TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING June 18, Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Gregory Sloan, Cl Joseph Solomon, Cl Jason Leifer, Cl Linda Lavine

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1 TB TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING June 18, 2015 Present: Elected Officials: Other Town Staff: Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Gregory Sloan, Cl Joseph Solomon, Cl Jason Leifer, Cl Linda Lavine Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Ray Burger, Director of Planning Jennifer Jones, Director of Recreation Supv Sumner opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m., and board members and guests participated in the pledge of allegiance. CITIZENS PRIVILEGE Art Berkey read the attached statement on behalf of the Varna Community Association. Supv Sumner said Cornell University is not involved in this project. The Town is meeting and discussing this with the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Commission State DOT. The Planning Director has a meeting with them later this month. Joe Wilson read the attached statement regarding the proposed gas line for West Dryden Road. Judy Pierpont, 111 Pleasant Hollow Rd, said she found the discussion at the June 10 meeting on the pipeline extremely useful. She values the informal meeting format and better understands the matter now. If there is a sense of the board about the town the town taking the role of lead agency for the project, she urged them to vote yes. The Town has zoning laws in place to require a special permit. In that process there would be SEQR review and specific requirements can be made to better protect interests of Dryden and its citizens. Supv Sumner thanked Cl Leifer for arranging and facilitating that meeting. Cliff Kraft, 983 W Dryden Rd, said after the last time he was here he sent an because he was dismayed that the town attorney had made no comments during the meeting. Supv Sumner said he would comment if the board asks him to. They had discussed it extensively with him before the meeting. He understands that person has since resigned and this opens opportunity for the town. The Town needs to be careful to get excellent legal advice to deal with the complexity of these issues. NYSEG has the best attorneys in the world and is counting on the town s miscues. We have an opportunity to do much better. He said town law should be changed so that any large industrial facility built in the town benefits the town. This pipeline has no arguable benefit for the Town of Dryden and has many detriments. The board needs to be very careful in dealing with those issues. Kathy Russell is concerned with the definition of public utility delivery facilities. She d like to know to what extent the comprehensive plan includes a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and a plan to include a reduction in the use of natural gas. It seems that the State of New York, Town of Ithaca and City of Ithaca are incorporating infrastructure that is very dependent on natural gas. She is concerned because of the carbon emissions. If the State and the Town of Dryden are going to provide natural gas as a way to get energy in the future, she Page 1 of 10

2 TB thinks it is morally wrong and economically unwise. Nevertheless, if that is going to happen, let s not entrench that as a plan for acquiring energy. To what extent is the West Dryden Pipeline put in the context of a comprehensive plan that actually takes responsibility for lowering carbon emissions. Supv Sumner said the Comprehensive Plan is on the website. It was developed beginning in the late 90 s and adopted in The Planning Board is now evaluating the existing plan against sustainability principles and other things. They will be proposing areas to be revised and make a plan for updating and revising it next year. K Russell said in terms of the definition public utility delivery facility, it uses the notion of every day necessity and she would like that ambiguous phrase brought into the 21 st century. It needs to be ecologically defined in a way that is 21 st century. Linda Parks thanked the board and Cl Leifer for the workshop last week. She asked that the board amend the laws to clarify public at large and be very specific, replacing it with appropriate terminology that benefits the Town of Dryden and its residents. She asked that the permitted use list be revised to add gas distribution lines which serve the Town of Dryden and its resident. She asked the Board to please do all it can if this project goes forward to be sure that the Town Board is the lead agency. David Bradley, 77 South St, said the weather will be extra tropical this year. Intense rain storms will be more common. Weather is largely accentuated by CO2 pollution and methane pollution largely as a result of human activities. People pay for the pollution that comes from buying fossil fuels and burning them. Taxpayer dollars get used to do that, which is not a very moral thing to do. He asked people when they vote with their dollars to vote to not pollute. There are school and municipal activities where taxpayer dollars are used to purchase pollution based electricity and polluting natural gas and diesel oil. He urged the board to consider forming some sort of buying collaborative where those entities could purchase nonpolluting wind-based electricity. Also consider that with methane consumption. The 21 st century solution is ground sourced heat pumps. Supv Sumner announced that Family Fun on the Farm Day will be held August 1 at the Carey Farm in Groton from 11 am to 4 pm. Music concert series schedules were distributed. A Local Law listing (all laws adopted by the Town Board since 1976) was distributed. Kathy Gehring, Vice-Chair of the Recreation and Youth Commission, presented the Commission s 2014 Annual Report and the Youth Needs Assessment that was conducted in 2014 PowerPoint attached. There was an inquiry about the possibility of bringing Family & Children Services/Mental Health Services to Dryden. Supv Sumner and Jennifer Jones will discuss reaching out to them. Only Dryden school district residents were surveyed. Martha Robertson pointed out they left out a third or a quarter of the population by not contacting Ithaca school attendees. K Gehring said it would be difficult to do that but they will discuss it for next time. A needs assessment is conducted every three to six years. Cl Sloan said recreation trails provide opportunities to draw in people and perhaps increase sales tax. Tasteful business districts can help with that. A recreation center and trails will compete for funding from the same sources. Cl Sloan would like to know more about what the community thinks going forward. Page 2 of 10

3 TB Special Use Permit Ithaca Tactical Laser Tag Miles Merwin has submitted a special use permit application to have a laser tag facility at 1975 Dryden Road, behind Ringwood Raceway. This will be outside, with six 12 by 12 temporary structures. They don t expect it will be louder than go-karts. Operating hours will be the same as the raceway and there will be no additional lighting. The board scheduled a public hearing for July 16, 2015 at 7:05 p.m. Bolton Point Labor Contract Judy Drake, who provides human resources services for the Town of Ithaca and Bolton Point, said this is the result of nine months of negotiation. It was interesting in that nine employees under the operating engineers decertified and wanted to join the UAW group. A great deal of time was spent trying to bring two different contracts together. Benefits were already established except wages and health insurance in the contract. The allowance for uniforms went up $50 per year. Wages go into effect July 1 instead of being retroactive to January. The biggest change was contributions to health insurance. They were at 2% of premiums per month and will go to 6%, 9% to 12% over 3 years. Wages go up 2%, but distribution and production employees received an equalization increase. They did a lot of work on this and made sure no one went home with fewer dollars. Employees also can now choose a less expensive health insurance plan for which there is also a lower percentage of contribution premiums. Being part of the health insurance consortium has helped them with expenses. RESOLUTION #95 (2015) - Approval of Union Contract with the United Auto Workers for Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission s Employees Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission, in good faith, entered into contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union for a renewed contract for the contract that expired on December 31, 2014; and WHEREAS, on June 2, 2015, the Commission s negotiating team reached tentative agreement on a contract with the union s negotiating team; and WHEREAS, on June 10, 2015, the employees in the union bargaining unit ratified the tentative contract; and WHEREAS, the Commission reviewed and approved the tentative contract at the June 12, 2015 meeting of the Commission; and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden has reviewed the tentative contract and determined it to be acceptable as required by the contract and the Public Employees Relation Board; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden does hereby approve the tentative contract between the Commission and UAW unit; and, be it further RESOLVED, the Town Board authorizes the Commission s negotiating team to sign said contract as presented. 2 nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Page 3 of 10

