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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRYC 09252024DRYC 2024-09-25 Page 1 of 3 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission (DRYC) September 25, 2024 Hybrid Present: Leslie Debo (chair), David Peck (vice chair), Julie McLean, Will Olson, *Ron Szymanski, James Whalley Absent: Jenelle Carr, Rhonda Kowalski Liaisons: *Jason Leifer (Town Board) *Kate Shanks-Booth (Tompkins County Youth Services) Staff: Marty Conger (Recreation Director) Allison Kjellander-Cantu (Deputy Town Clerk) Guest: *Craig Anderson (Planning Board) arrived at 7:32 pm “*” Denotes attendance via Zoom The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Reports: Tompkins County Youth Services K. Shanks-Booth updated us that there has not been any change since the last meeting. They are still working with budgets for the county and will have the public comment next Monday. The presentation to the county went well and there were few questions. They are waiting to see what funding will be available for the OTRs that have been submitted. The county has said that it will be a tight year, and not to expect a lot of funding in next year's budget. She will have to wait and see what funding is available. Reports: Town Board J. Leifer updated this board about the town board's recommendation to remove the housing portion from the RFP (Request for Proposal). In the wetlands, there will not be enough land for development. With only 6 or 7 acres available, focus should be on the fields be added and what recreation needs. He suggests that funding be added to next year's recreation budget for a grant writer to look for funds for more fields. L. Debo added that the two applicants for the RFPs focus on a ball field and a soccer/lacrosse field, but the DRYC would like to include bathrooms, storage, and parking. We will need to give them time to adjust their prices before moving forward. The town will need to post the updated RFP for a week or two on the website. We can make our decision after that. Reports: Recreation Department M. Conger reported that winter sports registration is about to open. Basketball and wrestling registration will open sometime within the next week or two. The haunted house preparation is underway. One of the references from CHA’s proposal, Richard Tupper from the Town of Cortlandville, had nothing negative to say about CHA and the major projects they did for them. A concern that she has regarding this project is we now are only working with 6 or 7 acres because the rest is wetlands. Is everyone okay with this? She feels this may be the only opportunity recreation may have to get fields. She is putting this out there because the residents may not be on board for another project about fields or green space but will question why we need more fields. If we ask for more fields in the future, we should then ask to include DRYC 2024-09-25 Page 2 of 3 in the plans a classroom-sized building that may be used for cheerleading practice and storage, and green space for soccer practice. It is a challenge to shuffle coaches and their teams around for space because there are not enough places for them to practice. She wonders if anybody has any other thoughts or ideas because the residents will not opt for funding for another location. What we need to look at is the wants and/or needs for the future and what we want it to be and look like. This gives town recreation the chance to not be so dependent on the school district. When the next large housing project happens, she would like to sit in with the housing committee to request they include a rec center or a community rec building. W. Olson questioned why she felt this would be the only thing. M. Conger voiced that recreation in the town is extremely low on the needs and wants of some people. L. Debo mentioned that residents will resist the creation of another field and will look at the numbers, and the cost to taxpayers. J. Liefer felt people are not going to think a couple of ball fields behind the town hall will be the end of recreation’s plans for ball fields. The discussion turned to whether the village board spoke with the developers of the Ezra Village housing project to include adding a recreation area or at least contributing something to help fund one. The location for this development is an ideal location for ball fields and a recreational park. J. Leifer felt that if the village board knew that they could have asked for this or if they even knew what they were doing, something would have been added to the plans. If any comparable project were to come to the town board, he would request the project include some sort of recreational area in the design plans. There are grants available to help with this. D. Peck looked at the land behind the town hall and agreed that there would be limited space available for parking if fields and a small building were built. Several members agreed that the location for a future project needs to be centrally located (based on the population) not geography easy to get to, and on the TCAT bus list of stops. D. Peck asked J. Leifer about how much money was in the reserve fund or if there was any reserve fund. There is not much, as some of it was used for the rail trail. L. Debo asked the board if it would be worth looking into hiring someone to get a survey done to find a feasible location for a community center. Several members spoke about how there was a group that participated in asking the community what people wanted back in 2018/2019, but since this group is no longer active, nothing came from the information that was collected. C. Anderson joined the meeting via Zoom at 7:32 p.m. J. Leifer brought C. Anderson up to date regarding the housing portion of the RFP. The town board recommendation from their September 19th meeting was to remove the housing portion because New York has declared it wetlands. There is no need to spend more time figuring out how to put housing in the wetland portion. C. Anderson wondered if anyone looked at how to tie the sidewalks into the village. Did anyone investigate how to include part of Cornelius' land behind the town hall that may be used for housing? DRYC 2024-09-25 Page 3 of 3 L. Debo also agreed about the sidewalks and made an adjustment to the language for sidewalks and voiced to keep them in the RFP for now. Are we obligated to do that? J. Leifer agreed to keep it for now but wondered if there is an alternative to the sidewalks. Amendment of the RFP by removing the housing portion from the draft. On a motion given by J. McLean, seconded by J. Whalley, to amend the RFP to remove the housing portion. Vote: Debo- Aye, Peck- Aye, McLean- Aye, Olson- Aye, Whalley- Aye. Resolution passed. Respectfully submitted, Allison Kjellander-Cantu Deputy Town Clerk