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Minutes 01-13-10 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010 AT 10:00 A.M., CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Thomas Kaiser, Chair Chuck Magazine, City Liaison Stuart Preston Donald Scantlan Karl Washington Robert Zimmermann Morris Boruck, Alternate Stanley Gavlick, Alternate ABSENT: Lester McKinzie John Farrington, Alternate Rev. Richard Smith I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – All Hands The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. III. INVOCATION Chair Kaiser offered the invocation and included a prayer for Rev. Smith, who was currently hospitalized. IV. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS The Recording Secretary called the roll. Mr. Magazine noted that Thomas Krabill had been appointed by Vice Mayor Hay as a regular member. However, Mr. Krabill had noted on his application that he was a resident of the City. The City Clerk had determined Mr. Krabill was not qualified to serve as he had relocated outside the City limits within the year. As such, the City Clerk would be notifying Mr. Krabill that he was no longer on the Board and she would be advising Vice Mayor Hay that he had another appointment to make. Morris Boruck had been appointed by the City Commission as an 1 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 alternate member and as such, Mr. Magazine suggested Mr. Boruck reapply to be moved up into Mr. Krabill's position as a regular member, if that were Mr. Boruck's wish. The membership/appointment process was discussed including the use of alternates to fill regular positions. Mr. Magazine felt it was important for the Board members to understand the current process. It was explained that each Commissioner, on a rotating basis, was assigned to appoint an individual. Thereafter, the appointment required the approval of the Commission. Mr. Magazine was not permitted to discuss memberships with the Commissioners. However, individual Board members could make recommendations to the Commissioners. Mr. Magazine noted the term expiration dates for Board members were as follows: ?Mr. Kaiser December 2010 ?Mr. McKinzie December 2011 ?Mr. Preston December 2011 ?Mr. Scantlan December 2012 ?Mr. Washington December 2010 ?Mr. Zimmermann December 2010 The terms for all alternates would expire December 2010, as alternates served for one year. Chair Kaiser noted it was very important to have all of the organizations "sitting at the table" to ensure equal representation among the Veterans, and he would be sending a letter to the Commissioners expressing his feelings. Several vacancies currently existed for alternate members. V. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Mr. Scantlan moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Preston seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, November 10, 2009 Motion Mr. Gavlick moved approval of the minutes. Mr. Boruck seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 VII. COMMENTS a. Chair At the request of Chair Kaiser, Warren Clark, who wished to serve on the Board, introduced himself and provided his credentials. Chair Kaiser noted that the folding of the American Flag would be incorporated into the MIAs-POWs (Missing in Action) (Prisoners of War) ceremonies. He explained that the Lebanon Bench memorial was covered with the American Flag during ceremonies and as the ceremony progressed, the Flag was folded in honor of the men killed in the Beirut bombing of 1983. Inscribed in the Bench were the names of the individuals that perished. b. Visitors Al Ratner introduced himself and announced he had heart surgery. Kurt Leuchter believed one regular and one alternate member from each organization should always be on the Board. Mr. Magazine noted the ordinance did not specify that membership within individual organizations was mandatory. He reiterated it was up to the Commission to appoint the members. VIII. OLD BUSINESS a. Veterans' Day Observance, Bicentennial Park, November 11, 2009 i.Unveiling - World War I Monument at Bicentennial Park Chair Kaiser reported on the success of the event, with more 350 people attending, including the Press. He commended staff on a job well done. The party afterwards was outstanding. ii.French Legion of Honor Awards This item was not discussed. b. Additional Monuments at Bicentennial Park i.Pearl Harbor Monument, Unveiled December 7, 2009 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 Chair Kaiser reported the event was a success, noting more than 300 people attended the Unveiling. ii.Korean War Monument, June 2010, City Commission Approved The monument had been approved and would be dedicated on June 25, 2010. It was the intent to dedicate two war monuments on the same day. However, this would not go forward as staff had parking and traffic concerns. This monument would be sponsored by the Korean War Veterans. c. City Commission Agenda January 19, 2010, for Approval This item was discussed later in the meeting. i.Vietnam War Monument, November 2010, Planned This monument would be inscribed in granite and dedicated on Veterans Day, November 7, 2010. The DMV (Disabled Military Veterans) would be sponsoring this monument. ii.Gulf War Monument, 2011, Planned There was no discussion on this item. iii.Afghanistan War Monument, 2011, Planned The City would be sponsoring the Afghanistan War monument. iv.Iraq War Monument, 2012, Planned The Submarine Veterans would be sponsoring the Iraq War monument. It was noted the war monuments would include maps reflecting the important battles and actions. Benches were to have been included in the original plans for placement at the semi-circle in Bicentennial Park. However, the benches were removed from the original plans as a result of budget constraints. Chair Kaiser did not feel it was feasible to have a complete row of monuments on both sides without a bench in between to break up the monuments and to provide seating. One more bench was needed for the path, and Chair Kaiser would request this of the City Commission. Pledges had been received for each of the monuments approved. 