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Minutes 02-08-06 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8,2006 AT 10:00 A.M. BOYNTON BEACH LIBRARY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Thomas Kaiser, Chairman Robert Zimmerman, Vice Chairman William Kull Cramer Hegeman Lester McKenzie Karl Washington Stanley Gavlick, Alternate Carisse LeJeune, Board Liaison Alternates: Stuart Preston, Alternate Harvey Oyer, Alternate David Buckner, Alternate Absent: Morris Boruck I. Call to Order Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. Invocation Chair Kaiser gave the invocation. IV. Roll Call of Members The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. V. Agenda Approval Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Chair Kaiser asked for approval of the agenda. He announced he would address his upcoming meeting with the Recreation and Parks Department under New Business. VI. Approval of Minutes Chair Kaiser explained they do not have to read the minutes into the record, he would ask for comments on them. Motion A motion was made by Mr. Zimmerman and seconded by Mr. Gavlick to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Kull had a question on the time change for the Four Chaplains Sunday. Chair Kaiser explained the time was changed to accommodate the Super Bowl. There were no other comments. Vote Chair Kaiser called for a vote to accept the minutes as written. A vote was taken and unanimously carried. VII. Comments by Chair Chair Kaiser recognized Wilma Jean Sims and complimented her for doing a great job at the Four Chaplain's Sunday event. VIII. Comments by Visitors There were no comments from visitors. IX. Business Items a. Resolution to open Honorary Membership to ten (10) persons Chair Kaiser reviewed this item had been discussed at the last meeting. The Resolution originally set the number of Honorary Members at five. Later the number was changed to 10. Chair Kaiser interjected one of the Gold Star Mothers is extremely ill. Mr. Oyer explained he had the Gold Star Mother application for Ms. Girtman-Pitts and then gave a brief overview of her life. Ms. Girtman-Pitts was noted as one of the 11 individuals on the list for Honorary Membership. Ms. LeJeune read the names of the individuals interested in serving as Honorary Members as follows: 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Angelina Milano, Gold Star Mother; Larry Goldgeier, Veterans Affairs; Marvin Liebensohn, Jewish War Veterans; Jerry Jones, Eastern Paralyzed Veterans; Wilbur Jean Sims, American Legion Auxiliary; Bill Andrea, US Submarine Veterans.; Marilyn Nemes, American Legion Auxiliary; Rear Admiral Thomas E. Morris, US Battle Monuments; General Albin Irzyk, Retired: Tom Bagley; Hilda Girtman-Pitts, Gold Star Mother. Chair Kaiser announced the Veterans Advisory Commission could unofficially accept those 11 applicants. He explained he would approach the individuals on the list that attended the first meeting to determine their level of interest, since they have not attended a meeting since then. He reiterated as the Commission moves along, if they want more than (10) members, they can address that within the organization and asked for a motion that the Honorary Members be accepted. Ms. LeJeune clarified the Resolution specifically indicates 10 members. Motion A motion was made by Mr. Zimmerman and seconded by Mr. McKenzie to accept ten (10) Honorary Members. A vote was taken and unanimously carried. There was discussion on the process of elimination. Ms. LeJeune suggested tabling the motion until the next meeting. There was consensus that was acceptable. b. Eternal Flame Memorial i. Discussion ii. Site Location iii. Request the City to call for designs of Memorial Chair Kaiser explained plans for the Memorial will proceed once the City develops a downtown plan. The next step would involve the Arts Commission. Ms. LeJeune explained at the prompting of Commissioner Ensler, Wally Majors, Director of Recreation and Parks contacted Arleen Dennison of the Arts Commission about how to proceed. She explained the next step would be to put out a Call for Artists for the monument. The Arts Commission is arranging to meet and review the schematics Commissioner Ensler provided. They will then put together specifications that would be included in the Call For Artists. The results would come before the Veterans Advisory Commission. Once approved, the Call for Artists would be sent out. There was discussion about the project site. Mr. Oyer indicated he wrote the City Manager, and expressed his belief the property could be improved and the trees removed. The City Manager replied the trees needed to stay on the site. Chair Kaiser was in favor of any park enhancements and elaborated the monument would be in the corner fronting Ocean Avenue for visibility. 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Mr. Oyer asked if the Merchant Marines were invited to participate in the process. Chair Kaiser explained they were not invited but are included in the monument. Mr. Zimmerman added when the Four Chaplain's Sunday event was held, it was noted one of the vessels that sank in the North Atlantic was a Merchant Marine Ship. He indicated many Merchant Marines died during the war and should be honored. Mr. Oyer mentioned the development of the High Speed Rail as it pertained to the Eternal Flame Memorial location. He pointed out the railroad owns the property by 4th Street and if the rail comes to fruition, the Memorial would be much more visible. c. Memorial at American Legion Post 164 Chair Kaiser reviewed the original project started out at the request of Les McKenzie. The Post endorsed the idea and began fundraising. The Veterans Advisory Commission voted to keep the American Legion Memorial as part of their Memorial project. He indicated funds could be allocated from their Memorial fund to assist the American Legion with their Memorial. Ms. LeJeune explained if the Veterans are looking for additional Community Investment Funds, which are the funds that will be used for the Eternal Flame Memorial, the request should be directed to a City Commissioner in the form of a letter. The letter should include language that would indicate whatever funds are spent would benefit the City as a whole. Chair Kaiser indicated a letter would be sent to Commissioner Ensler. He asked for a motion specifying how much money for this project should be taken from the Eternal Flame Memorial Funds and be set-aside specifically for the American Legion Memorial. Motion Mr. Zimmerman made a motion that the Veterans Advisory Commission set aside $10,000 to help enhance the Memorial at the American Legion site. Mr. Zimmerman amended his motion to change the amount to $5,000. Mr. Hegeman seconded the motion. Chair Kaiser called for discussion on the motion. Mr. Oyer asked if the Veterans Advisory Commission had a concept of what they wanted to see on that site. Chair Kaiser responded a budget should be developed first. He added they envisioned the concept of an eternal flame. One of the corner posts located at the gateway to Boynton is remaining. That was the original project site because it had a tall structure with a roman type vase, which they could place a light on. The American Legion began fundraising. Then the City indicated they wanted a monument downtown, which would be the City's Veterans Monument. The original idea was that some of those funds would be allocated to the American Legion and they would not be left out of the Veterans Advisory Commissions plans. 4 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Mr. Oyer clarified the gates were on both side of the road and were the entrance to a real estate development. The new monument would be incorporated into that location on a raised pedestal. Vote The Chair called the question and the motion unanimously passed. A letter will be sent to Commissioner Ensler indicating a motion was made, seconded and adopted to ask the City to set aside part of the funds for the American Legion Monument on the basis that the American Legion was the originator of the concept of the monument, and they will have an eternal flame at their memorial as well as on the City's Memorial. Mr. Zimmerman indicated many veterans' organizations have funds in their treasury. Motion Mr. Zimmerman made a motion that $1,000 from each organization should be expended on the monument. Chair Kaiser responded the American Legion already donated to the Monument and some of the organizations do not have any funds at all. Mr. Zimmerman withdrew his motion. There was discussion whether the American Legion monument is on public property Commissioner Ensler arrived at 10:54 a.m. and Chair Kaiser reviewed the progress of the meeting with him. Commissioner Ensler recommended determining what the Veterans Advisory Commission wants to accomplish, and then determining how much money can be spent. He thought it was premature to approach the City for funding until the Veterans had something to show the City. He also explained the funds could come out of his Discretionary Funds for this year. Chair Kaiser suggested the Veterans Advisory Commission take no action on the prior vote. Commissioner Ensler expressed his belief the project would receive support from the City Commission. He requested the Veterans let him work for them. d. Resolution to memorialize 1-95 to POW-MIA Memorial Highway Chair Kaiser announced the City Commission endorsed the concept of the POW-MIA Memorial Highway along the 1-95 corridor. He explained his next step would be to go to the cities of Delray and Jupiter, to request their council's endorsement. With three cities supporting the concept, the County could endorse the concept and then the State could be approached. He requested Commanders be contacted to attend the meetings for a show of support. Ms. LeJeune advised when the City of Boynton Beach traveled as representatives for ASA (Americans Supporting Americans); they attended the Palm Beach County City Managers Association and the Palm Beach County League of Cities. She informed 5 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Chair Kaiser they were able to reach many city managers and elected officials at one time. She informed the Chair if he would be interested in appearing before those bodies, she could assist with getting him on the agenda. Chair Kaiser requested she assist him in being placed on the agenda. Motion Mr. Zimmerman made a motion to withdraw his prior motion regarding setting aside funds. Mr. Kull seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. e. Holiday Schedule for 2006 i. Memorial Day: May 28, 2006 ii. Veterans Day: November 5 or 11, 2006 Chair Kaiser reviewed the holiday schedule. The Memorial Day activities will commence at 2 P.M. at the cemetery on May 28,2006. Chair Kaiser announced there had been an earlier meeting of the Veterans Council that set the Veterans Day Activities for November 5,2006, at 2 P.M. at Intracoastal Park. x. New Business Items Commissioner Ensler explained the appointment process to the Veterans Advisory Commission. He reviewed there are three categories of members: Regular, Alternate and Honorary. Alternates and Honorary Members have one-year terms and the City Commission makes appointments every year in April. He explained Messrs. McKenzie and Hegeman's terms are three-year terms and they also need to be re-appointed. Commissioner Ensler suggested the Veterans Advisory Commission recommend they be re-appointed for three-year terms. Motion Mr. Zimmerman made a motion to recommend Messrs. McKenzie and Hegeman be appointed for a term of three years effective April 1, 2006. Mr. Kull seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Commissioner Ensler recommended another motion be made for the re-appointment of the four Alternates. Motion A motion was made by Mr. Hegeman to accept Messrs. Gavlick, Preston, Oyer and Buckner as Alternates for the incoming terms starting April 1, 2006. The motion was seconded by Mr. Washington and unanimously passed. 6 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL February 8, 2006 Ms. LeJeune will assist the members in completing their applications. There was further discussion the appointments to the Honorary Members category could be set-aside for the moment. Commissioner Ensler reviewed the process for the monument and added there was a positive reaction from the Recreation and Parks Department regarding the monument. He further suggested giving Ms. LeJeune the authority to forward to the City Commission, the final 10 names submitted to her by Chair Kaiser for appointment as Honorary Members. Motion A motion was made by Mr. Gavlick for Chair Kaiser to determine the final 10 names from the list of 11 Honorary Members. The list would be submitted to Ms. LeJeune who will forward the information to the City Commission for appointment in the Honorary Members category. Mr. Kull seconded the motion that unanimously passed. XI. Benediction, Moment of Silent Prayer Chair Kaiser led the Benediction. XII. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 11 :22 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Catherine Cherry- uberman Recording Secretary (021106) 7