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TAMPA - Hillsborough commissioners agreed Wednesday to tighten slightly the criteria for its top citizens award, and to add a new honor recognizing acts of bravery.
Commissioners voted 5-0, with Chairman Tom Scott and Commissioner Kathy Castor absent, to tweak the guidelines for nominees for its Moral Courage Award. In the past, commissioners have adopted a broad interpretation of moral courage, depending on the board's makeup.
Future nomination forms will make it clearer that to qualify, a nominee should have taken a courageously moral or ethical stand against government decisions for the betterment of the community. Also, a nominee may not be employed in the activity for which he is nominated.
Additionally, commissioners agreed to create a new "Brave Citizen Award," and approved its first recipient, former school guidance counselor Domenic Giunta. Giunta drowned in July while attempting to rescue four youngsters from rip currents at Honeymoon Island State Park.
Commissioners asked their Citizens Advisory Committee to draft criteria for the award using Giunta as a model.