4 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 All monuments were uniform in appearance and inscribed by the same person, thereby preserving continuity. Monuments were being proposed for the Gold Star Mothers and MIAs-POWs (Missing in Action) and (Prisoners of War). The appropriate location of the monuments was discussed. The City emblem would be set in the middle of the main monument and Lake Worth Monument would be in contact with the City Manager's office regarding this item. The MIAs-POWs monument could be dedicated at the same time the Korean Monument is to be dedicated in June. The Gold Star Mothers monument could be dedicated at the time the Vietnam monument is to be dedicated in the fall. Thus, four monuments would be dedicated this year, leaving for next year Afghanistan, Iraq and Desert Storm. Desert Storm was slated to be dedicated in February 2010 together with the Four Chaplains service. A sheet reflecting dates to be remembered was distributed. Also distributed was a press release for the Four Chaplains' Memorial Service together with a report on the monuments, including costs. The costs for the monuments for the Korean and Vietnam War monument had been paid. The sum of $3,000 would be needed for the Gold Star Mothers and MIAs-POWs and approximately $1,300 was needed for the current year. Mr. Magazine noted the map provided had been approved in a meeting with the City Manager and Recreation and Parks Department. Any additional monuments would have to be brought before the City Manager. Chair Kaiser referred to the original plan which provided for a sprinkler system around the back of the monument, and he wished to address this issue before the City Commission as well. Discussion ensued as to the amount of monies spent to date or projected to be spent. The cost per bench would be $1,000, with half being paid by the individual organizations and the other half by a sponsor. A sponsor could have his or her name inscribed on the inside of a bench for $500. Mr. Magazine reiterated that the benches had been deleted from the original plan and as such, the City would not be paying for any benches. Mr. Magazine suggested having the various groups or organizations contribute towards the benches rather than sponsoring more monuments. It was suggested that each post donate $500 from its treasury towards the monuments, if possible. Mr. Magazine explained the City would be approving the acceptance of the monuments being donated by the various veterans' organizations. The placement had always been up to the Recreation and Parks Department. The City Commission, at its January 19, 2010 meeting, would be asked to approve the acceptance of the monuments for the 5 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Mr. Magazine also noted anything, donated to the City, including the benches, would also require the acceptance and approval of the City Commission. However, the issue of the benches would not be included on the agenda for the next Commission meeting. Discussion ensued as to placement of the benches and recommendations to be made to the City Commission to be addressed on a future agenda. Motion Mr. Scantlan moved to ask for a future agenda item to approve four donated benches and two more monuments, one to the Gold Star Mothers and one to MIAs-POWs, as funding permits. Mr. Preston seconded the motion that passed unanimously. c. Four Chaplains Observance, St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, February 7, 2010. 3:00 p.m. Chair Kaiser noted more Color Guards were needed for events. All events would have the Veterans' Council Color Guards parade in front of the podium and the American Legion would post the colors behind it. All organizations would march past the main tent first. In the Church, American Flag would be placed on one side of the aisle and both flags on the other side. d. Update – Sale of bricks at Veterans' Memorial Bicentennial Park Application forms to purchase the bricks were provided to the members. A total of 200 bricks had been sold and Chair Kaiser emphasized it was crucial the remaining bricks be sold. The forms would be available in the Catholic Church and Ascension Lutheran Church and could also be distributed at ceremonies. Mr. Magazine inquired whether Chair Kaiser had any contacts with TV stations. Chair Kaiser replied news anchor Jim Sackett had been to past events. Mr. Magazine suggested Mr. Sackett be contacted to determine whether he would be willing to do a public service announcement on TV in order to sell the bricks. Chair Kaiser had given thought to requesting Mr. Sackett emcee either the Korean War Memorial event. Mr. Gavlick believed the Board had agreed that the Korean War Veterans, as they would be sponsoring the monument, would be responsible for engaging guest speakers. He noted the Mayor would be included in every function. Chair Kaiser responded the Korean War Veterans or whoever sponsored the event would handle the unveiling and at least one speaker would be invited. Chair Kaiser noted engaging the guest speakers would be the responsibility of the Chairman of the program. It was suggested by Mr. Gavlick that Congressman Ron Klein be invited to speak, as he had attended many 6 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida January 13, 2010 functions sponsored by the Korean War Veterans. Mr. Magazine pointed out he had invited Congressman Klein to a number of events, but as Congressman Klein spent most of his time in Washington, D.C., scheduling was difficult. It was noted that Congressman Klein was active in veterans' affairs in both Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Chair Kaiser agreed to invite Congressman Klein and Mr. Magazine agreed to contact his office. IX. NEW BUSINESS a. Other None X. BENEDICTION, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chair Kaiser gave the benediction. XI. NEXT BOARD MEETING - Wednesday March 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 11 :05 a.m. (:'9~ [;k ~~~ Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 022210 7