Minutes 09-10-08
MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008, AT 7:00 P.M.
IN CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Brian Miller, Chair
Victor Norfus, Vice Chair
Belky Cruz
Eddie Mitchell
Joyce Mura
Stanley Sorgman
Phyllis Stern
Judy Immer, Alt
ABSENT:
Blanche Hearst-Girtman
Paula Melley
I. Call Meeting to Order - Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Mr. Mitchell led the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag and the members observed a moment of silence in
remembrance of the events that occurred on September 11th.
II. Roll Call
This item was addressed later in the meeting.
III. Recognition of Visitors
Chair Miller recognized Ms. Gertrude Sullivan.
IV. Approval of Agenda
Chair Miller added an update on the High School Book Donation effort by Ms.
Stern to the agenda under Old Business.
A report from Vice Chair Norfus on the Intergenerational Gathering would be
given and Chair Miller would be requesting volunteers for the upcoming Holiday
Parade.
Motion
Ms. Stern moved to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Sorgman seconded
the motion that unanimously passed.
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
September 10, 2008
II. Roll Call (Heard Out of Order)
The Recording Secretary called the roll and determined a quorum was present.
V. Approval of Minutes from July 9,2008
There was one correction to the minutes which was Ms. Mura's name should be
listed as absent.
Motion
Mr. Sorgman moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Stern seconded
the motion that unanimously passed.
VI. Reports/Updates:
Gertrude Sullivan, 201 NE 6th Avenue, advised they were having their annual
Heart of Boynton meeting at the Carolyn Sims Center at Wilson Park on Monday,
September 15, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. She invited all to attend. The Principal of the
High School would be present and they would have a Voter's Registration Drive.
She requested the members support the community and advised they were
trying to keep the community and its amenities intact.
VII. Pride in Boynton Update
a) Heart of Boynton (HOB) and Federal Highway Trash Receptacles
Chair Miller announced the trash receptacles would be distributed over the next
two weeks and would be located on corners throughout the Heart of Boynton and
certain designated corners along Federal Highway. The High School art students
would beautify the trash receptacles and he supported their involvement. He
hoped at the Heart of Boynton meeting on Monday, a Fall Beautification Program
would be discussed.
b) Neighborhood Crime Watch
Vice Chair Norfus advised this item was on hold as he was having difficulty with
contact numbers. He was also working on a project for the Boynton Beach
Historical Society.
Mr. Mitchell requested an update on streetlights. Vice Chair Norfus explained
streetlights were installed and helped in the areas where drugs were a problem.
He noted one of the streets did not even have a light pole.
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
September 10, 2008
Mr. Sorgman reported there were improvements in the streetlights throughout the
City. Outside contractors were hired to do the work and he hoped this would
help alleviate problems many neighborhoods were having. The members were
asked to notify Chair Miller if they were aware of any locations needing the lights.
It was thought upgrading needed to occur throughout the City. It was also
recommended that if a streetlight or a light replacement was requested, the
highest wattage available, which was 150 watts, should be requested.
Ms. Cruz noted the area of Gateway, from NE 1st Court to Federal Highway,
could use more lighting. She advised they received lights but they needed to be
brighter.
Mr. Sorgman explained he and Chair Miller had been meeting with the City
Engineer every Friday regarding the Gateway project which involved lighting. He
explained the present lights were designed for looks and not light which was not
what was requested. There was also a case where the City was suing the
contractors and visa versa. As a result, the project remained unfinished and
stopped just before it reached Village Royale on the Green. It was anticipated
the project would not be completed in the immediate future.
Recycling bins were ordered for the area but different bins were delivered. The
members were appreciative of the progress that was made and agreed, in spite
of the hardships, the area looked great.
VIII. Old Business
Ms. Stern advised she just returned to Florida and she anticipated they would
have a wonderful book donation for the High School. She was coordinating with
others to collect the books and would then contact the Principal regarding how to
get the books to the school. Chair Miller explained the Community Relations
Board would facilitate getting the books to the High School.
Vice Chair Norfus reported the Intergenerational Gathering was a success. He
explained many youths attended and there were various booths. Backpacks were
distributed from the Police Department as was other items from the Children's
Schoolhouse Museum. Next year they planned on combining the Family Picnic
Day and the Intergenerational Day together.
Chair Miller thanked the members who purchased season football tickets for
Boynton Beach High School. He explained he attended a game and a large
crowd was present. Commissioner Hay would be the team Pastor and would
lead the team in prayer at all home games.
