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Minutes 05-13-98 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1998 AT 7:30 P.M. PRESENT Ron Washam, Chairman Hank Ackermann, Neighborhood Maynie L. Boles Project Specialist Joy Currier Blanche Girtman Stephanie Mingo-McCoy Eric Schnetzer Brenda Lee Williams Sheilah G. White, Alternate ABSENT Belky Cruz I. OPENING, PLEDGE, PRAYER Chairman Washam called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. Eric Schnetzer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a moment of silent prayer followed. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll and a quorum was declared present. III. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Chairman Washam acknowledged the presence of Hank Ackermann, the City’s Neighborhood Specialist. III. AGENDA APPROVAL Eric Schnetzer moved that the Agenda be approved. Motion seconded by Ms. White and was unanimously carried. V. MINUTES APPROVAL Ms. Currier moved that the Minutes of the April 8, 1998 meeting be approved. Motion seconded by Eric Schnetzer and was unanimously carried. MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Youth In Government Chairman Washam asked Ms. Currier to give an update on the Day. Ms. Currier informed the Board that the Youth In Government Day was a great success. All Department heads were represented and the students participated with great enthusiasm. Ms. Currier noted that the student Police Chief of the day was especially motivated and was a great thrill to watch. The evening ceremonies that were held in the Commission Chambers were very enjoyable. The entire day was videotaped and the videotape will be sent to the various schools that had student participation. Also Ms. Currier stated that the Month of the Child Day in the Park held in April was a huge success. There were 1500 children present during the day. Ms. Currier informed the Board that Commissioner Jamie Titcomb was present and he is now a member of the National Board of Head Start. Also, representatives from Palm Beach County were present. Chairman Washam thanked the City Staff for a wonderful job in coordinating the Youth in Government Day and a special thank you to Ms. Currier for her participation throughout the entire day; Eric Schnetzer for his hard work; and Charlie Fisher, a Board Member of Children and Youth Board, for his assistance also. Motion Ms. Currier made a motion that the Community Relations Board should send a thank you to all Department Heads, especially Ms. Joyce Costello for coordinating the day and making Youth in Government Day such a great success. Ms. Girtman seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. (Subsequent to the meeting, Ms. Currier requested that Wilfred Hawkins be included on the list to receive thank you letters. ) VII. Public Audience Ms. Girtman thanked all the Board Members and all her friends in the City of Boynton Beach for the many cards, thoughts and words of support given to her upon the passing of her dear sister. VIII. Unfinished Business 2 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ None IX. NEW BUSINESS A. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN Chairman Washam asked for nominations for Chairman. Eric Schnetzer nominated Ron Washam as Chairman. Ms. Currier seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Washam thanked the members for electing him to the Office of Chairman. Mr. Washam stated this was his sixth year as Chairman of the Community Relations Board and this is the only Board he has ever wanted to serve on. Chairman Washam further expressed how much he has enjoyed working with the members of the Board who are all committed to the goals of the Community Relations Board. Chairman Washam also stated that it looks like this current Board will be a very proactive Board and will be working together to make Boynton Beach a better community. Chairman Washam entertained motions for Vice Chairperson. Ms. Williams nominated Joy Currier as Vice Chairperson and Stephanie Mingo- McCoy seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Washam informed the Board that Ms. Currier has served on the Community Relations Board for many years and deserves recognition for all her hard work over the years. Vice Chairperson Currier informed the Board that all the work she performs is done on behalf of the Community Relations Board. B. NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT MEETING Chairman Washam announced that there will be a Neighborhood Summit Meeting held on Monday, May 18, 1998 at the Boynton Beach Library between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and asked Mr. Ackermann to address the Board on the items planned for that meeting. Mr. Hank Ackermann informed the Board that the Neighborhood Summit Group Meeting is the quarterly meeting where all neighborhood associations, 3 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ homeowner’s associations and any citizen who may be interested in helping the Community are invited to attend. This is the fourth meeting of the Group which originally started in June last year. The idea was