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Regular Meeting Minutes Amended May 21, 2008
Present: Melissa O’Brien, Lawry O’Connell, Mike Manifold, Ashley Peterson, Linda Fecteau, Pat Larkin, Hayley Engleberg, Paul Lapides
Absent: Torrin Ewers, Tiffany Hunt
Preliminary Business: Lawry O’Connell called Meeting to order at 7:15pm
** Motion (1) Motion by Ashley Peterson to approve the April 23, 2008 meeting minutes. Second by Linda Fecteau. Vote: 5-0Motion passed
New Business
1 Programs- Upcoming programs are advertised in the current Parks and Rec booklet that was sent to town residents.
· Beach Days will begin on July 11 and continue through August. This event is recommended for students entering grades 7 – 10th. · Beach Dances will be held Wednesday evenings 7pm to 10 pm at McCooks beginning July 2. This event is recommended for students entering grades 7 – 10th. · Beach Parties will be Monday evenings at McCooks 6:30 pm to 10 pm beginning June 30th. Six parties are planned and are recommended for students entering 5th and 6th grades.
2 Collaborations- · The “Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition” surveys are completed and being evaluated. · Melissa is currently a member of a committee that is currently planning quarterly trainings for the CYSA. · Melissa has been added to a Teen Council committee formed by the First Selectman.
3 Special Events- · The Flanders 5K race held on Saturday April 26 drew a record turnout of 216 participants.
· A Youth and Music Festival (Y.A.M.) planning is still ongoing for the June 28th event.
4. Budget Update · Changes to the budget were finalized and submitted. There was discussion on how best budget changes can be handled in the future. It was decided that proposed changes will be presented to the commission prior to submittal to ensure compliance with our Town Ordinance concerning the Youth Services Commission.
5. Revenues- · No new grants have been received or applied for this month.
1. Mission Statement
The Mission statement was reviewed by the commission.
** Motion (2) Motion by Mike Manifold to change name from East Lyme Youth Services Association to Department of Youth Services for the Town of East Lyme in the statement. This motion also included accepting the remainder as it currently stands. Second by Linda Fecteau. Vote: 6-0Motion passed
2. Town Ordinance
The town ordinance was reviewed by the commission. Clarification is needed on Section 3.5 concerning the non-voting ex-officio member from Salem. The Chair will look into this matter and bring information to the next meeting.
** Motion (3) Motion by Mike Manifold to change Meeting dates to the third Tuesday of the month beginning with August 19, 2008 meeting. Second by Paul Lapides. Vote: 6-0Motion passed
Old Business:
A. 501C3 close out / special appropriation: The appropriation of $2500 from the close of the 501C3 was approved by the Board of Finance. There was a discussion held on the difficulties encountered to finalize this issue. It was recognized that First Selectman was very helpful in getting this accomplished at the Board of Finance meeting. Several concerns were brought to the table by commission members on the process.
** Motion (4) Motion by Linda Fecteau to draft correspondence to the Chairman of the Town of East Lyme Board of Finances on the issues discussed. Copies of the correspondence will be sent to the Board of Selectmen and the Youth Services Administrator. All members will review and sign the letter prior to delivery to the town administrator. Second by Mike Manifold. Vote: 6-0Motion passed
B. Technology / Computers: Still awaiting copier from town with July 1, 2008 the expected date...
Public Discussion: None
** Motion (5) Motion to adjourn by Linda Fecteau, second by Paul Lapides. Vote 6-0 Motion passed
Meeting adjourned by Lawry O’Connell at 8:25 p.m.
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Directors ReportEast Lyme Youth Services Association, Inc.Directors ReportMay 08, 2008
Dear Commission members,
I would like to give all of you an overview of what is happening here at Youth Services. Please feel free to call me to discuss anything further or with questions.
Current Programs- Our programs are running smoothly with many youth involved. S.P.A. is currently are kicking off an anti-drug campaign, recycling awareness, and our Student Trainer Program. Student Trainer is composed of 7th and 8th graders who are learning about Stress, bullying, and Eating Disorders (all topics chosen by our Student Trainer group). The youth will take what they have learned and in turn, teach it to their 5th and 6th grade peers. We have 14 participants this year! We started a new program called Girl Talk, which takes place on Tuesdays from 3-4. Girls come over and discuss issues they’re facing, give each other advise, hang out, laugh and support each other. Topics discussed range from fashion, music, to body image, feminism to schoolwork and stress. A great project that we have started with help from Park and Recreation as well as the EL gardening club and the EL beautification committee is to design and make a memorial flower garden for the front of the community center. Salem Country gardens have donated a wishing well to us in memory of all the children we have lost to childhood cancer in the area. Kids Cancer-survive will donate the plaque. We had a “Planting Party” on May 2nd. The turnout was unbelievable; I have attached the wonderful article from the Lyme Tymes. The gardening group currently meets on Thursdays and is in charge of the upkeep and planting of the garden. The Flanders 5k on April 26th was also a big success. We had the best turnout yet, with 216 participants! Thank you to all of you who volunteered your time! Alicia and her Student Advisory Board will be hosting four incoming Freshman nights at the youth center from 7-9pm. We have had two so far, with approximately 15 youth attending. Summer Programs- Once again this year, we will be holding Beach Dances, and Parties, we have also added in Beach days and a few field trips. I am attaching the flyers. We will also be collaborating with the Parks and Recreation department in running “Hang out with a Cause”, a Teen summer community service group ELYS in collaboration with various youth organizations will be hosting our first Y.A.M. Festival this year. Alicia is working with her high school Student Advisory Board, to plan and coordinate a Youth and Music Festival to be held on June 28th from 12-8pm at the Groton Skate Park. Area youth bands will be playing, youth and adult vendors, food, and fun for all! As you all know I serve on many committees both in town and in the area where youth are concerned. I have added this section to give you a brief update of any current activities scheduled through these committees and boards. The “Substance abuse prevention Coalition” has finished the surveys! They are currently being evaluated and we should be received the results this summer. After the results are received we would like to hold a community event to review the results. The Coalition is also working on generating a parent and child handbook with support services in the area, parent forums and positive youth activities. I have a new committee member who is currently working on her Masters degree in Substance Abuse prevention and is anxious to facilitate some parent workshops, she is currently working on a proposal for a community conversation and youth forums. She attended our last meeting, the committee was very supportive and on board with her suggestions. CYSA- I am currently planning along with the committee a quarterly training. Both Sarah and I will be attending. Teen Council – I recently volunteered for this new committee in town headed by our first selectman Paul Formica. We have been meeting bi-weekly. The Council has worked with Mike Manifold to place youth in government and business internships. The interns are working out great, and ours is exceptional! If anyone is interested in taking an intern and works within the town, please let me know. Also, we have two interns from Mitchell College on our committee who are working on the Skate Park for the town as well as a community dog park and a field!
Finance and Resource Development:
Grants
Nothing at this time. Commission Recruitment: We do not currently have seats available.
Publicity: Our spring/summer programs and events will be posted in the Parks and Rec newsletter. We have also partnered with Park and Rec in their quarterly newsletter that is sent to each home in Niantic and East Lyme. Sarah now has a weekly update section in the Lyme Tymes. Flyers, school newsletters and bulletin boards in East Lyme are still our main source of outreach. We also have a great website; www.elysa.org.
Technology: Still no copier. According to the IT department, we will be getting a copier July 1. Carmen has updated our website and it looks great! The town is still in transition with their website hosting and program. Once it is established what program we will be using in will be installed in my computer. Facilities: Nothing to report at this time.
Other: Van- up and running.
Thank you for your support and hard work!!!
Submitted by: Melissa O'Brien
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