
will be food and entertainment and an invitation was issued to all Board members to
attend if they so desired.
6) Ms. Currier announced that they would be doing a planting project on Ms.
Girtman's land. Mr. Black, Home Depot, the Extension agent, and a lot of wonderful
,~eople want to make Martin ,,,Luther King, Jr. Boulevard something of which to be proud.
he stated she had receive~ .:~1~ from Shelley, and Ms. Margaret Newton with the
Neighborhood Forum gave them $70.00. They want an active yearlong program 'n this
area for young people. The planting season will be the end of September. Ms. Girtman
asked that she be kept posted and Ms. Currier stated she would do so. Ms. Currier
further stated that there were two more lots that Mr. Katz wanted planted.
vi. PUBLIC AUDIENCE
None
Vlh OLD BUSINESS
A) Street Name Discussion Held Last, Week at Rolling Green
Vice Chair Miller stated that there had been a fabulous turnout even though it was very
hot in the gymnasium. A few people got up and spoke about why they wanted the name
changed. Four times as many people got up and spoke about why they didn't want the
name changed. The decision for the Board was relatively simple, they all agreed.
Chairman Washam pointed out that there had been very positive articles in the Sun
Sentinel and in the Post. Mr. DeCarlo offered to send copies to the Board members.
Chairman Washam stated that they had covered the meeting very well and that the
Board had done what it had been charged to do. With Mr. DeCarlo's assistance, a letter
will be put together with our recommendation to the City Commission. They will decide
the issue. He stated that it would probably be dropped because the INCA folks had
dropped their petition. He said it went well and that there had been a unanimous
decision to recommend that the name remain the same. Ms. Currier mentioned that
Kevin Sullivan had dropped his lawsuit also. Chairman Washam said there was a
property owner there who did have an attorney and the Board referred the attorney to
the City Attorney's office, which was the proper thing to do. The position of the Board
was a unanimous vote, which is a matter of public record, and that was their
recommendation. The Community Relation's job is finished and we did it well. Ms.
Girtman reiterated that the Commission should get an actual record of what was said
and not a condensed version. Chairman Washam stated that Commissioner Fisher had
been there through the whole: thing and gave the Board a very high mark of approval.
Chairman Was!ham stated that he had gotten a lot of calls from people who had been
there, saying it was an outstanding decision and that it was a more fair hearing than
people anticipated. He had calls from people on the eastSide thanking him for
encouraging th!em to turn out for the meeting. Chairman Washam asked Mr. DeCarlo
when the recommendation would be going to the Commissioners and Mr. DeCarlo
responded tha~ a follow-up had been done the next day, and that it was on the agenda.
Chairman Waslham suggested that all the members of the Community Relations Board
be at the City iCommission meeting on Wednesday night, September 6, 2000 at 6:30
P.M.
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
August30,2000
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Youth Expo at the Mall in October
Chairman Washam mentioned the Youth Expo being held at the Boynton Beach Mall on
October 27 and 28, 2000. Chairman Washam said they had a booth for two days but
that this Board would be interested in one day only, October 28. The Advisory Board on
Children & Youth plan to give the Community Relations Board the back part of City Hall
in the Mall to conduct any interviews or seminars for kids that need jobs. Chairman
Washam stated that the search was on for people who had opportunities. He had lined
up some human resource people who have said they would be there throughout the day.
They need teenagers and young adults to come. He said it started at 10:00 a.m. and
ran through 6:00 p.m. and that they were not required tobe there all day.
B. Multi-Cultural Festival
Ms. Currier was asked to follow up to make sure that the person who did the face
painting at the Multi-Cultural Festival had received a letter of thanks.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Next Meeting:
October 4, 2000.
At 7:45 P.M., Vice Chair Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Blanche
Girtman seconded the motion that carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Collins
Recording Secretary
(transcribed from one tape and notes of Mr. Dan DeCarlo)
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