to have neighborhoods get together and discuss some of their common concerns. There were four particular areas that have been prioritized. The Neighborhood Summit Group will be forming four committees to address four concerns of the Group. One committee will address communication between the City and neighborhoods and residents, and helping out neighborhoods where needed. Another committee will be addressing safety and crime. After Monday night’s meeting, these committees will be meeting on their own and will be bringing their suggestions back to the Group. A third committee will be addressing redevelopment and appearance and a fourth will be looking at Federal Highway and the proposed expansion of the Community Redevelopment Area. Mr. Ackermann further stated that there are a number of neighborhood associations at the north end of Federal Highway and homeowner associations at the south end of Federal Highway who have various concerns on the Federal Highway CRA boundaries. Mr. Ackermann urged the Board to attend this meeting to offer their input. Mr. Ackermann stated that some City staff department personnel will be in attendance, in particular representatives from Public Works and the Code Compliance Board. Chairman Washam stated that this was a very important meeting and this particular issue was discussed at the Board Summit Meeting in April and the need to get involved with the neighborhoods. Also Chairman Washam stated that there was a neighborhood meeting in the south end last month which this Board actively participated in to help quell some volatile problems. Through the combined efforts of this Board, the Police Department, the Code Enforcement Board and Mr. Ackermann, the issues at hand were addressed, which were drugs and crime. Chairman Washam expressed his desire that as many Board members attend this important meeting th on Monday, May 18. Mr. Ackermann asked Mr. Washam to present a brief overview of the Community Relations Board at Monday night’s meeting. 4 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ C. ADDITIONAL ITEMS Ms. Girtman stated that she had three concerns which she would like this Board to address at tonight’s meeting and because she had arrived late did not have an opportunity to have the items added to tonight’s’ agenda. Ms. Girtman stated that every summer the problem of lack of employment for teenagers comes up and this needs to be addressed. Ms. Girtman stated that in the past this Board assisted youth in obtaining summer jobs. However, the program fell through the next year. Ms. Girtman stated that there are so many young people in the City in need of jobs and there are a great deal of young people who want to work, but can’t find a job. Secondly, Ms. Girtman wanted it stated on the record but there are gangs of youth hanging out on the corners in the summer; there is no where for these teenagers to go and there is no type of recreation or entertainment for them. Ms Girtman also stated that school is still in progress and th already on 6 Avenue and Seacrest you can see kids hanging out, sitting around in chairs and something needs to be done about this situation. Also, Ms. Girtman said that as autos travel the roads, a driver will stop the car in the middle of the road, forcing all cars behind him to stop while this car engages in a conversation, holding up traffic with no regard for the cars behind them. Ms. Girtman stated the police department should address this issue. Mr. Ackermann stated he would bring this issue up with the Chief of Police. Chairman Washam felt that this Board should sponsor a job fair that would be geared to the students in this Community and the parents as well. Transportation to and from work has to be addressed. Interview techniques should be taught and people could be present at the job fair to assist in these areas. Also, individuals involved in the job fair should be familiar with students’ needs in our area as well. Ms. Girtman stressed that particular emphasis should be placed on older teens and unwed mothers who lack skills and knowledge on how to get into the workforce and become productive. Methods to assist these young folks need to be developed. 5 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ Ms. Mingo-McCoy stated that she is President of the Juvenile Transition Center and they have an interagency agreement with Lockheed-Martin and the Workforce Development Board. The Juvenile Transition Center will be presenting a job fair in the month of September to commemorate Labor Day. The Job Fair will take place at the Hester Community Center and the Workforce Development Board has agreed to assist these youngsters, as well as their parents, in developing the necessary skills to obtain a job. Ms. Girtman stated she has resided in Boynton Beach for many years now and has seen other job fairs come into the City, but stressed there is a certain group of people who really are in need of extra training and assistance. Chairman Washam also stated that other criteria should be addressed, such as how to dress for an interview, how to present oneself, and opportunities need to be given