HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-18Dryden Youth Coro-mission
0 July 18, 200
Minutes
Present: JoEllen Bailey, Trace Kurtz, Kristen Blackman, Cynthia Waterman, Alan Macomber, InShik
Lee, Kris Bennett,
Guests for second portion of meeting: MeganmMaek Nicholson (Youth Conservation Corps) and
program participant Troy and his lather: Sarah Tinti (assistant director of Dryden Summer Rec,
Program); Kate Ciccone (director, Brooktondale Summer Camp). ,lessica Cushman (director, Freeville
Summer Rec. Program) and Louisa Cushman (assistant director, Freeville Summer Rec_ Program)
The business portion of the meeting was called to order at 5:45 pm. Minutes from June were approved
unanimously
Recreation Updates Kee. Commission finished up goal packets. .ten Dube has finished the first
recreation newsletter. it'll be made avai lab Ic at rec. events and around town. She hopes to publish one
quarterly' and eventual Iy' have it become a "town" newsletter with listings of all town events of interest.
The Re c. Commission received a report re. several conservation are in Dryden; some are potential
works ites for next sumrner's YCC — new trails, build kiosk,
_Annual Report Presentations to Town & Villages Dryden Towii Board had some budget questions that
Tracy was unable to answer. mostly about the state rec. funds and how funding is determined is there
a formula?) Kris will contact Steve Trumbul l to clarify. Kristen reported that the presentation to
1~reeV1lie went well, they asked whether there are openings on the DYC and Kristen told them there
Wilt be at the end of the year. Freeville asked how DYC assesses youth needs, Kristen told them about
our current Youth needs assessment process_ Some expressed familiarity and support for the CCE
programmuig. Re. V, Dryden, JoEllen and Alan will contact Village }tall to get on the agenda for an
upcoming meeting. Kris will send them enough additional annual reports and the meeting schedule.
Police and CoMmunity Feedback by Teachers When Alan stopped at the schools to get the forms,
Dryden Elementary didn't know anything about this and had no forms. FreeviIle said they'd sent their
forms to To%kn hall but had kept photocopies which Alan shared, 3 of the C teachers had completed a
form, They reported there had been 1 -2 presentations only during the school year in the form of an
assembly. In general the 3 feedback forms were negative. DYC members agreed we need 'feedback
From DES before any decisions are made to ta]k with Dryden Policc Dept. Alan veil I work with,
someone in the school office to get this done early in Sept. Kris will email Alan the forms and letters
so he can adjust the dues and drop them at school_
Updates from Cooperative. Extension Kris distributed Dave and Tom's monthly program updates.
Youth Needs & Trends 1nShik had prepared a 1 page summary of our identified needs with an
L Several edits were suggested {date, intro. to include who DYC is cuid why the needs
asse�;snjent is done and what will happen as a result, How will we use these to set priorities for 2t107
funding — shall we choose our top priori ties? It was decided to simply list all the issues, to send the
rev is m
ed 1 page sumary of outh needs to applicants for 2 007 funding and add a section to the request
for Funding that asks programs to state which needs) or issues they xvill address and how. There was
discussion about the lack of strength -based or asset approach. we identified mostly problems. e
should include some community assets in our introduction. We next discussed whedicr to issue a
general request for proposals or invite 0111y currentIy funded programs to apply and decided to open lip
requests for funding, using the needs assessment as criteria for program applications, Commission
members asked how this will be done, Kris said she wlII advertise on the Human Services Coalition
listserVe Which reaches all the area not-for- profits, We can also put a notice in the newspaper, .
2007 Budget Projections The County budget process is months away from being finalized but Kris
shared a guess at possible .DYC fonds that will be available for 2007. Town will need to fully match
county and state funds in 2007; in 2.006 the County paid a slightly larger share to fully cover base
salary' increases for CCE program managers.
Transportation Survey Kris shared a summary report shooing responses of 96 Dryden High School
students to the spring countywide youth transportation survey. Kris reported that TCA7' will be
offering a youth bus pass starting in the fal I at a cost of $301semester and are looking to add or expand
some routes,
Dryden Mouth Commission Po erf oirnt We will put th-1s on the agenda for November,
Other? Plan for Sept, meetintF The Sept, 14 meeting will be to review 2007 funding applications, a
very important meeting. We agreed to meet at 6.30; InShik will check to sec if We can meet at V.
FreeviIIe oftices.
Kris reported that Nita Baldwin is retiring, ,iuly was her last meting. Ofhe Conuniss[on it i want to
send her a card to show appreciation, iris will bring one in Sept. Mien Nita shared this news with
Kris, she said she and Steve Trumbull had discussed whether it was necessary to appoint a new liaison
from the Toy a to the DYC. Kris asked members what they thought. She is somewhat concerned that
the Town would be less well informed and tip -to -elate if there is no liaison. DYC would like Kris to
contact Stove about our hope to maintain a liaison with the Town. They suggested asking; whether
MaryAnn Sumner could be appointed for this role_
The program sharing portion of the rneeting began at 7:00. l epresentatives from 4 funded programs
were present. Youth Conservation Corps, Brooktondale Summer Camp, Vr Dryden Youth Jobs at
summer c�unp, V. Freeville Youth Jobs at summer camp.
Youth Conservation Corps Me anmMack Nil choison has 10 pears' experience working with
conservation corps, 3 years in Ithaca and previously iii Colorado, She likes the mission of CC to give
something back to the corn munity, kids also learn trade skitIs. She has been working over the last 2
years to identify better projects for the youth, last summer's bridge built at 4H Acres was a perE'ect
project, This year Y C C has 10 youth, 8 funded by DYC and 2 funded by summer TANF and Job Link
through the Tompkins Workforce office_ CCE's Tom Archibald did the recruiting and helped with
interviews of the 37 applicants, this partnership has been working well. This summer's projects
include= clean up after concerts in the park, building trai Is on new enungp Preserve (part of Finger
Lakes Land Trust), building a spur trail to connect . Freeville to the Genung Preserve trail (including
3 bridges), building shed at Montgomery Park near the new skate park. YC participant Troy, age 15,
said this is his first summer Job, He enjoys working outside and gett ing out of the house. He's
learning how to build a per FecI trail and use tools, Troy 's father, also present, said his son is eager to
do this; Troy has participated iil CCE programs in the past and the father had Scent things to say about
the DYC programs, Megan -Mack invited all to the Aug_ 10 YCC recognition event, time will be either
6 or 630 at Montgomery Park. Cynthia, Y C C liaison, made arrangements to visit the program,
DYC Minutes Page 2 July 18, 200
Brooktonda]e_Surnmer Qunp Kate Ciccone is the new director this summer though not new to the
camp, she previous Iy attended as a camper and was a jr- counselor. Shy: thanked DYC for its $1000
funding support, BSC offers a half day progTan, for ages 4 ' 2r - 13 at the Brook-tondale Ciomn'iunity
renter, This summer 6 campers are from Dryden 8 front Carol Inc, 7 from Ithaca, 1 from Danby).
The site has some challenges (rlo swimming, no ri eld trips, not the greatest facility) but they make the
most of the building and grounds. She brought samples of recent arts & craft's projects. There are 9
staff including 3 C;IT's. 1 jr- counselor is from Dryden. Camp fees are $ 5lweek; many scholarships
are available to make it possible for al I youth to attend if they want. They have a weekly bake sale to
raise money for the CIT's. In hik wTanged a time to visit the prograrn the following wt:ek.
Dryden Youth Jobs at S umrner Camp Sarah Tinti is the assistant director in her 4'h year working at the
camp. This summer they are meeting at TO in the graphic design room. They have use of the pool
and swim -Th. There were initial challenges at .ITC 3, mostly that TO isn't used to havIrig kids
around, but things are going smoothly now. Fridays are for field trips (Hangar Theatre, Sciencenter,
Museum of the Earth, Syracuse Zoo, mini -golf, bowling)- They also invite visitors, recently the
Cayuga Nature Center brought animals. C;urrent]y they have - 35 campers, ages 5 -11, enrolled. There
are 5 staff plus vOltuIteel-s; the DYC; funding is used for }youth jobs, one at the camp and one in the
Village office- This summer a local high school student is the youth employee. other counselors are
college age. Camp is full day, 8130 - 4,30; activities include organizrd games, arts and crafts.
JoEllen, 0 Y liaison, made arrangements to visit the program soon.
Freeville Youth Jobs at Summer Clamp Jessica Cushman, the new director, and Louisa Cush man, the
new assistaiit director, shared a copy of a weekly carnp news Ietter. The camp sen?es �25 -;0 campers
per week, ages 5 = 12 and offers 2 time options; either 9m3 or extended day 7,130 -5:30; about half the
campers are in each option. Camp meets at Dryden High School, it's challenging not having a
playground and they do not have access to the pool, (Cramp was not held last summer due to lack of a
faCIlity) Each week there's a theme (pirates, safari, undenvater) with relayed projects and activities.
Field trips include Discovery Center, Syracuse Zoo, Sciencenter, There are 5 stray£ (one is age 20, all
others are older), A C1 component will slant next week, C1 will spend the m'orni'ng in the camp
and the afternoon. with Stephanie McConnell learning about employment, caring for children, etc, We
asked Jessica for clarification about the youtli employees since the DYCi funding is supposed to
support 5 youth (under age 21 ) jobs. Jessica didn't know anyrthing about this
We thanked all presenters for their reports. Kris offered to send all d
inn order to expedite the prompt return of the information. After they
Freeville was Trot using D Y C funditrg as appropriated for youth { <2 1;
to follow up with Y. Freeville to clarify. Kris will do this right away
D C members since no meeting is scheduled for August.
The muting adjourned at 8:15 PM.
7e required annual reporting forms
left, we discussed the news that
1 jobs. D C; members asked Kris
and communicmte via email with
DYC< Minutes Page 3 July 18, 2006