MINUTES
SENIOR & YOUTH RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
June 18, 2022
Present: Deborah Martin — Chair, Pam Stocking —Vice Chair, Manuela Michailescu, Recreation Dept. Director Ashley Sweeney.
Absent: Sandy Chipman, Jessica Knapp.
The meeting started at 9:32 am.
Chair Deb Martin presented the Agenda of the meeting and called the meeting to order after establishing that a quorum existed (3 out of 5 members present, as Tina Bergen Russell resigned from the Commission).
The minutes of the May 18, 2022 meeting were reviewed and amendments made; Pam Stocking made a motion to approve the minutes as amended, Manuela Michailescu seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
CHAIR PRESENTATION — CURRENT NEWS/UPDATES
• Memorial Day — Deb Martin praised the photos published in the Blue Stone Press and stressed that in the future children should be more involved (a kids band? kids to sing as chorus? Middle-school to be contacted?). Ashley Sweeney said that the entire day would be better organized next year. Thanks to Deb Martin for singing at the Memorial Day ceremony.
Ashley Sweeney presented her (written) DIRECTOR’S REPORT; among the highlights:
• Spring Fling BBQ — on May 20th, turned out to be an amazing event, very well attended, with a family-like atmosphere. Special thanks to Deb Martin and Bill Beveridge for playing at this event!
• Summer Program — is coming along nicely. It will begin on July 11th. There are 9 staff members; all got letters with the CPR training date and a staff meeting date. Many fun, exciting adventures are planned. As of that day 56 kids were registered.
• Farm and Barn Day — event organized by the Historic Preservation Commission, happening on July 23rd at the Town Park, probably between 11 am and 3 pm. There will be farm-related vendors and activities. Also, a local farm bus tour is planned to start around 1 pm. The Recreation Department will have a youth booth at the event. Commission members are invited to come and, if they want, to work the youth booth together with Ashley. Deb Martin is going to sing.
• Paint Classes — Bethany Dennin is trying to schedule some classes on the week that Summer Program is off (most likely one youth class and one adult class).
• After School Program — planning to start the program again (beginning on September 19th would give the Department time to get prepared after the Summer Program ends). This will have to be first approved by the Town Supervisor.
• Lions Club Fall Festival — Recreation Department to do a youth booth.
• AARP Defensive Driving course — Bethany is trying to get an instructor for in-person class in September.
NEW BUSINESS — UPCOMING EVENTS
• Heritage Day — scheduled for October 1st; ideas for activities in the parking lot are needed! (the shuttle bus is going to come to the Community Center, not on Main Street as last year). Among the proposed ideas: facepaint; dive tank; DJ — Jessica; libraries — Ellenville, Little Ones; painted hopscotch; sidewalk chalk; Peter Nelson — bees; mural paper — to paint; pin point map; event map scavenger hunt.
OPEN ISSUES / DISCUSSIONS — was the next point on the agenda:
• Pam Stocking expressed praise for all Recreation Department activities
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 am — Deb Martin made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Pam Stocking and approved unanimously.
Next meeting takes place on August 17th, 2022, 9:30 am, at the Community Center.
Submitted by
Manuela Michailescu
Secretary