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to order this meeting of the 911 tribute
committee. We have four members in
person and we have three absent. Um we
don't believe we have anyone here for
public speak. So we will move right on
to our first um first item which was
discussion of design ideas and I believe
uh Tom had sent out an email.
Believe it was an email.
>> Yeah.
Um yeah, regarding the online
monument quote, I agreed to research
determined that is more practical work
with a local company for custom
specifications we require. Still
awaiting final quotes. However, I have
attached a photo the stone for reference
engraving on the stone simply to give us
an idea of the characters that we'll
have to work with based on the quote we
get. Um
then we've all seen
that one there. Yeah. Um, I be able to
print it out. Fantastic. Uh, and then I
know we had wanted uh to kind of send
draft ideas of what we wanted to
actually have on the engraving. Uh, I've
received none since I also didn't do
one. So, so I think we're all
>> Yeah, we're all guilty a little guilty
of that one. Uh
>> I feel like that should perhaps come
from
whoever designs it too to some like we
can say these are the like parameters we
want to include X Y and Z but
I mean the I keep going back to the
charge of the committee but you know was
to come up with the RFP so that someone
could design it and have like
that contribution you know
>> um so if we're like do this, say this,
you know, use these materials. It kind
of takes away from that.
>> Yeah. Sorry. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. My thought was is that if this is
going to be private funding, then
there's no RFP process required.
» Well, then is there a committee
required?
I mean, uh, I think the goal of the
committee at this point or even from the
start was just to to come up with a, uh,
911 memorial. I think the approach of,
you know, trying to do the RFP, doing
the outreach, um, I think was one
approach.
If we were getting funding from city
council, I would say it should be the
approach because, you know, if you're
getting the taxpayer money to go that it
should be going to, I think an artist in
the community where we're doing the
fundraising ourselves. I think the goal
really just does become creating the the
monument. And I think it is, yeah, the
charge of this committee to determine
what that monument should be. Um, I'm
not opposed at all to uh, you know, the
RFP idea.
I just think
I think fundraising is going to be where
a lot of the um committee's energy is
going to be where if we were getting um
some type of stipen to do this then I
think the energy could have really put
into an RFP. But you know what are what
are people up for? Uh because I think
after the
override the override doesn't pass I
will no longer be on this committee. Um,
so it's going to be down another member.
So the question really is, you know, if somebody I I think Tom will probably
be taking lead on fundraising. That's
what I've gotten from my conversations
with them. If, again, if you want to
take lead on on trying to get an RFP
together and doing the outreach to
artists, that's still very much on the
table. It's just where do people want to
be working on this? Um, I just think my
opinion realistically, I know where we
all had this idea of, well, we'll all
write something quickly and then we all
have what we do in our day-to-day lives.
It's um, realistically, but, you know,
are you up for for putting that in
there? Because I think that's that's a
lot and it's why I'm hesitant to
volunteer for something like that. Um, I
would not want to volunteer anyone for
that, but if you're up for it, like it
is we are well in the stages where um,
we could definitely still do that.
>> Not sure how to capture any old he just
said. I was just listening. I'm like,
wait, I'm not writing.
>> We've got a focus on on fundraising. Uh
and the question is do we want does does
anyone here want to do the the the work
for outreach to artists? Um there there
is some middle ground I guess. I mean
certainly we could try to figure out a
way to to interest artists in submitting
some sort of ideas.
I don't know whether
this the writing skills and the artistic
skills
are going to exist in in a sing in a
singular person. So I don't know that I
mean we we could we could try and see
what they come back with.
>> I I I would say
well two things. one um the charge which
I happen to have in my little folder
here does not specify
artists. It says um a contractor that
specializes in memorials, monuments and
or similar specialized experience. So
it's
there's that um which doesn't I think
exclude artists but it doesn't it
doesn't specify artists. Um, I think
getting the idea right um and that we
can I I I think it does matter um that
we come up with some kind of language.
