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Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission
March 4, 2013
Dryden Town Hall
Members Present: Vicki Wilkins (Chair), Jeff Humphrey, Sharon Todd, Steve Meyer, Tracy Kurtz,
Stephanie Mulinos, and JoEllen Bailey
Town Recreation Director: Melissa Bianconi
Town Board Liaison: Linda Levine and Steven Stelick, Jr. (not present)
DCDS Liaison: position open
County Youth Services Representative: Kris Bennett
The meeting was opened at 7:01 PM.
1. Reading of the Commission’s Meeting Minutes:
A motion to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of January 30, 2013 was made by S.
Mulinos and seconded by S. Meyer. The motion was unanimously approved.
2. Recognition and presentation of Guests:
Dryden Area Intergenerational Band and Chorus, Jody Earle
This program started 18 years ago at the time of the bi-Centennial celebration in Dryden. It
started with a conversation with Jim Schug about providing opportunities for kids to do music because
the school used to do lessons during the summer but they stopped that program. They formed to play at
the beginning of the celebration and then again at the end.
This summer will be the 18th summer doing this although Jody had anticipated only a year or
two. The program offers band and chorus which operated separately (but are administered together),
which run for six weeks. At the end of the session, they like to offer a concert (free but ask for
donations). Dryden and Groton school districts both have members in the program.
Jody Earle said that being part of the Dryden Recreation program has afforded the Band and
Chorus program to have insurance which they could not have otherwise afforded. Last year, only one
concert was held, in Groton, because Dryden School would not allow the group a place to perform.
The program last year accommodated ages 9-83. Other years they have spanned a greater age.
With between 16 and 18 family groups, this really becomes a great family activity. The chorus can
perform in a variety of places but the band needs a place inside for the preservation of the musical
instruments. The High School is the only place that can accommodate these groups – they need access
to the band equipment and the chairs, etc. The program is getting a CAP grant so they have to stay in
Tompkins County.
Jody thanked the Recreation Commission and the Recreation Department, she indicated that
the program is facing a serious challenge in finding a place that they can meet and perform. They have
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already contacted Dryden Schools regarding this upcoming summer and were told that they could not
use the school accommodations.
S. Meyer asked if the problem at the school is an administrative issue or individuals?
Jody said she thinks it is a general attitude of not supporting the community. She has met with
several superintendants but it has been a problem every year. She asks for dates in the fall for the
following summer, and they are required to pay for the facilities (when they are able to reserve space).
It has always been a problem; one year they waxed the floors and then refused to let the group in
despite them being scheduled to be there.
Groton is much better, they try to accommodate the group. They have permitted the Band to
use their musical equipment but have asked that the concerts be held indoors for the sake of the
equipment. In Dryden, the group has to clean the place (wash the bathrooms, bring toilet paper, a
whole list of supplies to clean with because the school is such a mess) before they can use it.
M. Bianconi has had the same problems and kept hoping that “next year will be better”. She
wants to see if anyone had any ideas of how the DRYC can assist the group and intervene with the DCSD.
This year the group has asked for August 4th, a Sunday afternoon. The School initially told them
they could not give an answer so soon and now they have been told no because the school may be
doing renovations on the auditorium and they never got to the parking lot last year. She has meet with
the Superintendant but has not gotten anywhere. She even asked about the elementary school but was
told that no school was going to be available to them.
S. Mulinos has had similar problems with Freeville summer programs.
Jody Earle said their concerts are a major fundraiser.
Jody Earle was asked whether members of the program were willing to go to a Dryden School
Board meeting, maybe they could convince the Board of the benefits of the program.
M. Bianconi said that for better or worse, this is our community facility, our community site and
it is really detrimental to thousands of people when the blanket “no” is given for usage requests.
Someone asked who was the decision maker? Who is it that determines who can use the
facilities?
J. Humphrey stated that the Superintendant would make the decision but the School Board is
the ultimate decision maker.
V. Wilkins made a motion stating the DRYC’s support of the Intergenerational Band and Chorus
and with the intention of addressing the issue with the School Board.
J. Humphrey seconded the motion and all members of the DRYC approved.
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M. Bianconi suggested a sub-committee to work with the Dryden School Board. She also said
that we can write a letter to the School Board while simultaneously we try to get other community
groups to attend a school board meeting.
