Trustees of War Memorials

Trustees of War Memorials Meeting Minutes rffi Day, Date and Time: Thursday, October 6,2022 at 6pm Place of Meeting: City HallAuditorium, 62 Friend St. ?Illl FIS l0 A ll, lS 1. Call to Order/ Roll Call - 6:02pm Present: Mayor Kassandra Gove, Ski lworsky, Paul Jancewicz, James DeMars, Tom Champion arrived at 6:1Opm 2. Public Comment o Scott Winters, CNA discussed Rocky Hil! Honor Roll maintenance o Jeremiah Murphy, Veterans Services discussed requests for names to be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at William B. Justin Memorial Park. The two names are as follows: Daniel Sable and Brian Abram. Veterans Services has vetted their eligibility for service and residency. Mr. Murphy requested that the Trustees provide written guidance for future additions of names to Honor Rolls, specifying criteria for residency and service. Mr. Murphy also discussed the need for restoration of the Vietnam Memorial Honor Roll due to deterioration, causing some names to be unreadable. He will get a quote from Andrew Atwood for the addition of names and investigate possible restoration solutions. 3. Financials- o The Trustees reviewed the balances of 2 accounts. i. Trust Fund (principal $3,000 with $14,100.03 interest)- Current Balance: $17,100.03. This fund is to be used for the care of the Soldiers' Memorials (WWll, Korea and Vietnam) that were moved to Justin park. ii. RESTOR: Current Balance: $17,115.15- This Fund is to be used for the care and restoration of all City War Memorials. 4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial addition of names Motion to approve the 2 names presented- Daniel Sable and Brian Abram. Motion by Ski lworsky; 2nd from Paul Jancewicz - Unanimous approval. Veterans Services will handle the estimates and payment to add the two names- Daniel Sable and Brian Abram to the Vietnam Memorial. Again, Mr. Murphy requested that the Trustees provide written guidance for future additions of names to Honor Rolls, specifying criteria for residency and service 5. Franco-American Veterans Memorial restoration Discussion about a previous commitment by Lou Bartley from Challenge Engineering to restore this Memorial. a The Trustees requested an update at their next meeting from Lou Barfley. o Mayor Gove to reach out to Mr. Bartley to ask if he is still interested in taking on this project and to discuss expected compensation, if any. 6. Rocky Hill Honor Roll maintenance o History of previous maintenance by Amesbury Restoration Committee members that lived nearby was disused. The Trustees discussed that the contractors from the Elm Street project have left rocky soil to dealwith. Jane Snow, Chair of the Cemetery Advisory Commission had contacted DPW to request that they contact the contractors to rake this area but is has not happened. Mayor Gove to follow up with DPW and contractors to request removal of the soil and re-  seeding. o Flagpole rope is broken, and the DPW has been contacted to re-string. the area and ;. :Ttg,.Trustees agreed to allow Scott Winters, CNA to continue mowing thanked him for his efforts. 7. New Business . Mayor Gove requested that members of the Trustees provide background and location of all Memorials. Tom Champion had this information readily available and will email it to Mayor Gove. The City's Communications Director will refresh the City website with new images and histories. A point was mentioned that the Trustees are not the only group that cares for these Memorials. AIA also cares for some of these. The City will work to research with the intent to identify and link the proper care-taking entity while updating the website. . Mayor Gove mentioned the upcoming Veterans' Heritage Grants opportunity offered annually by the State Historical Records Advisory Board. Etigible projects include preservation, digitization, renovation, and restoration. Letter of lntent is due by November 6, 2022. Mayor Gove encouraged the Trustees to review this program. Some possible projects were discussed, noting that this is a matching grant opportunity. Jane Snow will also review the application. . Ski lworsky mentioned that the American Legion is disbanding. The American Legion indicated to him that they want to build a monument to the American Legion. They also discussed donating to the Trustees for care of their monument. The CD matures in January 2023. This matter to be discussed at the next meeting. . A discussion ensued about the Wreath at Doughboy on Memorial being vandalized. This is a growing problem that should be addressed. o The composition of the Trustees was discussed, noting that Bob Evans recently submitted his resignation, There is now a vacancy for another veteran to serve. The City will post this vacancy. . Current Members of the Trustees: o Mayor Kassandra Gove, Chair o Ski lworsky, Veteran of a War o Tom Champion, Veteran of a War o Paul Jancewicz, Veteran of a War o James Demars, Veteran 8. The next meeting date was set for January 12,2023 at 6pm, City Hall. 9. Motion to Adjourn by Tom Champion, 2nd from James DeMars. 10. Meeting Adjourned at 6:S8pm. Respectfully submitted, Ann Marie Casey, Chief of Staff Created: 101612022 Approved on:112612023