It doesn't have to be the final
language, but just to just to express
like what it is we want this thing to to say. Um, I'm a word person and I of
course I I didn't I didn't draft
anything either, but um but I do think
that that it's not you know I mean I
know we've talked about what we want
this thing to say but I think that it
would help us to identify the right
person, company, organization, artist um
or someone who really wants to do it. If
we say like this isn't the story we want
to tell like this is why this is why
this this this monumental memorial this
is why East Hampton
this is why this is you know this is
what it does. So
>> um but I think that having you know if
we especially if we want if we end up
with an artist doing we do want them to
bring their their vision.
>> Yeah. I guess it's not as much like it has to be an artist. I
think it just needs to be somebody who
>> who wants to make this whether that's a
crafts person or you know a stonemason
or an artist or you know whatever. Um,
I mean my concern because initially one
of the first places was by the
fire and police building
>> and to me like something like what this
says which is you know on September 11th
all these people
>> died and it was a tragedy like
makes more sense next to something like
that where people are dedicated to
risking their lives every day and the
cause of, you know, serving the
community as opposed to by the pond
>> which is like where people go to relax
and have RNR and, you know, fish and
play with their families and that kind
of thing. Um,
to me that seems like a very heavy
message to be sending like
>> and to outsiders who come to East
Hampton, you know, and they're like,
"Oh."
Um,
I agree. But that's I mean
on that.
>> Yeah.
>> And I know that's not like exactly
what's going to be written,
>> but something in that more traditional
vein
>> I think makes more sense there than Yes.
by the I agree. I agree.
>> What do you all think?
>> Um I was troubleshooting here a little
bit where Tom apparently is trying to
join online. So, I was just getting him
the uh the information here. Um
or what?
>> Well, I think it's invisible over on the
side of the cultural safety context.
>> Yeah.
>> And that's the really the only reason
that I don't think that's a great spot.
>> Yeah.
>> And I like the uh And again, I like the
pond just because it it it fits into the
theme of reflection.
>> I like I like the pond as a location. I
just want to be sure that we're doing
the right thing by the pond.
>> Yeah. Not making the pond into like a
place that people are like, "Oh, that's
stressful."
» I mean, as far as the concepts that Tom
provided, I like them both. I think
they're both interesting. Um, they're
two different kinds of work. you know,
so that I guess it depends on who we can
find that's interested.
I know that he had mentioned um an
individual that does metal sculpting,
which in my mind fits this concept.
>> And what was remind me in the email he
said that was a replica of something.
>> This is Well, I think this is a replica
of the uh the memorial in New York City.
I think it's the the Freedom Tower. Is
that not
>> That's what that building looks like.
The new building they built on that site
or
>> I believe double check that.
>> Yeah, that's that's the
>> the Freedom Tower.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Y
>> I find it
not
that's for you.
>> I know, right?
And I think I mean if I were to say what
do I personally like I kind of like the
stone engraving more than the metal but
that's a personal thing and it it I
wouldn't be object I wouldn't object to
either concept. Um
yeah I like again just sharing opinion I
like both um this one and this one but I
don't necessarily love the freedom
tower. Uh, but you know, I like kind of
the the general idea. Uh, I definitely
like that plaque. Um,
so I think but yeah, I definitely I I
like this type of design, something
modest, something that's not going to be
um,
yeah, we're keeping the pond the pond,
but having something there that fits
that seam of reflection without
necessarily drawing too much attention
to itself.
on the call. We can get him in here.
King
I was also thinking for
come up with language to actually put on
there. East Hampton does have a poet
laurate. Um could reach out to ask and
see if they might be interested in
putting something together. Um
>> have to be short
>> be very short.
Who is it?
>> I don't know their name. See if I can
find it.
Uh
AI is to be believed is Carolyn
Zikowski
» a couple years ago. Is it like an
ongoing
>> Yeah, I'm trying because I thought it
was somebody new. Um
I can ask ask Alina uh tomorrow I fear.
» Tom, are you with us? Can you hear us?
>> I am.
>> Thanks for sending that link. I
appreciate it.
>> Yeah. Carolyn Saikowski
term is 2025 to 2027.
>> Oh, okay.
poet, fiction writer, essaist, and
creative writing instructor.
» You were uh talking about the uh
for how we want to do the engraving. We
uh nobody sent anything in for writing.
We all they all skipped that. Um,
>> I think maybe reaching out to uh our
poet laurate for the city uh and seeing
if they maybe would have some ideas to
put on there. Um,
but I think generally uh we like the
ideas here. I like the stone. I like the
metal engraving. Um, didn't necessarily
love the the tower, but I think
everything else about it kind of
captures it. Um,
and where uh, so I think these images
came from. You probably put it in the
email. Where did that these ones come
from?
>> Oh, I did that. I just kind of did that
through chat. GPT. Cool.
And so far with the dimensions that I
was using for the stone,
um,
just the first quote that I got for the
stone itself was 10 and a half thousand.
>> Mhm.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Yeah.
I imagine a plaque would be less
expensive.
>> Yeah. It was just a matter of
constructing something for it to sit on.
No, another thought would be to maybe
have and see if the DPW can put like a
general stone down there to mount a
plaque on like a one of those large
>> sort of
non-polished stones.
>> Ones that are always sticking out of the
ground.
>> Yeah.
I can definitely ask Greg about
that and then we can see what it would
be with the
plaque route. How much is a plaque? Do
we get a quote on on that at all?
>> No. Um
the the person I spoke with, Chris
Kofelt, um who's one of the local
artists, he mentioned that he had has a
bronze guy in that he works with out of
Seattle.
Um,
so I was kind of hoping he was gonna he
was able to come today, but
All right. Um,
yeah, we'll see quote a plaque and we
can kind of go from there. And then I
guess what's the uh what's the
fundraising strategy? How uh how do we
want to approach this? I mean, I think
once we have what we're actually looking
to
put there is advertise that that's what
we're putting put in there and then
solicit solicit additional donations,
you know, put out a letter or um you
know, maybe even get it in the paper.
>> So, what we're really supposed to come
up with is a scope of work, right?
Scope of work. We don't have to design
the thing. But if we say we want this
thing
that's what we have to do, right?
You want me to reach out and see
um
that
>> do that.
would be very good. Um,
>> what's her last name?
» It's got a lot of consonants. Is it
Caroline or Caroline?
>> Carolyn. C A R O L Y N.
>> Okay, that is Caroline.
>> Z A I K O W S K I.
>> Okay, thank you.
And you know her, Rebecca? I see her on
her daily walk every day. So I have time
my interception of her walk. I don't
really know her though. Okay.
» So I think Caroline's uh correct that we
are just looking for the scope of work.
But if we do the scope of work without
any additional
effort for making the design or anything
like that, it's really hard to it's
really hard to solicit any kind of funds
to be able to cover. And especially
since we've
>> initially we we took a look at this
project and said, "Oh, it's about
$10,000. There was no funding source."
Um, I think it's it's a matter of trying
to,
you know, adjust as we go to and that,
you know, I'm just I'm just wondering
what you guys think about that is is um
we can come up with a scope of work,
hand it in, and it it'll stall right
there.
>> No, I agree with you, Tom. Some visuals
are are are a good idea,
>> right?
>> Who wants to read stuff? They want to
look at stuff.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, yeah, I think we should have a quote
for the stone, which we have, and then
for the plaque as well. I'll I'll see uh
if it's feasible for us to get a large
folder moved over there to mount the
plaque and get costs for that. So, we
kind of have two fundraising goals that
if we can hit 10,500, we can go with the
stone. If not, we can go with the
boulder plaque idea, assuming it's
meaningfully cheaper.
>> Where would the boulder come from?
>> Uh, yeah.
>> So, they just rocks everywhere.
>> Yeah. We'd have to give them some sense
size.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, how big the plaque is because
you need to find something that's got a
relatively flat area on it. Large
enough.
» Yeah.
