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Minutes 11-10-10 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2010 AT 10:00 AM CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Tom Kaiser, Chair Jim Bowman John Farrington (arrived 10:10) Lester McKinzie Stanley Gavlick Karl Washington Bridget Roberts, Alternate Chuck Magazine, Board Liaison ABSENT: Stuart Preston Rev. Richard Smith Robert Zimmerman I. CALL TO ORDER - Tom Kaiser, Chairman The meeting was called to order at 10:06 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. V. AGENDA APPROVAL, September 8,2010 Motion Mr. Gavlick moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Farrington seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 1 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL November 10, 2010 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion Mr. Gavlick moved to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Bowman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VII. COMMENTS a. Chair Chair Kaiser explained it was a very busy time for him. New bricks were installed because they were out of bricks. The monuments will be ongoing for another year. They installed another 100 bricks at the Veterans expense. They moved the Gold Star Mothers monument and the bricks are almost directly in front of the Gold Star Mothers monument. He reported it was beautiful. (John Farrington arrived at 10:10 a.m.) The Korean War Monument was discussed. Chair Kaiser explained there is a large men's club in one of the Valencia communities and they wanted to put up six 25-foot flagpoles for the armed forces, three down each side of the park. They would be on the outer perimeters in line with the monuments. The flags are the responsibility of the men's club and they would put them up only on holidays for a 24-hour period and take them down the next day. City only has to dig the hole. The poles could be telescoped down to half the size during inclement weather. They agreed to submit a proposal to Mr. Magazine to forward to the City Commission when appropriate. They also offered to keep the park clean. They wanted to have residents keep the park clean as a project. Chair Kaiser requested a motion to allow them to make a proposal and pass it on to the City Commission for their review. Motion Mr. Farrington so moved. Mr. Bowman seconded the motion that passed unanimously passed. b. Visitors VIII. OLD BUSINESS: a. Bicentennial Park Monuments 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL November 10, 2010 I. Veterans' Day, Vietnam War & Gold Star Mothers Monuments, November 11,2010 Veterans Day was the next day. Chair Kaiser reported the Gold Star Mothers monument was stunning. He distributed brick order/sale forms to the members and requested they make copies for their organizations. Chair Kaiser received two calls and advised they were able to honor three or four Pearl Harbor survivors. A Gold Star Mother would bring some veterans as well and they could unveil their monument. One Vietnamese Scout leader would place a wreath on the Vietnam monument. He thought it was nice the Vietnamese were coming to pay tribute. The Color Guards would be simple and worked out with Lester McKinzie. The Color Guards were doing these ceremonies four times a year now. The Rabbi is not coming and a Distinguished Eagle would fill in for him. The vocalist also was unable to attend and another vocalist would fill in for the vocalist, and be honored with a plaque as well. Chair Kaiser noted three Commissioners and the Mayor would be speaking. The ceremony will conclude by 11 a.m. II. Gulf War & City-sponsored monuments, January 16, 2011 January 16th was the Gulf War 20th Anniversary. Chair Kaiser advised he would invite the British Consul General and French Consul General were invited because their armies fought with the United States. There will be a map showing the routes on the monument. They planned to have a memorial where they listed the battles and there will be five or six countries listed on the front of the monument with the major divisions. This would be discussed further at the January meeting, as well as the City Commission meeting prior to the dedication of the monument. The City has to install the plaques. Chair Kaiser thought the plaques could be added to the bases so they could stay with the monument but the water would splash up and ruin them, so they will have one 14 inches wider for the City monument, which is located alongside the Four Chaplains monument. Chair Kaiser thought the City would receive great press coverage. III. Afghanistan War Monument, 2011 Afghanistan and Iraq scheduled for the end of next year or early 2012. IV. Iraqi War Monument, 2012 v. Black Veterans' Monument, tbd The City Commission approved the three monuments in honor of Black Veterans. Chair Kaiser has been going to the churches to gain support for the monuments and he invited the choir to perform, but he has not had a response. 