Committee Report - Veterans - 3-20-17 — File 203011

Veterans and Public Services Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 3/21/2017 March 20, 2017 REPORT OF THE VETERANS AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Matthew McLaughlin Chair Present John M. Connolly Vice Chair Present Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Others present: Bryan Bishop - Veterans Affairs, Ed Nuzzo - Buildings & Grounds, Tim Snyder - Mayor’s Office, Rositha Durham - Clerk of Committees. The meeting took place in the Committee Room and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Alderman McLaughlin and adjourned at 6:18 PM. General discussion: There will be a dedication on May 20th honoring former Mayor Eugene Brune for his military service. The first Somerville Memorial Veterans parade will be held on May 21st. The earlier date may mean more participation from local residents. There will be a hero salute, a Tomb of the Unknown float, as well as a Color Guard drum line in this year’s parade, which will end at the top of Teele Square at the Fire House. Approval of the September 28, 2016 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 196154: That the Dedication Committee update this Board on the park dedication in honor of Joseph Mackey. The location for this park has not been decided yet and may depend upon the construction of the new Somerville High School. The committee will discuss this matter again sometime after the Memorial Day parade. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 201787: That the Administration consider honoring Somerville Youth League Basketball founder Fran Ferrarro with a plaque at the High School basketball court.

Veterans and Public Services Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 3/21/2017 Mr. Nuzzo spoke about Fran Ferrarro saying that he was helpful not only to him, but to thousands of other city youths. This item will be discussed sometime after the Memorial Day parade. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 202116: That the Administration update this Board on the future of Veterans Memorial Park. There was a conversation about the commission taking an active role in the Memorial Park and discussions about a site have been ongoing and may be influenced by the new Somerville High School. A community meeting will be held in the future. The committee also discussed preservation of some monuments that are really old and some that have cracks in them. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 202206: That the Director of Veterans Services obtain the names of all Somerville veterans from the Korean War on, for inclusion on the Veterans Memorial wall. The work of obtaining the names of all Somerville veterans from the Korean War is ongoing and will take some time since there are only two people handling this request. Mr. Bishop will update the committee again later this year. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE