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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-28DRYC September 28, 2016 Page 1 of 5 Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission September 28, 2016 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), David Bravo-Cullen, Tom Fuchs, Monica Knight, Claudia Hafercamp-Wise, and Diane Pamel Town Hall Staff: Jennifer Jones (Recreation Director), Rex Hollenbeck (Recreation Assistant), Jack Davison (Recreation Assistant) Guests: Sharon Todd, former DRYC member and Department Chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies at SUNY Cortland, Nick Gehring, Deana Madigan and James Skaley Liaisons present: Dan Lamb and Kathy Servoss, Town Board members, Kris Bennett, Tompkins County Youth Services Introductions: Commission members and guests all introduced themselves around the table. Reports Rail to Trail Task Force: D. Bravo-Cullen - There seems to be a positive attitude about the trail among the people they have talked to. - They have easement documents out to residents and have received a few back. It appears that they will be able to get most of the easements fairly quickly - The major issue they are currently considering is Route 13 and how to get across, over or around the road since the trail is at the same elevation as the road. - The Task Force is working on getting a Transportation Alternatives Program grant which provides Federal Funding but that means they have to meet certain standards rather than constructing the trail to Dryden’s desired standards. Review and approval of minutes from August 24, 2016: T. Fuchs moved to approve the minutes with suggested editorial changes. D. Bravo-Cullen seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. Monitoring Reports: Family Fun at the Varna Community Center: S. Mulinos - They held a bird and reptile presentation - All ages were represented - About 30 people participated - They had games in the playground area S. Mulinos said she left around 12:30pm and K. Servoss arrived around 1pm. She reported the same information as S. Mulinos. Dryden Central School does not participate in the Varna after school program. The school was not willing to provide transportation. Ithaca schools will be the ones being served by this program. The Varna after school program has about 16 kids registered but can serve close to 40, preschool to 5th grade. DRYC September 28, 2016 Page 2 of 5 Rural Youth Services Program Educator: K. Bennett - Nikki Nease has resigned her position as the director of the OURS and YOURS programs. - Cooperative Extension has opened the search for a new director. - A group from Cooperative Extension will narrow the search and then they will create a committee to interview the final 4-6 candidates. Interviews will be held on Friday October 21st. - K. Servoss volunteered to represent the DRYC on the search committee. Recreation Department: - Director Jennifer Jones has resigned her position. - The DRYC has been charged with advising the Town Board regarding the Recreation Department structure. - The positions of Recreation Director and Recreation Coordinator are both Civil Service positions with position descriptions already in place. - There was a long discussion regarding what the DRYC can do regarding the Civil Service descriptions. There were several suggestions but the DRYC cannot change the descriptions or add to them. - D. Lamb stated that he anticipates hiring recommendations being offered to the Town Board; a short list of 3-4 candidates. He is hoping the Commission can determine the hiring process and create a job description and job profile. - T. Fuchs expressed his concern that the DRYC doesn’t have the time or expertise to complete those tasks. - D. Lamb added that he believes the Town should invest in a person who has the background and education to move the Recreation program forward. Potentially someone with a Parks and Recreation background. - S. Mulinos asked if the Commission feels they need more input, beyond those that are on the Commission, regarding the department structure. - K. Servoss asked if the Commission feels they need a director or simply a coordinator. - K. Bennett has copies of the description that was developed before J. Jones was hired. - S. Todd stated that she feels the Commission would be going backwards if they don’t choose to hire a new director. - S. Mulinos asked what kind of direction the Recreation department should be taking. - D. Pamel reviewed the budget that was presented to the Town Board. She noted that the funds have been cut to the Recreation Department due to the current reduced staff funding. - J. Jones pointed out that the budget presented was for a full time director and two part time assistants. Those numbers will not necessarily hold depending on what recommendations the DRYC offers. - T. Fuchs supports S. Todd’s statement. He also believes that they have a responsibility to create a job description that the Commission feels fits with the community’s desire. He does not believe that the Commission should be the search committee. He believes the DRYC should be represented but there should also be community and Town Board members. DRYC September 28, 2016 Page 3 of 5 - J. Jones indicated that currently the Recreation Department is barely moving along with a full time director and 2 part time assistants (equals about 80 hours a week). She highly recommends at least employment of 80 hours to maintain the programming. To do more and expand, 100 hours is preferred (2 full time employees and one part time). - When looking at the Department, who should be part of the group that creates a vision for the recreation department? Suggestions included: field professionals, coaches, parents, citizens from different age groups, DRYC members, etc. - S. Todd pointed out that previous discussions have looked at the difference between a Recreation Department and a Parks and Recreation Department. - S. Mulinos asked the recreation assistants what their view is of the Recreation vision. J. Davison replied that it is important to know the community, the people who volunteer, the programs and the current vision of where the department is headed. There are a lot of details that need to be looked at. He questioned whether keeping the Director and Coordinator position is going backward, forward or status quo. He feels that by requiring all the education required by Civil Service, a group of people that may be exactly what Dryden needs will be overlooked. - S. Mulinos recommended scheduling a meeting to determine the Recreation Department vision but J. Jones pointed out that the more pressing issue is the lack of staffing in the department. S. Mulinos stated that she was under the impression the two part time assistants (with a total of 40 hours) could keep the department going. J. Jones indicated that a minimum of 80 staff hours are needed to run the fall programming. - One of the issues with offering full time to J. Davison and R. Hollenbeck is they might not end up with full time employment once the Town Board and the DRYC makes their final decision. - D. Lamb believes the Town needs to have a Recreation Director. He doesn’t want to see the Rec Department cut back and feels the Town is going to have even more recreation opportunities in the future. - K. Servoss agreed that the Town needs a Rec Director. Currently the Town is trying to update the Recreation Master Plan and that will take a lot of vision. - C. Hafercamp-Wise believes the Coordinator position needs to be filled. She suggested getting that position filled first because the Coordinator will keep the programs going. - S. Mulinos expressed her concern that if the DRYC doesn’t get community input then certain Town Board member(s) may continue to disparage and undermine the Recreation Department. - T. Fuchs recommended that the two part time employees be appointed full time until the situation is resolved but the rest of the Commission was leery of appointing them only to have the jobs pulled once the Town Board makes their decision. - S. Mulinos asked what 60 hours will provide. J. Jones indicated that would keep the programs running but would leave the office empty most of the time with no planning taking place. - S. Mulinos verified with D. Lamb that the Town Board is hoping to get a recommendation from the DRYC regarding the structure of the Recreation Department. She has concerns that the Town Board will not follow through with the recommendation which will cause more issues. - D. Lamb pointed out that the DRYC is a good representation of the community – professionals, citizens with participating children, coaches, etc. DRYC September 28, 2016 Page 4 of 5 T. Fuchs offered the following resolution: Whereas, the Town Board has requested input from the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission regarding the resignation of the Recreation Director and the structure of the Recreation Department; and Whereas, the DRYC determined the Recreation Department structure consisting of a full time Recreation Director, a full time Recreation Coordinator and a part time Recreation Assistant meets the expectations of the community; and Therefore, be it resolved, the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission recommends to the Town Board that the Recreation Department staffing structure remain consistent. The motion was seconded by M. Knight and, after discussion, unanimously approved. - D. Lamb indicated that he would like to see the job description more enhanced. He believes the civil service descriptions are skeletal and need more depth to fit with the goals for the Town. - J. Jones noted that the job descriptions are similar. The Recreation Coordinator description includes tasks that are now considered Recreation Director tasks because the Coordinator description was created prior to the Director description. - D. Lamb asked if the positions could be changed to non-competitive. The consensus was that you cannot change that but D. Lamb stated he would check to see if it can be changed and what else can be adjusted, such as the requirements. - S. Mulinos asked if anyone was willing to meet prior to the next Board meeting to discuss the job descriptions (It was later confirmed that they are limited to the County description). Some members agreed to meet on the 11th of October. J. Jones, J. Davison and R. Hollenbeck left the meeting at 8:15PM. - S. Mulinos pointed out that both gentlemen are both qualified to be the Coordinator. They are not qualified to be the Director. - Both young men have more than one part time job and cannot give up one job for full time at Dryden if the full time job is not long term. - C. Haferkamp-Wise agreed that J. Davison is doing a great job in his position and would be great as the Coordinator. - The suggestion was made to offer J. Davison a full time position as a recreation assistant and R. Hollenbeck a part time until the position of Coordinator is posted at which time J. Davison can apply. At the same time, the Town Board could post the position for Director. - The Commission discussed J. Davison’s qualifications and whether he qualifies as the Recreation Coordinator. Most members agree that he is qualified; the concern was whether he can pass County scrutiny. - The end decision was that even if J. Davison is not qualified for the title of Coordinator, then they will not fill the Coordinator position and will instead make J. Davison a full time recreation assistant. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM. DRYC September 28, 2016 Page 5 of 5 Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber