COMMITTEE ON MINORITY AFFAIRS
MINUTES
APRIL 25, 2000 1:00 PM
STAFF: ETTERE, CHANG, BERNARD (BOL)
OTHERS: SEE ATTACHED
The meeting was called to order 1:10 pm.
Daniela Infield, County Attorney’s Office, spoke on establishing the corporation. This Committee would need to obtain an outside attorney to prepare a certificate of incorporation. This certificate would indicate its duration and the purpose of the company. A not-for-profit corporation to construct this MLK Statue would meet the criteria for Tax Law 501(c)3 and would then become tax-exempt. Before filing the application with the Secretary of State, by-laws need to be prepared and a Board of Directors/Officers would need to be established. Once the corporation becomes into legal being fundraising could begin.
Ms. Infield looked into New York privacy and civil rights laws to see if this project needed the permission of the King family. According to her research, privacy protection applies to only living people. She suggested that even though there is no obligation, this Committee might want to contact the King family out of courtesy.
Open discussion began:
¨ The need to establish the corporation is crucial.
¨ Chair Young asked that those who wish to serve on the Board of Directors contact him. Debbie Knight and Richard Brown stated their commitment.
¨ Put a budget in writing as quickly as possible. Companies need to see the “whole picture”.
MINUTES – APRIL 25, 2000
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¨ Companies would be more willing to contribute a larger one-time donation than that of a project that may need ongoing support.
¨ Chair Young asked the Committee to forward any suggestions for an attorney and/or accountant to Ms. Infield.
¨ A timetable needs to be established.
¨ The statue would take at least 18 months to complete. The first stage is the model then the enlargement.
¨ The outcome of the bidding process and completion of the County Courthouse will determine the final cost of this project. Chair Young stated that the project would still go forward and that the statue would be placed at a temporary site and then later relocated upon completion of the Courthouse. It was suggested that site preparation costs be a separate budget.
¨ Many members suggested that the statue depict more facial expressions and that the position of the hands be changed. Chair Young asked that the Committee let Mr. Sherrill “digest” the suggested changes and further discussion and a final decision on Dr. King’s “look” will be made at the next meeting.
On motion from Chair Young, the meeting was adjourned.