J. Humphrey made the point that the letter should be read to the school board, not just sent to
them.
Jody Earle asked that going to the school board include other groups since the school board and
Superintendant of Schools knows her and might not wish to talk to her.
V. Wilkins asked what the Dryden policy for facility use is?
M. Bianconi said that you put in a request, they tell you yes or no and then you pay according to
a scale. During the school year, getting use of the facility is easier than in the summer.
Jody Earle said that even when you do get permit, nothing is set up or prepared for them. S.
Meyer pointed out that cleaning bathrooms or providing toilet paper is certainly not acceptable. And M.
Bianconi pointed to the fees, they can be substantial for a small organization and thus should provide
the user with certain basic services.
Steve asked if there are other groups that we can include in the discussion?
M. Bianconi and J. Humphrey started listing other groups such as the boy scouts, girl scouts,
different local camps and even the village. This is a substantial issue for Town funded and Town
supported programs.
Creating Healthy Places, Jeanne Leccese
She received a five year grant from NY Health Department to increase physical activity and consumption
of fruits and vegetables. Her program has helped to create Community Gardens, Farmers markets, town
parks, sidewalks, anything that makes it easier to keep people active. She and her program have been
big supporters of the Dryden Town Park.
Must Have Play, Michael Cohen
M. Cohen has over 20 years experience building playgrounds around the world.
He approached the Park two ways:
1. We know the elements (page 4) in collaboration with a landscape architect, put numbers to each of
the elements – they are all in the appendix in the back. “Rsmeans” is an industry standard practice to
put numbers to constructions elements such as sidewalks and buildings.
It breaks down material, unit cost, lineal feet, cubic feet and applies a cost.
Numbers in red are lineal feet and numbers in black are the elements.
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2. The other way of tackling this is what makes sense, what do you do first, logic in how you tackle a
project. That’s a lot of labor and capital costs. In reality, we are looking at phasing (3,4, or 5 construction
seasons - climate and weather may lengthen the phases) which spread out the cost, allows you to
under-take different ways to fund it. There is also the benefit in labor; whether recruits or in-house, by
spreading out the time more people can get involved.
Phase one will be the major grading (drainage work, catch basin (wild life pond), berm between the
highway department and the park), landscaping and a road in from Virgil Road right next to the existing
Town Hall parking lot.
The grading will define and determine what happens next. Foot paths can be mowed or paved to
suggest future facilities and amenities.
Financial estimates are based on some assumptions; planning department and zoning will get into it
more, for example the width of the road will change the cost.
M. Bianconi pointed out that the numbers are the high end, not taking into consideration volunteers or
the Highway department contributions.
Phase two – start to populate the park with the play areas, the second entrance, a boardwalk, foot
paths, etc. This phase includes most of the main elements.
Phase three will be a main central pavilion with terraced seating. The hillside is perfectly structured for
this use.
Community participation is the best way to save money and bring the community together. M.
Cohen suggested that while phase one is underway, the DRYC should encourage ad hoc community
groups to form around the community gardens, natural play area, etc. By encouraging those kind of
groups, people with certain experience will be more likely to participate and perhaps an exchange of
sorts could be established and donations encouraged.
M. Bianconi asked if anyone had any direct questions about this plan?
K. Bennett asked if there is anything in the plan about the cost of maintenance after the park is built?
No. The play structures whether manufactured or built from scratch, they are much more
maintenance friendly than even 10 years ago. Main maintenance cost will be in the region of five to ten
thousand/year. He suggested that the Town get “friends of the play ground” who can adopt a section of
the playground and sand and seal or clean or whatever is needed to maintain the park.
M. Bianconi said a maintenance plan will be part of the master plan for the site, which leads to
the question of where to go now. The attitude right now from town staff and board members is that we
need to push for all of it (the park and trails) at the same time as part of the larger comprehensive plan
that the town is working on. Next phase comes in with working with the Conservation and Planning
boards and looking at everything the Town has going on right now developmentally, outside facility
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wise. This is a unique time for the Boards to work together and move forward. M. Bianconi is going to
work with town planners to move forward on this plan. We need to start talking to other groups in this
town, we need to start talking to them more and get them on board. Community groups that will
benefit from this project, we need to get them involved.