So that's
>> So Tom, you can probably between now and
the next meeting get some sense of what
that cast plaque might run us.
>> Yeah, I can I can do that.
Um,
I'm wondering, uh, I'm wondering if we
could actually get it done through the
I doubt it, but the National Cemetery
Administration if they would take if
they if we could put in for something
like that.
Um,
I'll see if there's a way to possibly do
that. They're the ones who put out all
the veterans um, uh, bronze markers,
grave markers. Oh,
>> okay.
So, I doubt they'd, you know, stray from
what their actual job is doing that, but
>> it's worth a shot.
>> Yeah. And they may they may be able to
make a recommendation about someone too,
>> right?
>> Cemetery what? Administration.
>> Administration. Okay.
>> Yeah. They're a a branch of the VA,
>> basically.
Thank you for these concepts.
They were great.
>> You must be a master.
>> What's that?
>> Must be a master with chat GPT.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's it's a good uh
it's a good cheater program.
» It's actually very helpful for things
like this. Very saves a lot of time.
There you go.
gets a lot of TDM out of the way.
All right. Um,
do we want to get into a uh what the
fundraising strategy looks like or how
do we feel about that?
>> I think it's until we know what we're
fundraising for, that's difficult. Yeah,
I I think it would be good to have our
the rest of our committee here to speak
to that because I think that they
they're so invested in a specific way.
Yeah.
>> But Tom, nice work on the on what you've
already done.
>> Yeah,
>> for that amazing. That's amazing.
» Appreciate it.
>> My mailbox here, too.
>> Excuse me.
>> Mailbox here.
I did you say I did you ask me if I have
a mailbox here?
>> Yeah.
>> City hall.
>> Oh, yes I do. Yeah.
>> I brought a check, so I'll just leave it
there.
>> Oh, great.
That's great. Thank you.
>> Great.
So, another option too. I mean, I could.
The only thing with the polished stone
is when you go too small, it starts
losing its luster.
>> Um,
so I mean, I could get a quote for a
smaller about half the size. I don't
know if it's
um something that
we should be looking into.
>> I kind of like the idea of a natural
>> Yeah.
>> like that. like a boulder because
>> nothing polished about what happened,
you know, like
>> Yeah,
>> raw elements, right?
>> That's a good point.
>> I like that. That gives a whole
different vibe to
>> Yeah. And depending upon what's
available, that might drive our size,
too.
All right. Um, yeah, I'll talk to Greg
tomorrow, see the feasibility of getting
a stone from somewhere to there and that
would be able to get a plaque on there
and then figure out what the cost would
be of a fixing a a plaque to a stone,
having that made, and then we'll know
kind of what our our fundraising targets
are.
I think after the override uh and we're
through to the new budget year, it may
be um
more oxygen in the room for other other
projects. So,
uh we'll find out that
>> sounds like a good plan.
» Uh so, I'd make a motion to approve the
minutes. Thank you.
>> I second that motion. I
» want to pick a meeting date
>> then
go with my calendar's not coming up
here. I'm assuming first Monday
>> which is I think the first Monday.
>> Yep. And that's what I have on our
agenda. July 6. That works for
everybody.
>> Yep.
>> Yes.
>> Cool. Uh as I said the start of this
meeting uh if the override doesn't pass
I will no longer be with the committee.
So you folks will have to uh elect a new
chair then uh
otherwise
>> isn't how we
>> what's that?
>> Let's hope we don't have to do that.
>> Let's all hope the override goes
through. So
>> I'm sorry that must be stressing but
yeah
very stressful. Uh, would you reserve a
room for that date?
>> Yes, absolutely. Um,
you go ahead. Do we like down here?
>> Cozy of the cave.
>> It's better than being
>> kind of with us.
>> It's being up behind the deis for our
small committee. Yes.
>> Uh, but yeah, I can go ahead. I'll uh
book that and I will send out the
invites for that tomorrow. Um,
we'll go from there. Anything else we
want to touch on before we adjourn
and do I have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
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