Stephanie Brown-Gilmore

The meeting commenced with a roll call, noting that a quorum was not established for official voting actions. Discussions included opening the floor for public comment, where Senator Janes Cruz provided an update on a refiled bill. The preliminary agenda covered approval of the current agenda (contingent on quorum), approval of the December advisory committee minutes, training review, election of officers, review of the articles of incorporation and bylaws. A significant portion of the meeting involved an architect presenting three preliminary master plan concepts for the Zion Cemetery area, which focused on restoration, memorialization of the injustice of past building over burial sites, and incorporating water features. The meeting concluded with a review of the overall master planning process, which will lead to a formal RFP for a national design firm.

The meeting focused on establishing quorum and officially opening the session. Key agenda items involved tabling the approval of the March 2021 meeting minutes to allow for member corrections, including correcting the spelling of a board member's name. The board then proceeded with the election of officers, resulting in the approval of nominations for President, Vice President, and Secretary Treasurer, although one nomination for President failed to receive a second. Following the officer elections, the board reviewed and discussed the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. The discussion on the bylaws involved a screen share to review the document, confirming the purpose of the corporation related to the Zion Cemetery, non-distribution of earnings, prohibited political activities, and the structure and qualifications for the 11 board member seats, noting two descendant seats are currently vacant. Finally, the board confirmed the state filing of the Articles of Incorporation and discussed the process for annual officer appointment during the annual meeting, which is set for January.

The board meeting included discussion and approval of minutes from previous meetings in December 2020 and January 2021. A key item was the election of officers, with nominations made for president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer. There was discussion regarding potential conflicts of interest related to board members' external roles. The agenda also covered a review of the articles of incorporation, approval of bylaws, submission of a final report to the state of Florida, and exploration of acquisition options for surrounding properties.

The board discussed the establishment of a bank account to receive funds from the city, county, and state. They addressed the need to fill two vacant board seats designated for descendants of individuals buried at Zion Cemetery, outlining the application process and qualifications. The possibility of reallocating seats from inactive board members was raised, with a suggestion to allow alternate members to attend meetings to ensure a quorum. The board also discussed the bylaws regarding the removal and resignation of directors, and considered options for conducting votes via email or proxy in the absence of a quorum.

The meeting included public comments regarding the perceived lack of progress. A letter from the city was discussed, summarizing the city's past support, including incorporating the non-profit, coordinating a community design process for memorials, and offering to apply for grants. The letter also mentioned the city's support in appropriating funds, which were matched by Hillsborough County and the state. A work plan for the memorial was expected to be presented at the meeting. The possibility of a land swap with private owners was explored but deemed not feasible by the city. The board authorized representatives to schedule a meeting with city representatives to explore solutions.