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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-22Page 1 of 3 Draft January 22, 2014 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission January 22, 2014 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos, Steve Meyer, Director of Recreation: Melissa Bianconi Guests: Jules Ravo and Tom Fuchs County Youth Services Representative: Kris Bennett Meeting was called to order at 7:06 PM 1. The reading and approval of Commission minutes from December. Due to a lack of quorum, the minutes were postponed until February. 2. Any additions/ alterations to agenda? We do not have reports from Nicki Nease or Dave Hall. 3. Introduction of guests: Jules Ravo and Tom Fuchs attended as potential new members. 4. A report from the Town Board Liaison – The liaison was not present but we have a new liaison from the Town Board, Joe Solomon. 5. Youth Employment Program – K. Bennett and M. Bianconi have meet with Linda Schoffel and Nicki Nease from Cooperative Extension to discuss the program. They found a couple of things that still need to be discussed by this commission. There is enough money for 1250 hours of employment at minimum wage. The questions include: should we fund fewer kids with more funds or more kids with fewer funds, should we limit it to first time experience (as per tradition) or do we allow second and third experiences, do we want to keep it to non-profit businesses or do we want to expand to encompass more opportunities, should the program be extended so it provides jobs year round or only over the summer, does the Commission feel we should include young people that don’t like in the Town of Dryden but are in the school district (this question was answered based on the fact that Town money is being used therefore we need to stick with Dryden residents). S. Mulinos stated her preference for keeping the p rogram available for first time employment. S. Meyer agreed and likes the idea of working with employers to expand the opportunities, but questioned whether the Commission would be required to pay the full wage or would the employer pay half? Supervisor Sumner suggested that a pyramid might work. For example, if you don’t fill the positions with the target group, then go to the next best option. She also suggested targeting the age group of 15-17 since those kids that will be in the community for at least another year. K.Bennett pointed out that it might be an issue to subsidize a private business due to insurance, workers compensation, book keeping, etc. S. Mulinos asked about the education component and whether Nicki Nease is going to teach them required skills before sending them out for a job. K. Bennett said N. Nease can do trainings and put together guides for places that hire kids. M. Bianconi said that some of the kids might only need to work afterschool with a teacher for an hour or so to gain the experience that this program is trying to provide. There isn’t a real expectation that any of the youth jobs will be 40 hours a week; the goal is to give youth the resources they need to gain employment. T. Fuch asked if the schools have after school programs. K. Bennett has already checked into that and has found there is a late bus. There are opportunities for employment during that free time, some students stay to wash art supplies. It doesn’t provide a lot of experience or take much time but it does provide students with a level of responsibility. T. Fuch inquired about employment assisting with afterschool programs in the elementary school, providing role models for the younger children. He also suggested 2 hours a day, 5 days a week,10 hours per week seems to be a decent amount of opportunity per youth. K. Bennett summarized the discussion: It was agreed that first experiences should be given precedent, the opportunities can be expanded to local businesses as well as not- for-profit jobs, the average age should be between 15-17, the youth need to live in the Town of Dryden and opening the employment to year round which will permit the Commission to take advantage of more opportunities. The number of hours per youth was discussed; K. Bennett indicated that about 100 hours per youth is a good amount. S. Meyer and Supervisor Sumner both supported the idea of having youth reapply after completing their experience if they are interested in continuing their employment. S. Mulinos said she feels strongly that the Commission needs to be very specific with their expectations. The goals are to give youth the resources they need to be able to go and get a job including: filling out an application, conducting an interview, appropriate dress, make eye contact, shake hands, etc. She also suggested that if the youth complete their experience to our standards, they can be given a letter of recommendation. 6. Youth Needs Assessment M. Bianconi spoke with Sharon Todd who is willing to have her students take on the parent communication component of the Youth Needs Assessment. She is asking M. Bianconi and any other members of the Commission to attend her class on February 4th to meet with her students at SUNY Cortland. 7. Community Grant Update M. Bianconi has almost all of the reports from the programs that were supposed to get reports in by December 31. Some are having technical difficulties and some have “dissolved” after program completion. M. Bianconi is bringing the highlights of the programs to the next meeting. We have a lot less money to grant this year but that is because the initial goals of the program have been met (a new roof, a bbq grill, a bench, etc) which leads to a reallocation of funding. The Wizards are going to be at the Dryden Middle School at 1:45pm on Thursday (January 23rd) to engage with students regarding bullying. Page 3 of 3 Draft January 22, 2014 Supervisor Sumner said she is getting forms together to gather information from the volunteer boards/ commissions regarding their short and long term goals, membership, terms, etc. She hopes to have them for the Commission next month. S. Mulinos was recommended as Chair and S. Meyer volunteered to serve as Vice Chair. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM. Respectfully submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk The next regular business meeting will be held on February 26, 2014 at 7PM.