Committee approves estimated proceeds distribution and asks town to reestablish Memorial Day, grants lines and a Veterans Park Monument line

The Veterans Committee approved estimated distribution percentages for recently raised proceeds and voted to request that the town reestablish several line items in the committee budget, including a Memorial Day account, a "grants and aid" line, and a specific Veterans Park Monument line.

At the March 1 meeting a committee member presented estimated net proceeds of $37,600 after an $800 deduction for event costs and proposed a distribution of those proceeds as: 50% to a veterans program (stated in the meeting as “veterans monitoring”), 30% to a veterans family scholarship, and 20% to the American Legion Post relief fund. The committee moved to approve those estimates; the motion was seconded and approved. Using the committee’s percentages, those estimates correspond to approximately $18,800 (50%), $11,280 (30%) and $7,520 (20%), respectively. The committee recorded the amounts as estimates.

Separately, committee members discussed a design contract the committee received for a Veterans Park monument. A committee member said the design contract total was $36,000 to complete plans, permits and environmental studies; the committee has already paid $10,000 and would provide roughly $18,800 more under an upcoming payment, yielding about $28,000 paid toward the design work so far. The speaker said the committee had spoken with Vice Mayor Mora and Councilman Alex (last name unclear in transcript) and expected town, county or state partners and federal representatives to assist with remaining construction funds once the designs and cost estimates are complete. The committee emphasized fundraising with the American Legion and other sponsors and anticipated the town would not bear most of the construction cost.

The committee discussed historical concerns about committee-raised funds previously being swept into the general fund and asked staff to confirm that donated funds and dedicated line items are carried forward and not automatically swept into the town’s general fund. A member cited the Anti-Deficiency Act and state/federal rules while asking for clarification. Town staff at the meeting confirmed that line items carry forward and that the committee can request carry-forward allocations during the town’s March carry-forward process; staff agreed to double-check past issues and advise the committee.

The committee voted to request that the town reestablish the Memorial Day and grants-and-aid line items and to create the Veterans Park Monument line item. The motions passed and staff were asked to enable the necessary accounting lines and to report back with details.