to these teens to practice interview techniques. Chairman Washam stated he felt this Board in a group effort could successfully hold this type of job fair. Ms. Williams suggested that business owners be approached to determine which ones are looking for employees. It is important that these businesses are encouraged to hire the youth of Boynton Beach and to get these businesses involved in some of the training process. Ms. Williams stated planning for the job fair should begin in January or February so that by the time the school ends the students are ready to join the workforce. Chairman Washam asked if the Board wants to have a special meeting to plan the job fair, to formulate goals and determine what results would come out of the job fair. Ms. Williams said it is very important to get a good participation at these job fairs and advertising is very important. Discussion ensued regarding the workshop time and date. After discussion, it was decided that the next th June 10 Community Relations Board Meeting scheduled for would be one-half hour earlier at 7:00 p.m. held and after a brief meeting would adjourn to a workshop to formulate the job fair. At that timeall the issues could be addressed in order to make the job fair worthwhile and successful. After the workshop, this Board will be in a better position on how to approach businesses in the community and the people needed to assist in the job fair. Ms. Girtman asked if she should could invite 6 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ participants to the workshop who might be able to help and Chairman Washam stated anyone who could advise the Board on these matters would be welcomed to attend. Ms. Mingo-McCoy stated that the Private Industry Council is now the Workforce Development Board and Ken Montgomery would be the contact person for the Workforce Development Board. th Ms. Currier suggested that Police Chief Gage be invited to the June 10 meeting as well. Ms. Williams inquired if there would be any meetings suspended during the summer months. Ms. Williams suggested this July meeting be suspended so that it would not count as an absence. Chairman Washam asked Ms. Williams to bring this issue up at the June meeting for consideration. C. UPDATE ON HIGH SCHOOL Chairman Washam stated that the Boynton Beach Community forum for the High School has been meeting since January of this year. Subcommittees were organized as follows: competency (curriculum enhancement), school to live, community identity and spirit group, a technology group and design, safety and esthetics group. These subcommittees prepared a report of final recommendations that was submitted to the Palm Beach County School District on May 4, 1998. The report should be available at the Boynton Beach Library and lists all the recommendations that were made to the School District. It is anticipated that the groundbreaking will take place sometime in March 1999 with an anticipated occupancy in 2001. Chairman Washam stated that this Board was in the forefront of the High School coming to fruition. This will be a high school for every student in Boynton Beach and this Board was instrumental in getting the ball rolling. NEW MEMBERS Chairman Washam asked the two new Board members to introduce themselves and give a brief biography of themselves. Ms. Stephanie Mingo-McCoy introduced herself to the Members. Ms. Mingo-McCoy informed the Board that she is married with three daughters, ages 7, 9 and 11 and is a former Palm Beach County educator and recently attained her Masters Degree in 7 MINUTES COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 13, 1998________ Emotionally Handicap from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Mingo-McCoy is the President of the Juvenile Transition Center, Inc., a non-profit organization in Boynton Beach, which is located at the Hester Center, and works with at risk youth. Chairman Washam said the Board was appreciative to have Ms. Mingo-McCoy as a Member and looks forward to working with her. Ms. Sheilah G. White introduced herself to the Board and stated that she is on a leave of absence from the New York City School System where she was an administrator at an educational park. Ms. White further stated that from 1991 through 1994 she was a member of the Boynton Beach Education Advisory Board that also worked very hard for the new high school. Ms. White does volunteering at the Kravis Center, the Morikami Museum and looks forward to working with the Community Relations Board. Vice Chairperson Currier informed the Board that the youth of the City in the PAL Program went to Jacksonville and participated in the basketball games. The age group of 18 and under won the bronze medal; the 12 and under took fourth place; and the under 10 age group also took fourth. Officer Tome and Chief of Police Gage should be congratulated on the wonderful job they have done with these children. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mr. Schnetzer moved that the meeting adjourn. Ms. Girtman seconded the motion. Meeting properly adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (Two tapes) 8