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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/20/2004 Fishers Island Community Center Research Committee Meeting January 20th, 2004 at the School Jeanne Schultz read the minutes from the first meeting and sent around a master list of email addresses Judi stressed the importance of getting the survey out and handed around an email from Art Walsh. She reported the Civic Association offered to pay for the postage of the survey. Jeanne wondered what is our goal and what do we need to find out. Judi felt that we need to determine if a community center is something that is wanted and what the community wants in it. One possible question for the survey is, "Do you want to be part of the committee?" John Thatcher and Lilla Luce have contacted Judi and they are both interested in supporting the community center effort. Judi said that the whole conservancy is backing the community center effort. Jeanne said that a kiln could be donated to the community center if there are those that know how to use it. Karla thought that we need to include a preface to the survey explaining what has happened to date and that there is a committee working on the issue. Judi wondered if the group was in agreement that we should only canvass year round people. Gail will look into getting the list of residents and we should send only one survey to each household. Another question should be about how many people live in the household. We should be as specific as possible about whose in the household. Judi will ask Cynthia Riley about the information that she collected. Cynthia is willing to help through email. Possible format: Preface Possible activities. A message! rehabilitation center is an example of a possible activity A possible question: "Would you be willing to pay for a community center and what amount?" Gail thought that we should ask, "Would you be willing to volunteer (time, money, construction, etc?)" Susele thought we should ask respondents to list their skills that they could teach or donate to the community center. Judi felt that there is a need for computer classes, especially for seniors. Janio wondered if we could have school kids help teach computer classes to the seniors or adults. A computer lab could be put in place and shift into a senior center. Jeanne wondered how broad the survey should be? Gail didn't want to do another survey, so we should include as much as possible. Jeanne also wondered if we should have a postage paid return envelope? FICA has said that they will pay for this. Nate wondered if we should also put boxes around town for returned surveys. We won't need to because of the postage paid envelope. Judi said that the plumbing work and a backhoe have been volunteered for the construction of the center. Janio felt that contractors will surely help out and everyone will pitch in one way or another. Susele has called YMCA about their rate structure for families and others. Gail knows that at the Mystic CC the rate was about $27/ month for a single. Judi spoke with someone who stressed that the community center should not be pitched as another club. Gail felt that we don't want people to think that this is a "3rd club". Laurie thought that we should add whether people would pay different rates. Janio thought maybe there could be a summer rate and an off-season rate. Gail said that IPP is an example of the above effort. Judi would ask the ferry about how they determine resident status. Laurie felt that 2 distinctions may cause concern, but Jeanne said that the Utility Company is a similar format. Judi said that the summer community is vital, and we need them, but this is an effort to draw new people here and retain present residents. Nate thought that we should have respondents choose S options from the list as a way to develop priorities. Jeanne said that we should give a list of questions to Nate and he'll email a rough draft to the group. Another possible question could be, "How often do you think that you'll use the community center?" Gail wondered if we should include a question, "What time of day would you use the community center?" Jeanne thought that question may be too specific. We do need to find out how often a community center will be used. Judi felt that a pool would surely be used. Janio thought a daycare center would always be used and Jeanne thought that we need a daycare center for working parents. Judi thought that a daycare center would also help islanders who need to go to town for whatever reason. Jeanne thought that we'll need to investigate establishing SOIc3 status and develop a constitution. She thought that Susele's model of the YMCA is a good one. Susele said that maybe kids that couldn't go to IPP could use the community center. Gail said that IPP gets more kids and is almost at its max. Judi wondered if IPP could be moved to the community center. Gail said that IPP needs a lot of space and community center might not be big enough. Janio thought that the community center could be very large to fit all of the needs. Judi thought that if we build a community center that is too small, the worst would be that we couldn't grow. Jeanne thought that all island activities! events can't move to the community center. Judi agreed but that the vision is for a large space with offices, pool, basketball court. Laurie wondered if we could use one ofthe warehouse buildings. Judi thought that the cost of rehabilitating one of those buildings may be very high and that the space isn't laid out correctly and quite a bit of work to bring them up to code. Janio wondered if we could add onto one of those buildings. Jeanne said that a designer will be able to find a way to best use the space. Janio wondered if we can actually get those buildings and who owns them? The ferry district owns some. He wondered if they may be enticed to donate one. Judi thought that it may be a tax write off, though Gail wondered if the ferry is viewed as a state employee and not able to get a tax write off. Judi thought that the community center effort runs hand in hand with the housing effort: both are trying to get people out here. This is a critical time to get things done. We need a directory on the island to organize activities and this could blend into the community center administrator. Gail thought that this would be a hard position to staff in the summer because it is so busy. Jeanne said that in Richmond the church organized a newsletter and there are already existing efforts here on the island. Judi thought that combining the Chapel Happenings with the Catholic Bulletin would be a seamless transition. Judi also felt that there needs to be an organization to coordinate the ongoing efforts, contributors need to see there efforts are working. Janio wondered if the town could give money to support these efforts. Jeanne said that the town doesn't seem to give us a fair share and haven't been very receptive. Judi wondered if we could go above the town for help, maybe to Suffolk County? Gail thought that the only money we've ever received from Southold was for equipment through a recreation program. Next Steps: -- Write a rough draft of the survey -- Next meeting, 2/11 at 6PM at school.