4 TB Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine COUNTY BRIEFING Martha Robertson - The public hearing on the TC3 budget is set for July 7 at 5:30 p.m. This year TC3 asked for a 4% increase. The amount of state funding per student has been cut back. Cortland County has been reluctant to support the budget as requested. There seems to be agreement that perhaps half the increase could come from the counties and the other half would come from reserves. The counties have to agree on the method of funding. There was a 6 6 tie on the disposition of the old library property. At the July 7 meeting members who were absent from the previous meeting can move to reconsider the matter. For her the issue is the tremendous shortage of housing in Ithaca. 15,000 people commute into Tompkins County to work from outside the county. The Travis Hyde project was her choice because it provided 60 middle market apartments. The other project would involve less deconstruction and would reuse the foundation and steel structure, but would offer only 22 very expensive condos. The presentations are online. The Regional Economic Development Council is accepting consolidated funding applications. She thought the Varna community, with Varna Plan in place, might be able to get some money under the rubric of community revitalization. Jim Skaley and Ray Burger will work on an application. Mike Lane is the Tompkins County Legislature s liaison to the TC3 board. Tompkins County pays about two-thirds of the sponsor share of the college s budget and Cortland pays about one-third. That is based on the number of full time equivalent students from each county. Other counties pay per student through charge-back revenues. The Global Connections program brings in students from other counties for joint degrees and that brings in revenue that offsets the costs to run the college. There is a co-curricular program with various high schools where teachers teach to the TC3 syllabus and TC3 waives tuition so student earns college credit while in high school. TC3 gets state aid because those students are counted for them. Twenty students graduated from TC3 this year before graduating from high school. Cortland County has financial issues and was reluctant to raise their sponsorship amount this year. The compromise is that the sponsor share will increase by 2% and the counties will authorize the equivalent of 2% from its fund balance. The problem is that the State has reduced its spending since The idea behind community colleges is that students pay a third of the cost, the county pays a third, and the state pays a third. Students currently pay a larger share and the counties and state are lower. The counties are now trying to catch up to that third again. The County Administrator had a letter in The Ithaca Journal that mentioned a study done that shows that New York State is the state that uses the most real property taxes for state spending. The state doesn t actually levy a property tax, but the 15% comes from property tax via unfunded mandates to the counties, school districts and other municipalities. There was recently a press conference for TCCOG. M Lane was joined by JR Clairborne from the City of Ithaca, Don Barber, Caroline Town Supervisor, and Kate Supron, Mayor of the Village of Cayuga Heights. They talked about the joint study done over last six months. There were graduate students working with Deputy County Administrator Paula Younger, who looked at just eight shared services out the 60 or 70 that have been identified. The State is pushing to consolidate services and municipalities. The point in the study is that we have already done Page 4 of 10

5 TB this consolidation and are a leader in municipalities. They calculated the savings to taxpayers is about 3.8 million a year in this county. We have found ways to save by working together. You can t go back further than 2012 for the governor s program, so the health insurance consortium doesn t count for Tompkins County, but Cortland and Homer can count it because they joined after TOWN CLERK RESOLUTION #96 (2015) APPROVE MINUTES Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of May 14 and May 21, nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine NEW BUSINESS Increase membership of Ag Advisory Committee The board has previously discussed this and Supv Sumner introduced the following resolution. She thanked the Ag Committee for first identifying Ag issues that were important for them to convey to the Town Board and now for their work on the Ag protection plan. She anticipates that plan will be very helpful. RESOLUTION #97 (2015) AMEND COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FOR AG ADVISORY COMMITTEE Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Ag Advisory Committee was formed in February of 2013, and WHEREAS, the committee is composed of five voting members appointed by the Town Board, and WHEREAS, this committee has served well as the vehicle for communication between the agricultural community and the Board, and it WHEREAS, the Board would like to offer the Committee additional support, therefore be RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby amends the Agriculture Advisory Committee structure to a membership of six (6) voting members effective June 18, 2015, and nominates Steve Foote to fill the new position to a term ending December 31, nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Page 5 of 10

6 TB Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine DRYC member appointment The Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission has an applicant to fill a vacancy and Supv Sumner recommended her appointment. Jennifer Jones commented that the applicants schooling and experience is in recreation. She is also involved in the Dryden Lake Festival planning. RESOLUTION #98 (2015) APPOINT DRYC MEMBER SINICROPI Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Judy Sinicropi to the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission to fill a vacancy for a term expiring December 31, nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine Dryden Lake Festival will be held July 25, ITCTC appointment Supv Sumner said that previous planning directors have served on the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council and she would now to like to appoint Ray Burger to the ITCTC planning committee. This is the metropolitan planning organization through which federal funds come to the county. John Keifer of the Planning Board has been serving in the absence of a Director of Planning and has agreed to continue as alternate. RESOLUTION #99 (2015) ITCTC APPOINTMENT BURGER Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Ray Burger as the town s primary delegate to the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council Planning Committee and John Keifer as the alternate to the Planning Committee. 2 nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine Supv Sumner said she has served on the ITCTC policy committee for eight years. Waiver of water/sewer late fees Page 6 of 10

7 TB This was discussed at the agenda meeting. The request was denied. Supv Sumner will send the resident a letter. Weaver Wind Presentation Weaver wind would like to schedule an educational presentation for the public about small scale wind energy. The board discussed the possibilities. RESOLUTION #100 (2015) SCHEDULE WEAVER WIND PRESENTATION Cl Sloan offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board agrees to hold presentation by Weaver Wind on small scale wind energy on July 9, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. 2 nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine Cl Lavine will contact Weaver Wind to set this up. Medicare supplement insurance plan for retirees Supv Sumner explained that the health insurance consortium recently approved a Medicare supplement plan for retirees. Until this was in place, retirees would have to pay full price for a policy and it was not cost effective because of the duplication of coverages. This option makes health insurance coverage more affordable for retirees. RESOLUTION #101 (2015) Approve Medicare Supplement Policy to be offered to Town of Dryden Retirees Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (GTCMHIC) has added a Medicare Supplement policy to the list of policies available to participating municipalities, and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden retirees who have Medicare could benefit from the lower cost of the Medicare Supplement premium, and WHEREAS, some current employees have expressed an interest in the Medicare Supplement policy being an option for them to enroll in, either during employment or during retirement, and WHEREAS, the GTCMHIC needs Town Board approval in order to allow Town of Dryden retirees to enroll in the Medicare Supplement policy, be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Dryden requests that the GTCMHIC add the Medicare Supplement policy to the list of policies offered to the Town of Dryden retirees. Page 7 of 10

8 TB nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine Solar Tompkins funding request Solar Tompkins is seeking funding assistance for their HeatSmart Program. Supv Sumner noted the town doesn t have a budget for this. The board will look over the information discuss it at the agenda meeting on July 9. The board needs to know the anticipated cost to the town. Cl Leifer or Cl Lavine will find out what that cost is. Freese Road Bridge RESOLUTION #102 (2015) FREESE ROAD BRIDGE Cl Sloan offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Freese Road bridge over Fall Creek in Varna is and always has been a single-lane bridge, Whereas, this single-lane bridge has proven adequate for the current traffic flow in Varna, Whereas, this single-lane bridge functions as a traffic-calming device and is thus fully consistent with the Varna Hamlet Plan to be implemented along Route 366 in Varna in the next few years, Whereas, the New York State Historic Preservation Office has informed Historic Ithaca, Inc. (on 21 August, 2013) that the bridge should be considered for historical designation, Whereas, widening the bridge to two lanes would tax the budget of both Tompkins County and the Town of Dryden, Whereas, The Varna Community Association Board has weighed the above arguments, speaks for the local community, and has resolved to support the maintenance of the Freese Road Bridge as a single-lane bridge, Be it resolved by the Board of the Town of Dryden that the Tompkins County Highway Department should continue to maintain the Freese Road Bridge over Fall Creek in Varna as a single-lane structure. 2 nd Cl Supv Sumner Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Solomon Supv Sumner Cl Leifer Cl Lavine Page 8 of 10

9 TB Town Clerk will send a copy of this resolution to County Highway Jeff Smith, and the County Infrastructure Committee chair. West Dryden Road pipeline Cl Leifer said it had been mentioned there may be a meeting of possible lead agency choices in this matter. He would like to be clear that it is the sense of the board that Dryden should be lead agency should an application for a special use permit be received. Supv Sumner explained that lead agency is a term used in the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Whenever a permitting agency is processing an application for a permit, that agency must determine whether or not it is subject to environmental quality review, and whether it is a type 1 or type 2 or unclassified action. Then the municipality or agency notifies all other concerned agencies that they intend to be lead agency on this permit application. The following points/remarks were made: o o o o o o o o o o o o o Dryden would like to be lead agency. It is possible to have co-lead agencies. It is in Dryden s interest to assert its authority here. There may be three separate parts/projects Dryden, Lansing and Ithaca. Non-lead agencies cannot challenge the determinations of lead agency. Be careful about ignoring neighbors. If there were co-lead agencies there could be different conclusions and then DEC would make a decision. Is it possible to segment the project? Dryden has the most mileage on the line and has been more involved than the County or Lansing. Dryden may have more residents with a stake in it. Dryden could be lead agency for the entire project. Dryden would probably work extensively with County Planning. There should be a resolution directing the Zoning Officer to notify NYSEG that a special use permit will be required. The Supervisor and each board member stated that the Town will require a special use permit for this project and that the Town should declare itself lead agency. Cl Leifer has forwarded an from Chris Denton and asked the board to read it and call him if they have any questions. Cl Leifer said there was a meeting yesterday about the Village water wells and he will forward an regarding that as well as an from Steve Winkley of the NYS Rural Water Association so the board is up to date on those projects. Supv Sumner wants to be sure that some point we make an official request for a special use permit application from NYSEG and need we need to be aware of the timing because there is a time limitation between the time the application is deemed complete by the Planning Department and the time the public hearing is scheduled (62 days). Cl Leifer said Chris Denton s position is that it is not allowed under our current law. His advice is to use this as an opportunity to renegotiate the franchise agreement. Cl Leifer is concerned that we may be subject to suit because a need has been identified in another community. He will check case law. We may be able to negotiate a contract around this Page 9 of 10