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL November 10, 2010 VI. Female Veterans' Monument, tbd Chair Kaiser spoke to the past National President of the Lady Veterans to help to defray the cost. The Veterans were picking up half the cost of the bench and monument. VII. Japanese-American Veterans', 442nd Regimental Group monument, tbd Chair Kaiser advised he wanted the Japanese to pay for the bench and he was attempting to have the Black, Lady and Japanese Veterans organizations pay 3/4 the cost of the monument. The benches will be added as the monuments are installed. The park looks very nice and it was requested that if the members visit the park, they pick up any trash or dead vegetation that may be there. Additionally, Mr. Bowman advised he was a vocalist and if a vocalist was needed in the future, he was available down the road. c. Expansion of memorial paver bricks at Veterans' Bicentennial park Chair Kaiser advised the bricks were in place and they were the same exact color as the previous bricks. He requested a motion the Veterans send a letter to be read at a City Commission meeting thanking them for changing the name to Veterans Bicentennial Park. Mr. Magazine advised, after checking the record, the actual name of the park was Veterans' Bicentennial Park. No change to the name was made; however, they did change the sign to reflect the correct name. Motion Mr. Bowman so moved. Mr. Gavlick seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Mr. Magazine agreed to send the letter. d. Membership requirements for Veterans Advisory Commission - City Ordinance Change Chair Kaiser advised Bob Zimmerman, after many years as commander of his post, resigned his position. Mr. Zimmerman would be at the ceremony and would be honored as the Chair of the Veterans Council. It was noted Mr. Zimmerman was 92 years old. Since Mr. Zimmerman was no longer active, there would be a position available on the Board. Bridget Roberts was eligible to be moved into the regular position, leaving three open alternate positions. It was thought Reverend Smith would not be reapplying and Mr. Gavlick was not eligible to fill the regular position. 4 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL November 10,2010 The members discussed the membership requirements. Mr. Magazine explained he had sent letters advising any changes to the membership had to be accomplished via an ordinance change. Chair Kaiser noted at the last meeting, there was discussion no one from the Jewish War Veterans or the Disabled American Veterans were represented on the Committee. Mr. Leuchter, who was not a member of the Committee, attends the meetings. He suggested the membership be expanded to allow individuals who live just outside the City limits. Mr. Magazine explained the Board should draft a letter, which could be forwarded to the City Commissioners, and if a Commissioner wants to address the request, they would. Chair Kaiser requested a motion to extend the membership to one more regular member and one alternate to include a broader membership. Motion Mr. Farrington so moved. Ms. Roberts seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Chair Kaiser read a letter he had prepared to be forwarded to the City Commission. Mr. Magazine agreed to forward the correspondence to the City Commission. e. Name change "Veterans' Bicentennial Park" to "Veterans' Memorial Bicentennial Park" This item was addressed earlier in the meeting. f. City Advisory Board Ethics Training Mr. Magazine explained the City Manager advised the City recently adopted the County's Ethics Ordinance, requiring all members of the City's advisory boards to attend training by December 31, 2010. The training would consist of a one-hour video and an acknowledgement form signed. The members would be notified when the training would take place and Mr. Magazine cautioned anyone who does not attend the mandatory training would be removed from the Board. An alternate date would also be scheduled. A quorum has to be present, minutes taken and notice provided to the general public. Mr. Magazine explained he would try to hold the training in Conference Room B. g. Honorary Member Appointments Chair Kaiser agreed to provide Mr. Magazine of a list of names for Honorary Member Appointments. It was noted some members were removed such as Admiral Tom Morris who passed away and new members could be added. Chair Kaiser requested the members provide him with names of anyone they feel should be on the list. The only criteria is they be a veteran 5 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL November 10, 2010 h. French Awards presentation The French Award Presentation took place a year ago. Chair Kaiser reported he received a call informing him that a newspaper indicated the French would be attending. If the members received a call about it, Chair Kaiser requested they advise the caller the French were not scheduled to be present. This item would be removed from the agenda IX. New Business: a. Other Ms. Roberts reported on December 7 there would be a Pearl Harbor Ceremony at Ascension Lutheran Church at 7:30. Chair Kaiser agreed to issue a press release for the ceremony. Mr. Farrington agreed to advise the Post of what was accomplished at the meeting, as would the other members to their organizations. X. Benediction, Moment of Silent Prayer Chair Kaiser gave the Benediction. XI. Next Board meeting - Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 10 a.m. XII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:45 a.m. CCuJUJU/V--l 0Jwul/ Catherine Cherry a Recording Secretary 112510 6