EAST WINDSOR VETERANS COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
East Windsor Veterans Commission
MINUTES
for
Monday, August 20, 2007
Warren Wenz, opened this special meeting at 7:00 P.M. at the Broad Brook Elementary School. There were ten East Windsor Veterans Commission members in attendance: Warren Wenz - Chairman, Ernie Teixeira -Vice Chairman, Mark Simmons - Secretary, Ron Hwalek - Treasurer, George Butenkoff, Dave Malo, Don Brown, James Barton, Rick Webster and Ken Crouch.
Absent: William Abbe Sr., Nicholas Macsata, and Fred McDermott.
Also present was East Windsor First Selectman Ed Filipone and seven East Windsor citizens.
This special East Windsor Veterans Commission meeting was called to further discuss the recent removal of memorial U.S. flags and flag holders from the veterans’ grave sites in East Windsor cemeteries by the East Windsor Cemetery Association.
Warren Wenz opened a discussion asking what our stance should be regarding the replacement of the memorial flags and flag holders at our veterans’ grave sites. Several concerns and suggestions were offered by the group present including: enacting a Town Ordinance protecting flags on all veterans’ graves, changing the E.W. Cemetery Association’s rules & regulations, asking E.W. Park & Recreation Department to assist in cemetery maintenance along with other suggestions.
First Selectman Ed Filipone explained the Connecticut State Statute governing the operation and duties of our East Windsor Cemetery Association. The Cemetery Association is basically an independent group, partially funded by the Town of East Windsor ($30,000.00 annually) and operates under their own set of “rules & regulations”.
In order to achieve a compromise Ed Filipone asked the meeting attendees what was wanted for an acceptable time period for flags to be left at veterans’ grave sites. The consensus of those present was an “all year round” time period. Ed Filipone said the bottom line issue is the extra money needed to pay for “year round” maintenance expenses. Jim Barton said that the Cemetery Association should be held to the maintenance tasks of mowing around the flags & holders within their allotted budget. Ed Filipone asked those present to be sure to be at the next budget meeting to make sure their views are made known to the Finance Board.
MOTION: Ken Crouch moved to have the East Windsor Veterans Commission take a proactive stance and assign East Windsor Veterans Commission members to periodically inspect all East Windsor cemeteries for memorial flag maintenance at all veterans’ grave sites. This was seconded by Ernie Teixeira and carried unanimously.
cont.
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Ken Crouch raised the issue of getting the flags and flag holders back to their original veterans’ grave sites. Several ideas were offered and Warren Wenz presented a bound research book recently completed by Daniel Webster for his Eagle Scout badge. This book gives detailed maps and locations of all veterans’ graves in all East Windsor cemeteries. This book will greatly assist our efforts to return the memorial flags to their proper locations. Warren Wenz said that the E.W. Cemetery Association President, Dan Burnham, will be given a copy of this book.
East Windsor First Selectman Ed Filipone presented a copy of C.G.S. 19a-297. This statute, in part, defines the duties of local communities cemetery associations regarding the care of cemeteries and their enacting of bylaws providing for the care and management of all burial lots, and the protection of all shrubs, trees, fences and monuments, “provided no such bylaws shall require or result in the removal or banishing of any undamaged United States flag or armed forces service marker, including flag holders provided by veterans organizations, from any grave site”…
Warren Wenz said that he would like all of our flags and holders replaced by this Veterans Day. The East Windsor Veterans Commission members present and several of the American Legion members present offered their commitment to assist the East Windsor Cemetery Association in replacing the memorial flags and in the periodic inspection of all East Windsor veterans’ grave sites. Ken Crouch added that we should make individual cemetery assignments at our next Veterans Commission meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Warren Wenz, Chairman, asked for a motion to adjourn. Ernie Teixeira, E.W. Veterans Comm. member, moved to adjourn this special meeting and this was seconded by Ron Hwalek. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting closed at 7:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Simmons, Secretary, E.W.V.C.
Minutes Approved:____/____/_______
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