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Minutes 09-08-10 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,2010 AT 10:00 AM CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Tom Kaiser, Chair Jim Bowman Lester McKinzie Stuart Preston Karl Washington Chuck Magazine, Board Liaison ABSENT: John Farrington Stanley Gavlick Rev. Richard Smith I. CALL TO ORDER - Tom Kaiser, Chairman The meeting was called to order at 10:11 a.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - All Hands The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. INVOCATION - Designated Chair Kaiser gave the invocation. IV. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Roll call was taken. A quorum was present. a. Membership Chair Kaiser explained there were two members of the Jewish War Veterans in attendance. Mr. Kurt Lutsche has attended nearly every meeting of the VAC since it formed. He was also a member of the Veterans Council. 1 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8,2010 Mr. Lutsche explained he, and others from his Post, felt that City residence should not be a requirement to serve on the Veterans Advisory Commission. No one in his Post lived in the City. As the Jewish War Veterans was the oldest veterans organization in the country, he thought it was wrong they could not be represented. Mr. Magazine explained the enabling ordinance allowed for two non-residents to be on the Commission. He suggested he approach the City Commission. Chair Kaiser noted the Disabled American Veterans organization did not have anyone living in the City but they were represented. Chair Kaiser reiterated the Jewish War Veterans have attended nearly every meeting and he requested the Board make a motion in support of including them and in support of Mr. Lutsche. Motion Mr. McKinzie so moved. Mr. Bowman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Morris Boruck was present and explained he had been on the Veterans Advisory Commission since it began and he also attended every meeting of the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans Commission unless he was ill. As of two or three weeks ago, due to financial difficulties, he sold his house. He lives in the City but not within the City limits which prohibits him from serving on the VAC. Although he was elderly, he would gladly endorse Mr. Lutsche sitting on the VAC. Chair Kaiser thought perhaps Mr. Boruck could be grandfathered in; however, Mr. Boruck's position had been filled by Mr. Bowman. Mr. Magazine advised Mr. Scantlan officially resigned, so there would be one additional position available. Mr. Bowman indicated he would be happy to sit as an alternate. Mr. Magazine explained residency was required because the VAC was advisory to the City Commission. The requirement was contained in the ordinance and any ordinance changes would have to be approved by the City Commission. Chair Kaiser commented Mr. Zimmerman resigned as the commander of the VFW because he was unable to fulfill his duties in the position. Chair Kaiser contacted him with reminders of the meeting, but he did not attend. Mr. Magazine noted his position would expire in December anyway. Chair Kaiser summarized they would try to reinstate Mr. Boruck. Mr. Magazine commented reinstating Mr. Boruck was not in the Ordinance and only a Commission member could request an item be put on a future agenda to reinstate him. He commented if the Chair would draft a letter, Mr. Magazine would submit it. Chair Kaiser agreed to do so. 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8,2010 V. AGENDA APPROVAL, September 8,2010 Motion Mr. Preston moved to approve the agenda. The motion was duly seconded and unanimously passed. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, May 12, 2010 (July 14, 2010 meeting cancelled) Motion Mr. Preston moved to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Washington seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VII. COMMENTS a. Chair b. Visitors VIII. OLD BUSINESS: a. Bicentennial Park Monuments i. Korean War & POW/MIA Monuments, June 25, 2010 Chair Kaiser reported the unveiling was a huge success and the park was a big success for the Veterans. Since they started holding services there, attendance jumped from 100 to 200 and it greatly accommodated the attendees. ii. Vietnam War & Gold Star Mothers Monuments, November 11,2010 Vietnam War and Gold Star monuments would be unveiled on November 11 and they would have the same ceremony to close at 11 a.m. sharp. The firing squad and bugle will be included and the Armed Forces would be asked to be present that day and serve as color guard. Chair Kaiser would contact all branches of the military to attend. iii. Gulf War Monument, 2011 The Gulf War monument service will be held on January 16, 2011. Chair Kaiser explained the land attack started in February but the U.S. was on the ground and firing earlier than February. Accordingly, the official start was January 16th. The City would have the plaques redone and their monument would be unveiled at the same time. Unveiling two monuments at a time was working out well and the ceremonies would commence at 2:00 p.m. In an effort to save money for activities, the event would not be followed by a reception. It was anticipated the event would be finished by 3 p.m. Mr. 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8, 2010 Magazine agreed to check to ensure the event would not involve overtime for city workers. On a different matter, Chair Kaiser explained Plumosa Elementary School, a school for the arts and music in Delray Beach did not have flags for the classrooms. He advised the veterans obtained flags for each classroom in the school and they received a letter of thanks for the donation. iv. Afghanistan War Monument, 2011 This item was not addressed. v. Iraqi War Monument, 2012 This item was not addressed. b. Update - Sale of bricks at Veterans' Memorial, Bicentennial Park Chair Kaiser advised there were about 20 or less bricks left and the money from its sale was needed to continue with additions to the park. They wanted to honor the Gold Star Mothers. Chair Kaiser visited the park designer who updated the design to add four rows on each side of the park of 10 bricks each in the shape of a "T". This would add 80 to 1 00 more bricks, which would be used to continue to improve the park. This proposal had not yet been discussed with the City. Mr. Magazine would notify the Recreation and Parks Department and they could contact the park's designer. Chair Kaiser explained the actions could be done to identically match what was already there and look like it always existed. c. French Awards presentation The French dignitaries presented medals to veterans at Abby Delray in Delray Beach and Chair Kaiser was attempting to have a ceremony in Boynton Beach. They were moving very slowly. On May 8th, a ceremony was held from the deck of a