HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING (2025-08-14)

HISTORIC TOWN OF EATONVILLE, FLORIDA HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM

Town Hall (Council Chamber) - 307 E Kennedy Blvd. 32751

SPECIAL NOTICE: These meeting minutes are presented in an abbreviated format intended as a public record discussion of stated meeting according to the Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine law. Meetings are opened to the public, noticed within reasonable advance notice, and transcribed into minutes for public record. \*\*Audio Recording are available through the Town's website on the Council Agenda Page.

CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair LaDwyana Jordan called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Quorum was established by roll call through Marissa Bellenger

PRESENT: (4) Vice Chair LaDwyana Jordan, Board Members: Jane Turner, Ann Dawkins-Curtis, Laverne Bellamy Williams; Alternate: John Beacham (Absent: Chair Rosa Pickett)

STAFF: (5) Brianna Ross, Planning Coordinator; Demetrius Pressley, Chief Administrative Officer; Marissa Bellenger, Records Coordinator; Brittani Gragg; Executive Assistant to the Mayor; Veronica King, Town Clerk

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Board member Ann Dawkins-Curtis led the invocation with a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: (Board was given an opportunity to review the minutes before voting.)

Vice Chair Jordan MOTIONS to APPROVE meeting minutes for May 8,2025,and June 12,2025; moved by Board Member Beacham; second by Board Member Dawkins-Curtis; AYE: ALL,MOTION PASSES.

Staffing Updates - Chief Administrative Officer Demetrius Pressley introduces the new planning and development coordinator, Ms. Brianna Ross. Mr. Pressley- Her role will support the effort in planning and development, coordination, and she will also be a resource to code enforcement, construction management economic development, and strategic initiatives supported by the administration. Ms. Ross brings in five years of experience in program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and public service. She holds a master's in applied social science with a focus on African American U.S. history and is a Florida notary public. Mr. Pressley asked Ms. Ross to address the Board. Ms.Ross-I am excited to be able to serve the Town of Eatonville. My family is from Eatonville-the Tompkins. If there are any responsibilities to takeover or look over, I would be happy to discuss them with you. Board member Beacham asks which role Ms. Ross will be taking over. Mr. Pressley answers that the role was previously held by Mr. Cobbin McGee.

BOARD DISCUSSIONS/DECISIONS:

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is handling the consulting along with existing preservation ordinances, identifying policy gaps and recommending strategies. In the second phase, $25,000 went to the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community and their role was to engage in leading proactive community engagement to complement the work being conducted by Mr. Fly. The third approval of funds set aside was for the Community Planning Collaborative which is pending execution as of now. That was for the community survey for historic resources survey focused on the incorporated areas of the Town of Eatonville. It will conduct research which includes data collection, evaluations and uploads. The community outreach and workshop facilitation will be included in this resource survey for the town. The final report will be uploaded into our Florida master site file and will make it eligible for national, state and local registration designation for historic preservation. So, that is another $55,00 being set aside from that grant. The remaining portion of those funds have not been allocated of yet. Ten percent of the remaining funds will support our administrative access and support to the grant. And another portion will assist with our Town Planner consultant, Tara Salmieri. The designated amounts have not been disclosed or agreed upon yet. The last time Ms

STAFF COMMENTS:

Brittani Gragg (Executive Assistant to the Mayor): Ms. Gragg announced to the Board that Founders' Day celebrations will be held this weekend, which includes a history walk hosted by the Clerk's Office. Ms. Gragg - My hope is that you all would be interested in participating, stopping by, and even be willing to talk to visitors. The history walk will be from 5-8pm, Friday and Saturday. Board member Jordan asks for clarification

2of3 08142025 HISTORICPRESERVATIONBOARDMeetingMinutes on what to expect from the history walk. Ms. Gragg directs Chair Jordan's question to Records Coordinator, Marissa Bellenger. Ms. Bellenger - It is going to be a temporary exhibit with over a dozen photos the town staff has collected over the years. We are going to be setting up in the council chambers and putting the frames on the tables. We are also working with the Art and History Museums of Maitland and P.E.C., who have gladly contributed some objects. We are also going to include a discs of oral histories that were filmed twelve years ago. There will be a viewing area set up for that. I am a historian and studied at UCF with Dr. Scot French. So, this idea was really just about what is Eatonville outside of Zora Neale Hurston? I wanted this to be a love letter to the residents. I would really appreciate the support. I do not want to be the expert in this situation, I want to turn the floor to you all, who are the community historians. Board member Beacham asked if they could get the information ahead of time because the sponsors include the Historic Preservation Board. Ms. Gragg stated that she sent

Vice Chair Jordan: Chair Jordan has a question about an email she received from the State of Florida regarding documents to submit on our financials. Mrs. Veronica King - Every year all elected and appointed officials as well as statutory charter officers, have to fill out the financial disclosure. The information in the email says you have to submit it at a certain time every year. I am not in a position to assist because it is a conflict of interest, but the Office of Ethics has staff that can help. This is the second year that we have had to do it electronically since they do not accept physical forms anymore.

Town Clerk Veronica King announced that an early voting election period is coming up and encouraged members to come out and vote. Election day is September 2, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Jordan Motions for Adjournment of Meeting; Moved by Board Member Dawkins-Curtis; Second by Board Member Turner; AYE: ALL, MOTION PASSES. Meeting Adjourned at 1:48pm.

Respectfully Submitted by: