Brentwood creates Veterans Memorial ad hoc committee, adds historic commission member and sets 18‑month planning target

At the May 12 Brentwood Board of Commissioners meeting, the commission reviewed guidelines for a Veterans Memorial ad hoc committee and reached consensus on committee composition and a planning timeline.

Staff presented a draft guideline modeled on previous ad hoc committees: the group would be advertised and applicants vetted like other volunteer boards, and the commission would appoint members. The draft specified an 18‑month period for the committee to complete its work, with fundraising identified as an expected (but not mandatory) component. Committee responsibilities would include researching comparable memorials, developing a plan and fundraising strategy, and reporting regularly to the commission.

Commissioners discussed long-term maintenance and the logistics of including names on a memorial; staff and commissioners highlighted the need for a clear vetting and maintenance approach if the committee proposed adding individual names. Commissioners agreed the city commission would select the final site and that the staff liaison would be assigned by the city manager depending on the selected site.

The commission signaled consensus to add a member drawn from the Historic Commission so that the ad hoc committee would include historical research expertise; that change raises the committee’s membership from seven to eight. Commissioners also set a target goal of a groundbreaking by the end of 2026 (an 18‑month planning target) while acknowledging that fundraising timelines and construction approvals could affect final timing.