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Minutes 11-03-99 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1999 AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Ron Washam, Chairman Arthur Lee, Human Resources Manager Beth Miller, Vice Chairperson John Critchett (went home sick) Blanche Girtman Joy Currier, Voting Alternate ABSENT Hansome Jones Stephanie Mingo-McKoy Brett Sherman Brenda Lee Williams I. OPENING Chairman Washam called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Chairman Washam asked Vice Chair Miller to lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to be followed by a moment of silent prayer. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll and a quorum was declared present. st Chairman Washam noted that at the Forum held on October 21 all Board members to change were present, except for Ms. Mingo-McKoy. At that meeting members voted the date and time of the Board meetings to the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Washam welcomed Art Lee who was acting as City Liaison to the Board for this meeting. III. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Chairman Washam welcomed Mr. Ed Currier who was a guest. MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 IV. AGENDA APPROVAL Chairman Washam asked if any member had anything that they would like to add to the agenda? Ms. Currier requested to add an item under New Business “Thanksgiving at HeadStart by Ms. Lena Rahming”. st Vice Chair Miller would like to discuss the October 21 Forum and future Forums, as well as dissemination of information on the Forums and their locations. Chairman Washam stated this would also be added under New Business. Chairman Washam requested the addition of the S.T.A.R. Program under New Business. Motion Vice Chair Miller moved to approve the Agenda, as amended. Motion seconded by Ms. Currier, which carried unanimously. V. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Miller said she received a written concern from Ms. Elizabeth Jenkins who attended the Forum. Ms. Jenkins would like this Board to continue to go out into the Community and she requested that the Board hold Unity Day again. Vice Chair Miller announced that there would be a fundraiser on Saturday, November 6, 1999 at the Aberdeen Country Club for the Dick Weber Center for Child Abuse Prevention. The cost is $75.00 per person which includes, a cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, casino night, live sound and Chinese auction. Chairman Washam announced that the Key Club of Santaluces Community High School would be holding a car wash this Saturday at Denny’s on Hypoluxo and Military Trail. The money will go to Food for Families for Thanksgiving. This Board agreed to support the Proclamation for Megan Keller Week at the beginning of December. The Kiwanis Club has added their support for the Proclamation, as well as the Santaluces Key Club. Chairman Washam said the Board should do more to support awareness of organ donations. Vice Chair Miller said that a float will be sponsored by COTA (Children’s Organ Transplant Association), which will be entered by the City’s Youth Council in the Holiday Parade. Also, the Kiwanis Club is being asked to hold their Kid I.D. Kit program to be tied in with a donor I.D. card program. Green ribbons (the universal symbol for organ donors) will be handed out. An awareness booth at the Boynton Beach Mall is being 2 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 discussed to distribute flyers and organ-donor sign-up cards would be available. The University of Miami would furnish these items. They have also contacted Michael Jordan to determine if he could attend a co-sponsored Boynton Beach and Delray Beach event. Ms. Currier inquired if this Board would be participating in the Holiday Parade? Chairman Washam suggested the Board could assist COTA with their entry. Vice Chair Miller announced that the Garlic Festival is being held in Delray Beach this weekend. The Boynton Exchange Club is in need of volunteers. Chairman Washam noted this is the time of year for Food for Families, which supplies food to people during the Holiday Season. Chairman Washam commended Ms. Currier for helping with these programs over the past several years. Channel 5 is a major sponsor for this event. Vice Chair Miller announced that the Lord’s Place is continually looking for volunteers. Currently, there are 20 families in residence. Ms. Girtman said she has concerns regarding sickle cell anemia, which is predominately an African/American disease and would like the Board to help. She noted there is no local chapter and would like to see one in Boynton Beach. Chairman Washam said this is the type of issue that should be brought to the City’s legislative representatives and they should be made aware that this could effect 38% of this Community’s population. th Mr. Ed Currier, 449 SW 4 Avenue, suggested that the Board contact the National Association for Sickle Cell Anemia and to open a place where information could be distributed to people in the Community. Ms. Currier noted that such a place is present in Delray Beach. Vice Chair Miller suggested contacting the Delray Beach Chapter to determine how to accomplish this. Mr. Currier also noted that there are two other types of similar cell diseases. One is related to people of Jewish ancestry and the other is related to ancestry from the Mediterranean area. All these diseases are similar in that they involve the changing of the shape of the red blood cells to breakdown, which in turn causes anemia, and eventually results in death. Ms. Girtman asked if there was anyone in the City who handles these types of requests and Mr. Lee said there was no one. Vice Chair Miller felt this is something that should be handled through the County Health Department. Ms. Girtman said that there is no County affiliation for health services in this area and this service is greatly needed in Boynton Beach. Ms. Girtman said that several years ago they tried to get a health services agency to locate in the City, but were unsuccessful. Vice Chair Miller said she 3 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 heard a rumor that a new health care facility may be locating in the City soon. Mr. Lee was unaware of this. Vice Chair Miller suggested contacting the County’s Health Care District to determine the status of this need. Ms. Girtman said she continually sees many health-related problems come through the day care center. Chairman Washam noted that there used to be health care facilities in the City, but are no longer present. He too feels there is a great need for this service and that the City’s legislative representatives should be contacted. Another issue that needs attention is the need for a market in the downtown area. When the Winn-Dixie Market moved out of downtown, this placed a tremendous burden on people who do not have transportation to have a place to shop. Ms. Currier noted that the City has a bus system that goes into the neighborhoods and picks people up to take them shopping and to doctor appointments. Ms. Girtman would like the Community Relations Board to work together as a community project to get a health care facility in the City. Chairman Washam said a report will be given at next month’s meeting on the progress made in this direction. If the th information is available before the Commission meeting scheduled for November 16, he will bring this issue to their attention and inform the Commission that this is something the Board is going to actively pursue. Mr. Lee agreed with Ms. Girtman and noted Boynton Beach is the County’s third largest City and that the City is large enough to support a health care facility. Motion Vice Chair Miller moved that the Community Relations Board take on the assignment of looking into and promoting a Community Health Care Center in the City of Boynton Beach within the next year. Motion seconded by Ms. Girtman. Motion unanimously carried. th Chairman Washam requested that all Board members be present on November 16 when he makes his presentation to the Commission. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Thanksgiving at HeadStart by Ms. Lena Rahming Ms. Currier informed members that they were in need of donations of turkeys and money to purchase other food items. It is anticipated that between 600 to 900 people will be fed. Vice Chair Miller said she might be able to assist with the turkeys and will get back to Ms. Currier on this. Ms. Currier stated they need 40 turkeys. 4 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 The food is delivered by the City’s police officers to shut-ins, elderly and families with children that have no food. Ms. Currier stated that volunteers at various places throughout the City cook all the food. Also, ethnic food is prepared and all donations are tax deductible. Ms. Currier said there was a family with eight children in the City that was devastated during Hurricane Irene and lost everything. Ms. Currier and Ms. Rahming went looking to help this family out and through the Lord’s Place and the Haven, they were given enough furniture to fill their house. Ms. Currier would like a letter from the City thanking the Lord’s Place and the Haven for their assistance. Discussion took place about giving food throughout all the year and not just at holiday times, as there are hungry people out there. Chairman Washam said that one of the purposes of this Board has always been to help people get the services they need. Vice Chair Miller asked how information about the Shopper Hopper could be dispersed throughout the City. Mr. Lee said that the water bills contain information about the bus service. Also, there is a number that could be called for bus information. st B. Community Forum held October 21 and future Forums Vice Chair Miller reported that the first Forum was not as well attended as anticipated. Also, she felt the parking was very limited at Fire Station #3 due to all the construction taking place. She noted, however, that the participation that took place was positive. Vice Chair Miller would like to see the Forums continue and would like the City to put the Board through a mediation training course. Vice Chair Miller would like to hold the next Board Forum at the Woman’s Club which the City is now making available for meetings. Chairman Washam was of the opinion that both he and Mrs. Girtman have had 16 years of mediation training and did not think it was necessary for all members. Mr. Currier requested to address the Board on this item. Mr. Currier felt the last Forum was all politicking and posturing by persons who may someday run for office. Vice Chair Miller said it was noted prior to the meeting that politics were not to be an issue and not to be discussed. Chairman Washam did not agree with what Mr. Currier said. Chairman Washam stated that this Board did not bring politics into the Forum. Mr. Currier said there were people in the audience that did. Chairman Washam said that the Forum was an open Forum for people to come and voice their opinion with no restrictions. Mayor Broening was present at the meeting as an observer and a citizen and this was pointed out. 5 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 Chairman Washam would like to see the Forum brought into the Community to discuss social problems that exist in the City. He commended Ms. Sarah Williams and her Forum. He said that he has attended all her Forums since January. The people who attend her meetings are not afraid to speak and don’t beat around the bush. He would like to see the same thing happen with our Board Forums. Vice Chair Miller said she spoke with Chief Gage to determine if he ever conducted a Town Meeting and he has not. She would like the Forum to be known as a Town Meeting in order that City issues can be addressed as opposed to just neighborhood issues. Chairman Washam would like to see these Town Meetings begin in January and take place around the City. It is important that the meetings are advertised and that the proper people from the City participate. Vice Chair Miller said because of the Hurricane, the Forum did not get into the papers. Town Hall Meeting on January 5, 2000, After discussion it was determined to have a which is the first Wednesday in January, at the Woman’s Club. Chairman Washam would like more elected officials to attend. Motion Vice Chair Miller moved that this Board arrange to hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Boynton Woman’s Club on Wednesday, January 5, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in conjunction with this Board’s regular meeting. Motion seconded by Joy Currier, which carried unanimously. Vice Chair Miller announced that the Chamber of Commerce will be holding a legislative luncheon on November 23,1999 at 11:30 at the Bethesda Hospital. C. S.T.A.R. Program Chairman Washam noted that the dates for the S.T.A.R. Program had been changed several times and there were cancellation dates. He felt because of this no students showed up to participate. Chairman Washam also said that some Board members abandoned the Program and Mr. Charlie Fisher from Children and Youth showed up to help along with Joy and Ed Currier. Chairman Washam said that a reporter had asked him what he would do if no one showed up or just one child showed up. If only one showed up, he said he would stay with the youngster all day and mentor him and he would be pleased to have one child participate. The program is a worthwhile program and he does not want to see the Program abandoned like this year. Chairman Washam would like this entire Board to be united whenever it takes on a project. Last year, 24 students got jobs through the S.T.A.R. Program. 6 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA November 3, 1999 Chairman Washam wished to thank Ms. Debbie Majors of the Recreation Department for her assistance with the S.T.A.R. Program. Also he would like to thank the entire Recreation Department staff and the Library staff for their help. Ms. Currier wished to thank Old Style Pizza for giving the children at HeadStart their Halloween Party on Friday. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 7