HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_11-14_03/13/2014 RESOLUTION NO. 11 -14
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF
TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, RECOGNIZING THE VALIANT AND
HONORABLE SERVICE OF UNITED STATES MILITARY
PERSONNEL; ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE PROVIDING OF
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE FOR SUCH
HONORABLY DISCHARGED PERSONNEL SERVES AN IMPORTANT
PUBLIC PURPOSE, NOW MORESO THAN EVER DUE TO RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL CUTBACKS;
FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGING THE LOCAL, STATE -WIDE AND
NATIONAL NEED FOR OUTSTANDING SWORN LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; AND BASED ON THE FOREGOING,
AUTHORIZING CREATION OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
"MILITARY -TO- MAIN - STREET" PROGRAM FOR THE
RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF HONORABLY
DISCHARGED MILITARY PERSONNEL INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAREERS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
WHEREAS, Members and former members of the Armed Services of the United
States from the State of Florida and from across the nation, who have served so valiantly and
honorably to protect and preserve the freedoms we all enjoy in the United States of America,
deserve special recognition, thanks, and acknowledgement; and
WHEREAS, it is an important public purpose, in addition to providing the aforesaid
recognition, thanks and acknowledgement, to assist honorably discharged military personnel in
their re -entry into civilian life; and
WHEREAS, historically, and across all demographic lines, unemployment rates among
honorably discharged military personnel consistently exceed unemployment rates among their
civilian counterparts; and
WHEREAS, the importance of providing assistance to honorably discharged military
personnel in their re -entry into civilian life will reach new levels with the February 24, 2014
announcement by the Department of Defense to reduce the personnel size of the United States
Military to a size which has not existed since 1940, prior to its World War H build -up, which will
in all likelihood increase the disparity between unemployed honorably discharged military
personnel and their unemployed civilian counterparts; and
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WHEREAS, over the past several years, law enforcement agencies in Florida and across
the nation have suffered significant cuts to their staffing needs, requiring such agencies to do
their best to provide required levels of law enforcement service with reduced sworn personnel,
resulting in increased overtime pay, or worse, gaps in service coverage; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council of the Village of Tequesta, desires to simultaneously
address all of these issues by authorizing the creation of the Village of Tequesta "Military -to-
Main- Street" Program, whose purpose will be to assist honorably discharged military personnel
with their return to civilian life by recruiting qualified men and women interested in a career in
local law enforcement, paying for their police academy training as well as certain living and
other incidental expenses during such training, and providing them with the opportunity of
employment as a sworn law enforcement officer; and
WHEREAS, funding for the " Military -to- Main- Street" Program would initially be
derived through law enforcement funds and when available certain forfeiture funds received
through law enforcement activities in which the Village's police department participates; and
WHEREAS, the "Military-to- Main - Street" Program would require a minimum four year
employment commitment from each participant in order for the Village of Tequesta to fully
realize the value of its investment; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council contemplates that the success of the "Military-to-Main-
Street" Program will allow and encourage the program model to be expanded for use in
neighboring jurisdictions, and ultimately throughout the state and the nation.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Village Council of the Village of
Tequesta, Florida that:
Section 1: The above recitals are hereby adopted and incorporated into this
Resolution.
Section 2: The Village Council of the Village of Tequesta hereby recognizes the
dedication and service of all United States Military personnel, both past and current, for their
unwavering dedication to the protection and defense of the freedom enjoyed by all United States
citizens.
Section 3: The Village Council, in an effort to assist these brave men and women
with their re -entry into civilian life after receiving an honorable discharge, hereby authorizes the
creation of the Village of Tequesta "Military-to- Main - Street" Program. This program will
recruit qualified men and women interested in a career in local law enforcement, will pay for
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their police academy training as well as certain living and other incidental expenses during such
training, and will provide them with employment as a sworn law enforcement officers. The
program will seek a four year employment commitment from each participant in order for the
Village of Tequesta to fully realize the value of its investment. It is the hope and desire of the
Village Council that this program will grow beyond the Village of Tequesta and will be utilized
by neighboring jurisdictions, jurisdictions state -wide and ultimately across the entire nation.
Section 4: The Village Manager is hereby directed to all things necessary and
appropriate to effectuate the intent of the Village Council in this regard.
Section 5: The Council directs the Village Clerk to forward a copy of the Resolution
to the Florida Police Chief's Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 6: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
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The foregoing Resolution was offered by Council Member Okun who moved its adoption. The
motion was seconded by Council Member D'Ambra and upon being put to a vote, the vote was
as follows:
For Adoption Against Adoption
Mayor Abby Brennan X
Vice -Mayor Vince Arena X
Council Member Steve Okun X
Council Member Tom Paterno X
Council Member Frank D'Ambra X
The Mayor thereupon declared the Resolution duly passed and adopted this 13`" day of March
2014.
MAYOR OF TEQUESTA
Abig ' Brennan
ATTEST:
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Lori McWilliams MMC COR� `
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