10 TB particular project. He isn t sure we need to jump to the conclusion that NYSEG will automatically get the permit. Supv Sumner noted that the franchise fees received from Time Warner were significantly lower than budgeted. There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk Page 10 of 10

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20 Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission 2014 Annual Report Recreation Activities Youth Development Programs Community Grants 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Process Highlights Themes & Recommendations

21 DRYC Goal & Membership Goal: To provide a high quality of life for all town residents by assisting in facilitating opportunities to participate in healthy and satisfying recreation and leisure activities, and supporting and increasing access of town youth to programs that build skills, confidence, leadership, and supportive relationships with peers and adults Membership: Stephanie Mulinos Chair Steve Meyer Vice-Chair Tracy Kurtz Vicki Wilkins Tom Fuchs David Bravo-Cullen Rick Ryan Non-voting Liaisons: Joe Solomon, Town Board Jennifer Jones, Rec. Director Kris Bennett, TCYS

22 Recreation vs. Youth Development Recreation is Noun; 1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like. 2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment. ~Webster s Dictionary Youth Development is Noun; A process which prepares youth people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent. ~

23 2014 DRYC ANNUAL REPORT Recreation Activities Offered in 2014: Adult/Family: Pickleball Co-ed Softball Co-ed Kickball Father/Daughter Dance Music in the Hollow Dryden Music Series CPR Training Youth: Sertoma Soccer (new in 2014!) Indoor Movie Night at DES Karate Baseball Football Track & Field Lacrosse Cheerleading Basketball Wrestling Summer Camps Spring Egg Hunts

24 2014 DRYC Annual Report Youth Development Programming: Dryden Youth Program 39 Programs 170 Participants Programs included: Primitive Pursuits Iron Chef/Outdoor Cooking Lunch Bunch Community Helpers Health & Wellness Day Monday Makers Hiking Trips Overnight Camping Trips Animal/Environmental Explorers Canoe Trips Nature Arts Fun with Frisbees

25 2014 DRYC Annual Report Youth Development Programming: O.U.R.S. Served 26 families located in 3 mobile home parks within the Town of Dryden 65 Participants 60+ Cornell Student Mentors Programs included: Autumn Adventures Leadership Council Cooking Matters Mentors in Training Nitty Gritty Thursdays Crafting in the Park Word Buffs Lego Robots Summer Afoot Plant Medicine 4-H Fair & KICKS Music Wizards Animal Tracking Just for Teens Stay Fit

26 2014 DRYC Annual Report Youth Development Programming: Youth Employment 17 Youth Participants 9 Work Sites Clark s Shurfine Foods Primitive Pursuits Dryden Community Center Café Dryden Summer Camp Freeville Summer Camp Southworth Library Camp Earth Connection Back to Basics Bulk Food Store Program included: Interview Skills Training Learning the value of money Learning patience Learning assertiveness skills Learning Public Health Standards Evaluation of Program by Participants

27 2014 DRYC Annual Report Youth Development Programming 2004 vs 2014: 2004 Programs 2014 Programs Rural Youth Services Freeville Youth Jobs Rural Youth Services OURS V. Dryden Youth Jobs Dryden Youth Employment Program Brooktondale Camp Village of Dryden Police & Community Youth Conservation Corps Finding Our Strength/Finding Our Voices Coddington Community Center Landscape Training for Youth

28 2014 DRYC Annual Report Youth Development Program Funding 2004 vs. 2014: Year County Funding State Funding Town Funding Total Funding 2004 $35,235 $4,188 $39,423 $78, ,205 3,927 39,882 82, ,513 4,128 43,641 87, ,264 2,887 44,252 80, ,222 1,718 42,039 59, ,693 3,207 64,946 86,846 Notes: 2011 MYSS was cut by 50% 2014 OURS was extended to 4 days/week and Youth Employment Program was expanded.

