The Ceres City Council acted last week to resume efforts to honor local veterans with the formation of a Military Appreciation Committee.

Four years ago the city formed a committee to assist in its efforts to place banners in the downtown area to honor Ceres military service men and women and veterans. The committee fell apart after members quit in protest of a decision to bend their rules and allow a banner to go up honoring a veteran who lived in Merced County. 

Councilwoman Cerina Otero asked for the city to retool the committee and invite the formers members to see if they are willing to serve. The committee would expand its scope beyond banners and also help with the war memorial and erecting American and military flags.

“I think it’s an excellent idea to bring back the committee,” said Ceres veteran John Warren. “I’m hoping that the members that were on it will think about stepping up and resetting their positions if that’s what the council wants.”

Past members of the committee included Warren his self, Gene Yeakley, Nicholas Otero and the late Freddy Morales. Councilman James Casey also served on the committee.

Councilwoman Otero said the new committee will “help shape and make decisions for our city when it comes to honoring our veterans, our service members and their families.” She also stated that the members “should be expected to actively participate in meetings and any activities pertaining to the committee.”

Otero volunteered to be on the committee and recommended Casey also be appointed a member.

Mayor Javier Lopez suggested the makeup of the committee consists of two councilmembers, two members of the public and Recreation Manager Joey Chavez. He also wants the committee to “have the ability to bring any recommendations to the city council for approval, and not be limited to just the items that you proposed.”

That prompted Otero to clarify if the mayor wanted the council to have ultimate say over their recommendations. Lopez explained that that’s the way the original committee was set up.

Otero said it’s reasonable if the committee wants to spend over a certain threshold but opined that “we are selecting these committee members and trusting them to help make the decisions that they feel is best for the program that they are assisting with. I don’t think it’s necessary to bring it back to the council each time. I think that would defeat the purpose of the committee and plus it kind of just ties their hands a little bit.”

Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra said she feels the committee should I report to the council on its activities but any use of city funds needs to come before the council.

“If they’re doing their own fundraising and stuff, then that might be a slightly different story,” said Vierra, “but if you’re asking for any kind of city money and city staff, I think that needs to come to council for open transparency with the community and making sure the community also knows what’s going on and how this is being used.”

Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez agreed that the council needs to approve committee recommendations.

Councilman Casey said he had no qualms about council approval of expenditures but said “if you don’t trust your recreation director to guide us in the proper way, maybe we shouldn’t have the committee.”

Chavez said the city has only collected a total of $3,633 in donations for veterans’ project and said his goal is to not spend any general fund money “to get these projects done.”

The council wants to recruit for five public members, two from the city council and Chavez to sit on the committee.