Chair Miller thanked the members that volunteered at the event, both as
members of the CERT team and as members of the Board. He explained they
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
September 10, 2008
sold tickets for the High School football games at the event. He announced
leadership begins at the top and the entire City Commission purchased season
tickets along with the City Manager, and other department heads.
a) Board Discussion: Boynton Beach Community High School
Volunteer Program.
Chair Miller announced he met with the Principal of the High School and they
need volunteers in the front office to greet and welcome people, and answer
telephones in the morning and afternoon hours. They also need clerical
volunteers to work with the school secretaries. He requested anyone interested
in volunteering to contact him.
Mr. Mitchell explained there is a State and County volunteer program and
inquired if the volunteers would be part of that program. Chair Miller explained it
was to reach out to the community and to do what they could to assist the school.
He noted there were very few volunteers and they had a small volunteer
program. Any assistance they would give would be to supplement their program.
Mr. Mitchell thought in order for students to learn, good discipline in the
classroom should be maintained. He explained if they do not have discipline, the
number of volunteers would not matter. Chair Miller explained his observation
was the Principal maintains control and has the respect of the students.
Additionally, the Principal, when he appeared before the Board, explained his
goal was to bring the school to an A-rating. A new brochure was circulated at the
school and it appears the school was moving forward.
Chair Miller announced volunte~rs were needed for the Holiday Parade, which
would take place in early December. The Community Relations Board has had a
presence in the parade for the last two years and he hoped the Board could have
an expanded presence. There was brief discussion there would be a scheduling
conflict with the parade between the CERT program and Board members since
some members belonged to both organizations.
Chair Miller hoped to involve some of the High School students in the parade,
and have the youth create a banner. There was expertise at the High School and
showcasing it at the parade would be a good experience for all. In the past, Chair
Miller's car was decorated with lights and members either rode in the vehicle or
marched in the parade. He expressed since they have been working with the
High School, they may have greater participation or even have a float. The more
they involved the youth, the better it would be.
b) Board Member Ideas for the American Assembly Subcommittee
"Road Show"
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
September 10, 2008
Chair Miller announced from discussions held at the American Assembly, a
recommendation from the City Commission was received concerning the
Community Relations Board developing a "Road Show." He noted Ms. Stern
was involved with the subcommittee and he inquired what she saw was needed
to put a show together.
Ms. Stern explained ascertaining what the community wanted and creating a
roadmap would be helpful. The Community Relations Board could then plan
those items for the following year. This would involve visiting with cohesive
groups and organizations.
The "Road Show" was different than the Neighborhood Networking meetings.
The different needs of the City were identified and one of the needs was
community relations, separate and apart from the Community Relations Board.
The concept of visiting associations and moving forward from there could be a
good starting point. Ms. Lyons would have a listing of associations and Ms. Mura
would contact her for a list of the updated members. Ms. Mura, Ms. Immer and
Ms. Cruz agreed to work on the initiative.
Another item discussed was having off-site meetings or a combination of off-site
meetings and meetings in the Commission Chamber. The members discussed
having a meeting with an audience was good, but they acknowledged unless
there was a major issue, very few people attend the meetings. Chair Miller
advised they could probably use any City facility for the meetings, or use the
High School. The "Road Show" would be a long-range project. Ms. Mura agreed
to serve as the Chair.
IX. New Business
a) Board Discussion: October 8th meeting (Yom Kippur, begins at
sunset (1) Continue as scheduled (2) Reschedule (3) Cancel
Chair Miller explained the next 'meeting falls on the Yom Kippur holiday, which
starts at sundown. The holiday is a day of atonement for past sins and it is spent
in prayer and fasting. The members discussed moving the next meeting date to
October 6th.
Motion
Ms. Mura moved to reschedule the October meeting to October 6, 2008. Mr.
Sorgman seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
Ms. Mura made two announcements. 'The first was the Ocean Avenue Green
Market, run by the Community Caring Center, was doing business as the Ocean
Avenue Green Market Restaurant. She explained they serve lunch and dinner
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Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Board
Boynton Beach, Florida
September 10, 2008
and the food was good. The exact location is on the southeast corner of Boynton
Beach Boulevard and NE 3rd Street, formerly the location of Crazy Joes. She
also announced every Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. they have After-Hours
Jazz at the Green Market.
The next announcement was the City of Boynton Beach was recognized in the
Elder Update Newsletter regarding their joining the Communities for a Lifetime
program through the Recreation and Parks Department. The article mentioned
the Senior Center was one of only six centers in the program and the first
accredited center in the State of Florida.
x. Adjournment
Motion
Ms. Cruz moved to adjourn. Vice Chair Norfus seconded the motion that
unanimously passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
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Catherine Cherry
Recording Secretary
091108
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