29 2014 DRYC Annual Report 2014 Community Grants: $15,000 was available for Community Grants in The list of recipients were: Applicant Purpose Award Amount Dryden Community Center Café Music Events $1,481 Dryden Farmer s Market Advertising $500 Dryden United Methodist Church Community Dinners $500 Dryden Veteran s Memorial Home New Roof $4,500 Ellis Hollow Community Center Poolside Lighting $814 Friends of Dryden Wrestling Singlets $700 Neptune Fire Company Jr. Fire Academy 1 $1,615 Neptune Fire Company Jr. Fire Academy 2 $1,319 Southworth Library Teen Programing $1,300 Dryden Historical Society Annual Festival $1,500 Varna Community Center Programming, Music Event $700

30 2014 DRYC Annual Report 2014 Community Grants: Year Town Funding Number of Programs , , , ,000 8

31 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Purpose: To gather information from youth in the community that will assist DRYC in developing and refining youth programs in the town. Needs assessments are completed every 3-6 years. Process: Input was obtained by DRYC from: Community Stakeholders Forum Student Surveys Parent Surveys

32 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Community Stakeholders Forum Dryden s Challenges: Transient families Youth are over-programmed Adult mental illnesses not treated Low parental interest in activities Youth have a sense of entitlement Low funding availability Transportation Dryden s Strengths: Town location & size of community Youth are more sophisticated & enthusiastic School system invokes community pride More electronics, more global awareness Youth are more honest & realistic

33 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Student Surveys Results: 74% state there is good availability of after-school activities 50%+ state there are good opportunities for youth to become involved in the community 95% enjoy hanging out with friends 51% would like more to do outside of school, better parks and a recreation center in town. 88% think there s a good variety of places to eat in Dryden 111 students completed the survey; 97% were 10 th graders (15-16 years old) 23% state the people and community are the best things about Dryden 62% state drug/alcohol use is medium-big problem 16% of youth reported using alcohol, 3 rd highest rate in Tompkins County 74% state bullying is a significant issue Cost, transportation and having to watch younger siblings restrict youth from participating in programs

34 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Parents Perspectives 80% believe activities are sponsored by the school 60% believe community programs are very important for youth development 40% state youth programs do not align with interests 62% state program costs are too high or they have to travel too far 12% of parents state their children are frequently bullied Parents would like to see more outdoor activities, sports, environmental/natural activities, educational opportunities, arts programs, and activities suitable for girls be offered

35 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Common Themes: Parents want a community center and safe recreational facilities Transportation is an issue, whether public or private Communication about available activities should include and flyers sent home More programs that teach social skills are welcome There is a strong sense of community in Dryden Recommendations: Move forward with a community center and recreational facilities Communication/coordination with public/private transportation options, including community organizations and carpooling Additional programs to address bullying, ethics, leadership and responsibility Offer online youth programs for those youth that cannot attend in person

36 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Acknowledgements: Community Stakeholder Forum Participants: Patty Ard, Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund Paul Streeter, Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund Shelley Lester, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rural Youth Services Supervisor Dave Hall, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rural Youth Services Program Manager Lt. Mike Watkins, Village of Dryden Police Don Scutt, Dryden Kiwanis Louis Gatto, SUNY Cortland Professor Sandy Sherwood, Dryden Central Schools Superintendent Mary Ann Sumner, Dryden Town Supervisor Kris Bennett, Tompkins County Youth Services Department

37 2014 Youth Needs Assessment Acknowledgements: Dr. Sharon Todd, Professor & Chair of Recreation, Parks & Leisure Studies Department, SUNY Cortland SUNY Cortland Graduate Students enrolled in Recreation Research & Evaluation I & II Dryden Middle and High School Students Parents of Dryden Youth

38 Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission Goals DRYC Annual Report Youth Needs Assessment Trail Development Adult & Youth Programming DRYC Marketing Plan DRYC Membership Centralized Location for Community Information Update Recreation Master Plan Questions?