S. Todd asked about the historical stuff that is on the property being developed. M. Bianconi and
M. Cohen said there is a barn that will be restored and the vestige of a race track that was used for
horse racing. Is there any chance of getting the historical society on board?
M. Bianconi said that she will at some point be presenting the Dryden Park (Must Have Play)
plan to the Town Board. She asked everyone to look at the plan and ask questions or make suggestions.
Eventually, the Park will be part of the Comprehensive Plan under the Open Space section.
S. Todd asked how much money was in the reserve fund for the Recreation department. M.
Bianconi said it was just over $350,000 and that she expects that the trail advocates are going to come
to the DRYC to ask for some of that money for trail maintenance.
Recommendations for Chair and Vice Chair:
Vicki Wilkins for chair and Sharon Todd for vice chair.
Vote: ALL IN FAVOR!!!!
M. Bianconi - Once the new commission is established, the members will have the term
expiration dates as established but the members will have to reapply because this is a new commission.
The DRYC legislation has been introduce to but not adopted by the Town Board. If anyone has
any issues or problems with the legislation, it needs to be discussed now but any changes will cause the
adoption to be delayed by a month.
K. Bennett and Melissa discussed some of the minor issues such as the school liaison position,
which the Town lawyer, Mahlon Perkins, thinks should be a three year appointment. That will make all
of the appointments three years and will keep the language cleaner. The second issue was the language
dealing with removal of a member from the Commission and attendance policy, Mr. Perkins suggested
that the Commission deal with that in their operating guidelines rather than in the local law. The other
issue was the youth evaluations, Mr. Perkins would like to keep the local law as simple as possible and
suggested dealing with these requirements of the commission in the operating guidelines.
Unless commission members have major changes, this will be the legislation that will go to the
Town Board on the 21st of March.
Subcommittee for the Grant review:
Applications are due on March 15th. This group will make final recommendations to the Town Board on
April 18th. Applications should be relatively easy to assess with the new program the Recreation
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department is using. S. Meyer, S. Mulinos, T. Kurtz, and V. Wilkins volunteered to be on the
subcommittee. The group plans to meet on March 20 at 6:30 at the Town Hall.
Other subcommittees:
1. Outdoor development subcommittee: to help push the park and the trail projects
2. Youth development funding: should it be established as a subcommittee or should we keep it with
the entire group? K. Bennett and V. Wilkins agreed that the whole group should participate.
3. Operating guidelines subcommittee:
4. School relations subcommittee:
Members will be assigned to subcommittees next month.
The DRYC needs a new school liaison and another Commission member. The application process is on-
going and Chairwoman Wilkins is going to contact those that have already applied to invite them to the
next meeting.
Cooperative Extension Programs report: Kris Bennett
Each month the Cooperative Extension programs that get funding from the town do a report.
David Hall leads several different programs. His report covers the programs he has been
offering, the people that have participated and updates on the success of his programs. His report is
attached to the minutes.
OURS program – Opportunity, Understanding, Respect, Service - the fact that they are working
with cooperative extension gets them insurance, vans and training. About 50 Cornell students volunteer
to serve young people in three mobile home parks in Dryden. Considering all the other opportunities in
town, OURS kids are very unlikely to be involved in any other groups/activities – ie the Dryden Rec
program. Report and current flyer are attached to the minutes.
Youth Needs Assessment
M. Bianconi has sent out a link to the most recent assessment (2009). Her question is whether this
should be another subcommittee or as a group. Kris Bennett offered to take the lead on that.
M. Bianconi is working with two Cornell students (Steve Riester and Rob Vera) that are creating a draft
logic model to evaluate what it is that should be evaluated within the Recreation Department’s sports
programs. Should they evaluate the coaches, the programs, the success, etc? Steve and Rob will be
attending the meeting on March 27 to get input from the commission as to what they want to see
evaluated.
Next meeting will include:
Grant recommendations
The Youth Sports evaluation presentation with Steve and Rob.
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Subcommittees
David Hall will be discussing his programs.
There being no further business, Steve Meyer motioned to adjourn at 8:45. JoEllen Bailey seconded the
motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin A. Bieber
Recording Secretary