French destroyer in Miami and 11 veterans from Naples were honored. Chair Kaiser submitted over 100 names and offered the French dignitaries to come to Abby Delray. He noted Mr. Lutsche and his parents were chased by the Nazis across Europe. The Nazi's caught his father and later his mother. He never saw them again. He fought with the French Underground at the age of 16. The French were going to honor him for his work with the underground, which was a fitting tribute. They will look at holding a ceremony in the area and would likely look at the Temple to meet the Jewish War Veterans. He commented the event would be good publicity for the City. d. Honorary Member Appointments 4 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8, 2010 This item was discussed later in the meeting. IX. NEW BUSINESS: a. Bicentennial Park Name Change Chair Kaiser explained he was asked by one of the City Commissioners why the park was named Bicentennial Park and not Veterans Park. The City had already added the word Veterans to the sign to read Veterans Bicentennial Park. When the City researched the records back to when the park was originally created, there were notations that it was to be named Veterans/Bicentennial Park. Chair Kaiser suggested for discussion naming the park Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park. Mr. Magazine commented the change to add the word "Veterans" cost about $5,000. Chair Kaiser agreed to provide a letter requesting the addition of the word and Mr. Magazine would forward it. Chair Kaiser also thought spending $5,000 to add the word "Memorial" to the sign was excessive and commented they installed nearly three monuments for that price. It was suggested the project be put out to bid. Mr. Magazine commented the signage was uniform at all the parks, so they have to approach the original vendor and he thought they would have to put an entirely new sign there. Chair Kaiser pointed out they forgot to install part of the sidewalk when the park was designed. Chair Kaiser thought he could approach the sign vendor for a donation. Mr. Magazine urged the members to exercise caution with making the improvements to the park. He explained the City was aligning itself with the Commission on Ethics and procedures would need to be followed. There were many rules involved with dealing with City vendors. The members would be required to take training by the Ethics Commission and exercise caution when dealing with companies that mayor may not do business with the City. It was noted the Veterans would have spent about $50K on the park. The members were trying to give Boynton Beach the best Veterans Park in the area and have people frequent it. After the monuments were installed, Chair Kaiser indicated he intended to work with the schools for tours to make the park a history lesson. Mr. Magazine commented the Ethics Regulation item would be on the ballot so residents could decide in November whether they wanted their municipality to fall under the Ethics Commission. The City; however, took the initiative and contacted the Ethics Commission to do it ahead of time. Any advisory board member within the City, if and when the City falls under the Ethics Commission, will have to follow rules that the County was establishing. This also had to do with companies that do business with the City or the County list of vendors, etc. Mr. Magazine suggested taking a wait and see stance before seeking corporate donations from businesses that mayor may not do business with the City. 5 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8, 2010 Mr. Bowman suggested obtaining quotes for the name change and determining whether there were private donations for the monuments. Chair Kaiser also wanted to appear before the City Commission. Accordingly, Mr. Magazine suggested he appear at the first meeting in October. Chair Kaiser agreed to draft a letter proposing the City allow them to expand the bricks to conform to the existing plans. Once the letter was delivered to Mr. Magazine, he would ensure it would be put on the agenda for the first meeting in October. b. Other Chair Kaiser explained at the Veterans Council regular meeting they discussed all of the wars from World War I to the present were represented at the park. Three new monuments were proposed to honor minority groups. Chair Kaiser would continue to work with Mr. Magazine and Lake Worth Monument to ensure there was room at the park for them The first monument would have three images on it. The first image would be a group of faces with an airplane for the Tuskegee Airman which would read, "Never lost a bomber to enemy fighter action in World War 11." The second image would be of Dorie Miller, a Slack man serving as a naval cook who learned how to fire a weapon by observation. He shot down at least one enemy plane. The image would be of his face with the Navy Cross on it. The third image would be of another Black man who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The images would cover three branches of the Armed Forces. They also wanted to have a monument to lady veterans. They proposed to have the faces of four women in a circle with their caps on from the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Chair Kaiser noted there were many great fighting groups in World War II who did not have to serve because they were in prison camps or headed to detention camps. He commented there were Japanese who formed the 442nd, which was the most decorated regime in American history and this group would have a monument as well. The proposal the Veterans would make to the City would be to honor these groups. The plan was subject to the City Commission approval and the item would be on the agenda. They Veterans would be present for the meeting with the City Commission in October and they would present their case at that time. Chair Kaiser advised the Lady Veterans was a national organization and he would contact them. He anticipated they would subsidize the monument as would the Japanese 442nd and the minority. 6 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 8, 2010 Discussion turned to the honorary members. Chair Kaiser would provide a list to Mr. Magazine and pointed out Admiral Tom Morris passed away. Chair Kaiser also explained there were six or eight months without the display of the bricks/monuments in the City Hall Lobby and it helps them sell bricks. The members had requested it be returned to the Lobby at the last meeting. He agreed to provide Mr. Magazine with information about the Gold Star Mothers. X. BENEDICTION, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chair Kaiser gave the benediction. XI. NEXT BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, November 10,2010 at 10:00 AM XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:52 a.m. ,. ,r CCLtiJJLiJQc!)w1 Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 091310 7