24:37A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing proposed changes to committee attendance rules. Vice Mayor Mora introduced the idea of amending the attendance requirement to reduce the necessary quorum from 50% to one-third of committee members. This change aims to address difficulties in convening meetings due to low attendance. Moreover, it was proposed that committee members could be removed after three unexcused absences or a total of five absences within a year. However, the discretion of defining “excused” versus “unexcused” absences remains with the committee chair. This sparked a conversation about the need for clearer guidelines and the potential impact on committee operations. The importance of rigorous documentation of attendance was highlighted. Concerns were also raised about the process of removing committee members and who holds the authority to make such removals.

0:28Event planning was another major topic, with the council discussing logistics for the children’s book drive and the spelling bee. The book drive aims to involve multiple local schools, although confirmation from Bob Graham School was pending. The council discussed utilizing town hall as a drop-off point and emphasized communication with schools and sponsors to ensure participation. The spelling bee preparations included suggestions for distributing materials earlier in the school year to allow students adequate preparation time. The need for standing microphone holders and early distribution of programs was discussed to ensure smooth event execution. The council also considered improvements such as providing a word bank in advance, organizing photo opportunities, and enhancing decorations for the event.

41:46The Awards of Excellence planning saw discussions on catering, air conditioning at the venue, and decorations. The council debated whether to retain the previous caterer, who offered services at $10 per person. Concerns about the venue’s air conditioning were prominent, with members recalling discomfort from past events. Plans to address this issue with the parks department were initiated. The council also reviewed award categories, deciding to split the previous “STEAM” category into separate ones for science, mathematics, and digital arts media, and emphasized timely dissemination of nomination forms to schools.