Committee backs proposal to seek council approval for Veterans Park communication board; estimated cost about $5,000

The Special Needs Advisory Committee voted to advance a proposal to install a communication board at Veterans Park to the Town Council for approval and potential allocation. Committee members said the vendor's estimate for the installation is about $5,000, with possible variation for delivery and labor.

Committee members reviewed images and discussed placing the board near the playground and swings at Veterans Park. Members asked whether the board would be single- or double-sided, suggesting English on one side and Spanish on the other, and discussed protecting the board from weather by placing it under shade. A committee member noted that South Florida ABA had originated the idea and offered to consider partial sponsorship; members supported approaching that therapy provider to discuss sponsorship.

The committee passed a motion to take the proposal to council on the next available date so that the parks and recreation budget transfer or interdepartmental funding could be arranged. Committee members discussed the council schedule and noted the item would likely be presented in January if not earlier. They also asked staff to obtain a detailed vendor quote that clarifies whether the board is double-sided, exact cost, installation and plaque/logo options.

The motion passed by voice vote; committee members did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The committee also discussed piloting this feature at Veterans Park and possibly adding similar features at other parks pending a successful initial installation and ongoing maintenance planning.