Town of Rochester Youth Commission Minutes July 25, 2018
Meeting start: 9:35am
Present: Jessica Knapp – Chair, Pam Stocking – Vice Chair, Sandy Chipman, Manuela Michailescu, Recreation/Youth Dept. Director Ashley Sweeney and Assistants to the Recreation Director Bethany Alongi Dennin and Rita Harkins, Town Board Liaison Cindy Fornino
Manuela Michailescu has resigned the post of Youth Commission Secretary, effective immediately. No one else on commision was willing to step into position, so Chair Jessica Knapp will be acting as Secretary as well until we have new members or someone is willing to fulfil that position.
Pam Stocking moved to approve June minutes, Sandy Chipman second, motion passed.
Directors Report:
The Director spoke to the Town Board at a meeting about the summer program and it was well received.
Summer Program – adjustments have been made to the summer program based on safety concerns and issues from 2017 field trips.
Children participating in field trips will wear colored wristbands matching their assigned counselors, who will be carrying extra bands in case of loss. Two groups will be paired together so that children will be supervised at all times.
Children will also be using the buddy system within the groups. If a child for any reason gets separated from their group, a system is setup for counselors to be in touch with one another and if another counselor finds missing child, the child will continue with that group until they can be reunited with their original group.
A new field trip to Museum Village was very successful, they children really enjoyed it though, at times, it was a challenge for counselors.
Hudson Valley Food Bank is providing food and lunches for the summer program. We passed the food bank audit for regulations compliance.
Old News: The commission members were asked by Chair Jessica Knapp to continue to brainstorm ideas for indoor “rainy day trips” that can be substituted for planned outdoor trips last minute. Some suggestions were other area libraries, ie Olive Bridge, Stone Ridge, Rosendale, Matinee Movies in New Paltz and Rhinebeck, trip to the Culinary Institute, Maritime & Trolley Museums, Fireman’s Museum, Kaleidoscope in Mt Tremper, Railway Pedal Cars in Phoenicia, Adams Faireacre Farms.
Adjourned: 11:00am next meeting August 12, 2018 working meeting for end of program forms.