MINUTES
Hinesburg Multigenerational Center Task Force
Chairperson: Bill
Neil
Recorder: Johanna
Shal
Present: Colleen Buccieri, Kameron Clayton, Carrie Fenn,
Andrew Giroux, Jamieson Hurd,
Jerrilyn Miller, Bill Neil, Morgan Pell, Sally Reiss, Louise Roomet, Johanna
Shal, Maxamed Ibrahim, Katy Demong,
reporter from The South County
Sentinel
The Minutes from the January 10, ’07 meeting were reviewed and adopted. Bill Neil set the agenda for today’s meeting by referring to the minutes of the January 10, ’07 meeting.
I. Small Action Groups
A. Visit Active Multigenerational and Teen Centers in Other Communities
1. McClure Multigenerational Center, Burlington, VT, North End
The latest information is that it consists of two independent entities: one for youth and one for the elderly. There is also a third group renting space. This rental helps the center financially.
Bill will contact Reverend David Wright to find out more about the center.
Nancy and Sally will make a site visit, and anyone else who is interested.
2. Bradford Community Center
The initial visit day of January 25, ’07 was canceled, and rescheduled to March 5, ’07. Bobette Scribner from the center suggests that a larger group come for the visit. March 5, ‘07 is the last Monday of school vacation in Bradford. The trip is about two hours one way. Hinesburg’s Town Meeting is that evening at 7PM.
3. Winooski Teen Center, Winooski, VT
Drivers for this trip: Sandy and Johanna for sure, and Jerrilyn and Sally, maybe. Those attending are to meet in the United Church parking lot on January 23, ’07. (Please note: this visit was canceled at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict at the teen center. It will be rescheduled hopefully sometime in March.)
Those making the site visits are encouraged to come prepared with a list of important questions. Andrea has prepared a list that she has already sent to the task force via e-mail.
II. Offer Teen Programming Now
A. Sally suggested getting something going soon. The barn on the Munson property can be looked at on a nice day by the group. It is dilapidated but shows great possibilities. The house that goes with it is off the market and currently being rented until May, ’07. It would be nice to keep it with the barn. The barn is a big, huge open space. It could be restored/remodeled to create meeting spaces, studio spaces, and a film studio. It could be leased to the town as a community space, allocated as an institution. Sewer use would have to be expanded.
Sally brought two examples of teen centers from the Internet:
Tannery Pond Community Center www.tpcca.org/features.htm
The Place: the Christian Neighborhood Center of Norwich, Inc. www.the place-cncn.org/
This example includes good Vision, Mission and Values statements.
Andrew brought three descriptive examples of existing multigenerational centers: Henderson Multigenerational Center, Red Mound Multigenerational Center, and Tempe Westside Multigenerational Center.
Other centers nearby include a site in North Hero and the Charlotte Senior Center, a very busy, thriving center.
III. Planning Study Grant from Vermont Community Development Program
A. Lisa Ryan from the program has suggested that someone experienced in planning for multigenerational and teen centers, to act as a community development assistant be hired as a way to start.
The current grant deadline is April 24, ’07. A public hearing is required as part of the process, plus a 10 % match in funds, and a meeting with the town Planning Commission. The April deadline is too soon; other possible deadlines are in July, August, or October.
Part of the Planning Study Grant includes development of a survey to be given out at Town Meeting on March 5, ’07.
IV. A. The Survey
Get to who will use it and the space will happen.
Suggested questions:
What are people willing to contribute regarding their talents, and skills?
Where would they like to see a multigenerational and teen center located?
Why would they not use it?
How often would they use it?
At what time of day would they use it?
Income level
What do they want to see offered?
Alex Weinhagen, Director of Planning and Zoning, has offered to pilot the survey around City Hall.
V. Offer Teen Programming Now
Ideas for short-term goals were discussed, such as a coffee house, and open mic night.
Ideas for getting the Hinesburg community to support the center: use places around town, plan an event to raise money, such as a 4th of July fund raiser with refreshments.
Spaces that could be used: Osborne Hall at the United Church, the cost to be decided by the church; the schools, the meeting room at the library.
Another opportunity for teen input is the Student Leadership meeting held every other Friday at Hinesburg Community School. The survey could be made into a special project and chocolate could be offered as a reward for a completed survey.
A small action group will be formed to plan a teen event at Osborne Hall. Sound equipment can be borrowed from school. Sally, Morgan and Kameron will get together to plan an event in the spring. A dance was suggested as teens want more dances. Town Hall might be a good site. The teens could act as their own DJ and use their I-pods for the music. Make the dance a fundraiser.
VI.
on Monday, March 19, ’07
at 7PM