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Minutes 05-13-15 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN THE WEST WING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015, AT 10:00 A.M. PRESENT: Tom Kaiser, Chair Jeff Livergood, Board Liaison Frank Bregoli Kenneth Nichols Stanley Gavlick, Alternate Stuart Preston, Alternate ABSENT: James Bowman Jeffrey Korentur Bridget Roberts Karl Washington Robert Manson, Alternate Stephen Anton, Alternate I. CALL TO ORDER — Tom Kaiser, Chairman Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:08 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 revealed a quorum was present. V. AGENDA APPROVAL, May 13, 2015 Motion Mr. Gavlick moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Preston seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida May 13, 2015 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, March 11, 2015 The minutes were approved by consensus. VII. COMMENTS a. Chair Chair Kaiser advised they have a list of items to discuss, but one item missing was debt. He advised they are still in debt building Veterans Memorial Park. Former Board Liaison, Chuck Magazine, had previously indicated the Veterans Advisory Commission was responsible for the port -o -lets. The Veterans pay $126 for one and if two are needed, they get two. He commented now the bank is charging $12 a month for their checking account and they have no income. Additionally, no bricks are being sold. Chair Kaiser commented they would normally hold five events at the Park and they would do the best they could. This year there would be two extra events: September 2 nd for the signing of the end of World War II on the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, and on August 14th, the day the Japanese surrendered. He noted they also have the Four Chaplains, an event December 7 th or the 16 D -Day on June 5 and the Boy Scouts 24 -hour Vigil at the end of September. He noted there was a Saturday Korean War event at the Park, but when the public is invited, someone has to be responsible for the port -o -lets. In this instance, the Korean War Veterans picked up the tab. Chair Kaiser requested a motion to ask the City, hereafter, when they are at the park, the City pick up the tab for one port -o -let. Motion Mr. Bregoli so moved the City pick up the tab for the port -o -let. Mr. Nichols seconded the motion. Jeff Livergood, Board Liaison, explained the City would pick up the cost for the port -o- lets for four events per year, pursuant to the Ordinance which created the Board. He thought those events should be reviewed to ensure they were the premiere events. Chair Kaiser requested the members accept the City providing port -o -lets for four events a year and reiterated there would not normally be more than five events at the Park. He pointed out D -Day on June 5th would be celebrated on June 6 th to save the City money, and the August 14 and September events would fall mid -week saving the City money. Mr. Livergood explained the Veterans' events listed in the Code of Ordinances should be changed. The four events in the Ordinance were Veterans Day, the 4 th of JUly, Memorial Day, and Four Chaplains. He recommended the veterans decide on the designation of 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida May 13, 2015 events that would normally be conducted at the Park, Chair Kaiser advised they do not hold any 4 th of July events at the Park and Memorial Day is held at the Cemetery. Mr. Livergood suggested a future agenda item to designate the four events held at the Park be discussed in September along with a review of the enabling legislation as a whole. Anything over that would be the Veterans' responsibility. Chair Kaiser requested they take a vote to accept this. Motion Mr. Bregoli so moved. Mr. Nichols seconded the motion that unanimously passed. b. Members or Visitors None. VIII. OLD BUSINESS: a. Veterans Memorial Park Events Mr. Gavlick explained the Governor declared Saturday, May 16th as Korean War Veterans Recognition Day and the Mayor of Boynton Beach would be made an honorary member. He anticipated the event would last about an hour. Mr. Gavlick advised one of their members would borrow as many chairs as possible from their clubhouse and he would begin setup about 9 a.m. Marvin Benasaro from the Jewish War Veterans is always present. He noted the event starts at 11 a.m. and French dignitaries will also be present. Chair Kaiser advised the Battle of the Bulge veterans attended their event at the Park and commented other organizations that have monuments at the Park could use it, but they must leave the Park in the same condition as found. i. D -Day, June 5th Chair Kaiser reiterated the D -Day event on June 5 th will be celebrated on June 6th. The French Consulate will attend at 11 a.m. This will be on the schedule as a permanent event along with Four Chaplains in February, Pearl Harbor /Battle of the Bulge in December, the Boy Scouts at the end of September, and Veterans Day on November 11 He advised they will take an official vote at the next meeting. Mr. Livergood suggested not having hour -long events to avoid having the port -o- potties. Chair Kaiser commented three quarters of the attendees are aged. They have coffee in the morning and they may need restrooms. There are five events a year and the City provides for four of them. 