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Home My WebLink About2015-05-27DRYC May 27, 2015 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission May 27, 2015 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), Kathy Gehring, David Bravo-Cullen Youth Services Coordinator: Kris Bennett Town Hall Staff: Ray Burger (Planning Director) and Andrew Pierce (Recreation Coordinator) Guests: Judy Sinicropi, Potential Member Points of Interest: - Tompkins County has increased the budget this year. K. Bennett is not sure how the money will be distributed. It will be an ongoing increase - K. Gehring shared the power point outline that she is going to present to the Town Board on June 18, 2015 - There has not been any contact with the School Board yet - Brian Ford, Dryden Central School, has expressed interest in joining the DRYC. He is unable to make it to the meetings very often but would like to be kept in the loop. - Review of the resolution to the board regarding the future Dryden Town Park – see attached Program monitoring - might want more than a narrative - have a set group of things to look for - safety - interaction among the kids as well as with the program leader - first aid kit Community Grant monitoring: - suggestions included: - using the guidelines for applying as a monitoring checklist - asking community members attending what their opinion is of the program Dryden Lake Festival: They are looking for volunteers. The Festival will be July 25th, 10AM to 5PM. Volunteers should contact drydenlakefestivalinc@gmail.com Operating Guidelines: The DRYC has not yet set their operating guidelines. - Attendance (there is not a town law regarding attendance at the DRYC) DRYC May 27, 2015 May 2015 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission Recreation Director Report Jennifer Jones  Updates: o The new Summer/Fall Program Guide is done! I will bring some to the meeting for everyone to look at.  Community Grants: o The discussion meeting went very smooth this year with awards for all applicants. There was a total of $6,800 in requests for the $6,000 available. We tried to divide funds in a way that all applicants were awarded some or their entire request.  Summer/Fall Planning: o The two summer concert series are complete running from June through August at the two locations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (Ellis Hollow & VFW) o You will see some new additions to the program guide this season with information from youth services, community events, and the Town Clerk. o Summer programs this year will include archery, dance, golf, and violin lessons. We also have set up Yankee and SeaBreeze Field trip days. o I was never able to find someone to run a drama or tennis camp this year. However, I will try again next year!  Youth & Adult Programs: o CPR/AED/First Aid Trainings went well with 13 students. o Youth Track (65), Lacrosse (39), and Karate (8) are currently running. There have been a lot of schedule issues with youth track this year because of the schools ever changing schedule. Other programs are running smooth. o Fall youth sports schedules are planned for soccer, football, cheer, and karate. New this year with soccer will be team photos by Darl Zehr. Each coach will also receive a free memorable item at the end of the season. o We will also be continuing Pickleball next fall on Sundays. o Adult Pickleball will begin its last indoor session running from 4/12- 6/7. There is also the addition of Adult softball and kickball for spring and summer. DRYC May 27, 2015 Report to the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission From Kris Bennett, Liaison from Tompkins County Youth Services Department May, 2015  Check out this recent article about the Girls Venture Group. Nikki is one of the RYS program managers who is participating. http://www.ishopthrifty.org/blog/2015/05/07/fashion-breeds-all-types-of-beautiful/  I went to the OURS season end celebration on May 1 at Stewart Park. There were many youth there along with their Cornell mentors. I thanked the mentors for their participation, many have been involved their entire college career.  An update regarding the CCE program managers’ request for significant increases in their pay - To date, they have met with Ken, Megan, and Shelley at CCE and have provided salary comparisons for what they feel are comparable positions at other area agencies. However, they have not made a specific “ask”. No time frame to resolve this has been set. Current salaries for full time staff are above living wage.  Our office conducted a 4-session “Think Tank” for the Municipal Youth Services System during April. We brought together people familiar with the MYSS and others with no previous knowledge. (Kathy Gehring participated, representing the County Youth Services Board and Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission.) Our goal was to review the system and come up with unique ideas to improve and strengthen the system. From these sessions four action groups formed to address: transportation, funding, building capacity, and planning. Stay tuned as these action groups pursue their work.  It’s early in the county budget process but we have gotten word that the county administrator will recommend $75,000 in new, ongoing funding to benef it rural youth. Our department has had several meetings already to discuss possible scenarios for this; we do know it’s supposed to expand or enhance, not sustain current offerings. I’ll keep you posted. Proposed Resolution to the Town Board Whereas, the 2011 Recreation Master Plan and 2005 Town Comprehensive Plan both identified the need for increased outdoor leisure and recreational space; and Whereas, the most recent needs assessment conducted by the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission identified several areas of needs, including a safe place for youth to congregate and recreate; and Whereas, the plan developed by Must Have Play in 2013 is financially outdated, making its viability questionable; and DRYC May 27, 2015 Whereas, the current Recreation and Youth Commission believes the property owned by the town and previously identified as a potential site for a town park is not geographically or financially ideal; and Whereas the Commission believes there may be an alternative location better suited to serve the needs of the community; Therefore, be it resolved, the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission requests the Town Board’s permission to consider potential alternate sites for future recreational facilities.