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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-24DRYC May 24, 2017 Page 1 of 5 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission May 24, 2017 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), Diane Pamel, Claudia Haferkamp-Wise, David Peck, David Bravo-Cullen, and Deanna Madigan Liaisons Present: Shelly Lester, RYS Coordinator and Kris Bennett, TCYSD representative Town Hall Staff: Jack Davison, Recreation Director and Rex Hollenbeck, Recreation Coordinator Rural Youth Services budget review: Shelly Lester - Please see attached budgets. - Some money was kept out to provide youth employment opportunities at the Library and for Dave Hall’s programs. Both programs/opportunities have proven beneficial for youth in the past and tend to assist the youth finding paying positions after their experience. - Ms. Lester shared the draft pamphlet for the Project Lead program. Please see attached. - They have connected with OSHA and are participating in a program of peer youth employment training where they will train youth to teach other youth about sexual harassment and violence in the work place. - There have been some concerns regarding Lexi Hartley’s performance and Ms. Lester is going to be working with her. - Ms. Lester is also planning a meeting with school officials to see if the bussing routes can be adjusted to get the participating children to the 4-H Acres so programming can begin earlier plus it would mean less driving for the volunteers since they would not have to pick up the kids. - Reserves - both programs (Youth Services and OURS) have reserves and each are using some of those reserves. Any funds not used are rolled over as reserve funds that are used during years that the budget is lean. o This year, Dave Hall wants to take a 7 day trip but the money does not exist. He has asked Ms. Lester to bring the idea to the DRYC to see if money can be taken from the reserve to pay his 14 hours of overtime he would be putting in. Ms. Lester does not think this is the best idea because it will set a very tough precedent and the reserves are for emergency coverage of the budget. Mr. Hall is unhappy with the federal law that has changed his position to hourly. He could do this trip other years because there wasn’t a limit on his time - he was salary. Mr. Hall asked Ms. Lester to bring the issue to the DRYC although she is inclined to say no to the trip. o J. Davison suggested the DRYC could work with D. Hall to raise the money so they can take the trip next year. He agrees with Mr. Hall that a DRYC May 24, 2017 Page 2 of 5 trip to the Adirondacks offers opportunities that cannot be experienced locally. o The Committee agreed that they support Ms. Lester’s decision and will work with her to try to make it happen next year. - Ms. Lester asked when budget proposals are due. S. Mulinos indicated that the DRYC needs to present a proposal to the Town Board before October; a preliminary proposal in August with final numbers in September would be best. The meeting was called to order at 7:50 PM when a quorum was achieved. Review and Approval of Minutes from April 26, 2017: D. Peck moved to approve the minutes as presented; D. Bravo-Cullen seconded the motion which was unanimously approved. Recreation Department update: J. Davison - Lacrosse and track programs went well, participation was up for both programs. - The Tai Chi class has 4 participants - The Egg Hunt was well attended; it is a popular event every year. - The Karate class has increased to 10 participants. He is hoping they can work with J. Maza to see if more scholarships can be made available. - In summer programming, they have added another art class so there is one at the beginning and the end of the summer. The archery classes have been consolidated to one session to ensure there are enough participants. The golf course is being sold but they are still permitting the youth to use the driving range. The basketball camp is unsure at this time because the instructor may not be available. Dance classes will be offered again with a Polynesian theme. This year, they are able to offer horseback riding classes. Soccer camp, football and cheer camps will again be offered. - For adult classes, a history course about the Nazi resistance will be offered at the Town Hall. A free yoga class is being offered at Montgomery Park on Saturdays 8:30-9:30 am. Ball room dance will be taught at the Fire Hall. Handball is a new program and Pickleball will again be offered. - Field Trips - Sea Breeze, Binghamton Rumble Ponies game, and Skate Estate. - Fit Trail - he is working with Mr. Wakeman to see if they have an Eagle Scout that might be interested. He is also talking to the Dryden Café to see if they are interested in helping with this project. o S. Mulinos suggested a fund raiser via Valor Strength and Conditioning. She recently participated in a Tough Mudder at Ithaca Beer via a different fitness organization. - Recreation Partnership - Liz Vance has indicated the total value of programming which Dryden residents participate in is $72,000 which includes summer camps. The Town of Dryden pays $14,000 per year to be part of the Partnership. If all the people currently participating were paying full price it DRYC May 24, 2017 Page 3 of 5 would be $72,000. This is definitely a worthy investment. Dryden participants are paying approximately 50% of the program costs. TCYSD: Kris Bennett - Please see attached report. Rail to Trail: D. Bravo-Cullen - They did not get the DOT grant that they for which they applied. - They are continuing to get easements from land owners. - Some middle school students will be clearing part of the trail. - At the last meeting, there were three landowners who expressed their lack of interest in signing an easement although they stayed for the entire meeting. - The crossing of Route 13 is a big issue because the rail road bed crosses the road at grade. The debate is over where/how the crossing should be made: directly across Route 13, detour to the Fall Creek Bridge, etc. The NYS DOT has not yet given their opinion. - On June 17th, the Rail Trail Committee is holding a public meeting to generate design ideas for the trail. DRYC Annual Report: - J. Davison has the booklet completed and will bring copies to the next DRYC meeting. Rec Partnership Participation: - S. Mulinos asked if the Committee wanted Janice to come to a meeting to make a presentation. K. Bennett will contact her to determine what month will work best. Dryden Rotary: D. Bravo-Cullen - October 21st Dryden Rotary Fall Dash, 5K and 10K run around Dryden Lake Park utilizing the trail and the connecting roads. New Business: DRYC Communication Plan - The Committee has talked in the past about how to make information available to the community; a marketing plan for the DRYC. - The information needs to be available in a traditional manner, not just electronic. Seniors, people not on the grid, people who don’t have internet access, etc. will want the information. J. Davison asked the Committee for assistance in coming up with programming for teens, grades 6-9. Suggestions included setting one night a week or month for teen activities which can change each time, movie nights, gaming nights, trivia night, food, etc. DRYC May 24, 2017 Page 4 of 5 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 PM. These minutes were transcribed from an audio recording. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk Updates for Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission, May, 2017 From Kris Bennett, Tompkins County Youth Services Department • Janice and I made a PQA visit to Lexi’s program on April 10. Janice then met with her to complete the administrative component. Janice will prepare the RYS report which will summarize reports for all the RYS staff. • April 6 was Data Day when we reported on the results of the fall, 2016 student survey that was given to all secondary schools in the TST BOCES region. As in the past, I met with a 3-person team from Dryden district to analyze their results. Bryan Ford asked for some additional information for his community meeting on 5/23 on Dryden youth which of course I provided. • I completed the Summary of Highlights Report for the countywide results of the biannual student survey. It is being printed, if it’s ready by the May meeting, I’ll bring copies for DRYC members. I am in the process of preparing several “disparity reports” which will examine the experiences of student subgroups. There will be report comparing males vs. females and another comparing LGBTQO students with straight, gender conforming students. If our goal as a community is to make sure that the needs of all young people are being met, it’s important to know how the experience of some students differs from that of others. • Our upcoming training series(all trainings are free) includes these options: ~ 9-20-17 – Enough Abuse Training (prevention of sexual abuse) ~ 10-11-17 – CSEC 101 – Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children ~ A training on first aid and CPR for the professional rescuer is taking place on June 20; space is limited, if you are interested please call our office (274-5310) to see if there is availability. • 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the Tompkins County Youth Services Dept. (See snazzy logo, upper left.) We will be unveiling our “40 Caring Adults” campaign in the coming weeks; I’ll share details with you all, probably next month. DRYC May 24, 2017 Page 5 of 5