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission B oynton Beach, Florida May 1, 2015 b. Boynton Beach Memorial Park i. Memorial Day Flag Placement, Saturday, May 22 ii. Memorial Day Observance, Sunday May 24, 2:00 PM Veterans from Valencia Pointe will bring soda and water to the Cemetery and be present for the Observance on May 24. Chair Kaiser commented the Boynton Veterans also spend money on events and all were invited back to the Post on Sunday for refreshments after the observance. Members and their wives were invited, and any individuals who helped with the Park throughout the year were welcome. c. American Legion Post 164 Monument Circle improvements Ken Nichols spoke about the American Legion Circle improvements. The City and Home Depot were renovating the eagle monument in the circle and the railroad gatepost. The landscaping was done and they now had access to the electric plugs for microphones. He was very pleased with the improvements. The pavers were installed by Home Depot and the City will place mulch and a few benches. The City added a handicap ramp and redid much of it in concrete to ensure access from the Post parking area to the Circle. Chair Kaiser explained the only reason the monument was at the American Legion Circle was because of former Commissioner Bob Ensler a Korean War Veteran, who has since passed. It was Commissioner Ensler, who had recommended joining the Veterans Advisory Commission. He donated the eagle and put the base up. Chair Kaiser explained Harold Smith, who was in the OSS in World War II, caught a Nazi spy. When he was near the end of his life, he donated $30,000. The veterans then purchased a monument and started the Park with the funds donated by Mr. Smith. Mr. Nichols also sent an email to Jeff Montgomery, the Manager of Home Depot and to Jeff Livergood. He advised he was very excited about the monument and gate post. The Legion's Circle was coming to life and he thanked the City and Home Depot. He read an email he sent indicating he was proud the Legion, Veterans and their families will have a flag, MIA flags and a place for ceremonies to take place. A copy of his email is attached to the minutes. Chair Kaiser advised a Flag Day Ceremony will also take place at this location. The Chairman for the Florida Department of American Legions wanted the public to see the programs they have at the American Legion and one key program was the Boy Scouts Camporee Competition. This has been a program with the American Legion since 1919, and this would be the fifth Camporee held. Mr. Nichols distributed a flyer and requested the members help promote this event from February 26 through February 28 There will be people to help judge at the Camporee. 4 Meeting'Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida May 13, 2015 Mr. Bregoli spoke to a World War II veteran who was a POW, and inquired if they could do something for the POWs. Chair Kaiser suggested meeting with them at the Park to see what they could do. There was already a monument there. He thought the veterans could have something of a permanent nature, and noted they need a monument to the Purple Heart, which will be the last monument. Mr. Bregoli agreed to invite the person to meet with Chair Kaiser at the Park on Saturday. He thought if they cannot do something at Veterans Park, perhaps they could do something at the American Legion Park. IX. NEW BUSINESS: a. Veterans Memorial Park Events i. Japanese Surrender, August 14 and signing September 2 Chair Kaiser explained this event was when the Japanese asked for an armistice. They may hold an event September 2 nd each year, but it should at least be done this year due to it being the 70 Anniversary. Arnold May, Valencia Pointe Men's Club, announced there will be a non - perishable food drive for the West Palm Beach Veterans Hospital on June 28th. This is done twice a year. Over the last two years, more than 3,000 pounds of food was donated. They will also raise the flags at the Veterans Cemetery. They are the only group to do this, and they invited the Korean veterans to help. X. BENEDICTION, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chair Kaiser gave the Benediction. XI. NEXT BOARD MEETING — September 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:43 a.m. Ch Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 060295 5