Common Council Services Committee

1. 0:00All right, you're all set. Yay. All right. Okay. It is 5:30 September Oh, is it September 3rd already? Uh this is the services committee uh meeting. Uh the first is present is Gary, Jen, myself, and Miss Lola. And we have Linda taking our wonderful meetings. The minutes first is seniors. Britney, you ready to speak? Can I hear you? Guess not.
2. 0:39She's not here.
3. 0:40Oh, great. Guess not. Okay. Well, okay. So, I spoke to Britney Gillis, who's the new commissioner last night. Um, she is very excited to um come on board. She has some great uh thoughts and ideas. Um and the first thing I think she's focusing on tackling is uh the budget since it's due next week. Uh so um as of activities, um I really didn't get anything because I she said she was going to talk to Reagan Reagan. So, but I guess for the update, uh, Jen has some great, uh, news
4. 1:23on the survey and, uh, I'll hand it over to you, Jen.
5. 1:26Okay. So, um, we got about 50, uh,
6. 1:32responses to our survey. Um, I think the biggest takeaway from this is that people just don't know what's going on at the [clears throat] senior side. They have no idea. And the ones who are interested, a lot of them would need transportation. Um, not all but some. [clears throat] I also met with Tracy Robinson um who is the um I guess she's the coordinate coordinator of programming at the library and she gave me a wonderful list of the programming that they are doing that is geared toward seniors and also she gave
7. 2:17me um all of the data on whose attention attending what? So, how many people are attending each thing? Um, I think we need a better way of tying the three agencies who are currently running uh senior programming together and making sure that the word gets out about what's actually being offered. I think Britney come. [laughter]
8. 2:53Hi.
9. 2:58Hello.
10. 2:58Hi,
11. 2:59Commissioner Gillis.
12. 3:00Yes.
13. 3:01How are you?
14. 3:02Good. How are you doing?
15. 3:03Good. We were just going over uh the SE seniors. So, if you you want to introduce yourself, that'd be great. So, everyone uh has uh has your face to your name.
16. 3:16My name is Britney Gillis. Some of you may or may not know already. Um and I am the commissioner of senior services. So, I have a few things laid out for um the upcoming month. Um the past month in August, we had a pretty decent turnout with uh yoga and some exercise in the park. And that was about each program brought in from eight to 20 people. So that was a nice crowd for the end of the summer. Um moving into September, I plan on making sure that
17. 3:54the attendees share their contact information if they feel comfortable. Um, so we are going to be working on a way to collect that information and keep it secure so that it's not shared throughout the community in any way. Um, and we can use that information to reach out to people so they can come to new services and things of that nature. Would you be um I mean I guess maybe there the best way to do it would be a newsletter like and you send them a group email of you know
18. 4:29what's going on and within the three agencies
19. 4:34that are working.
20. 4:36We can do that. Um so when there's a few things going on in September that um some local organizations want me to come and sit in or just attend um and it should bring in some seniors. Um so when we do the intake if they want to share their contact I'll know if email is best if paper mail is best. Okay. So not everyone may be using the same stream of communication. So that's what our concern was. I I was I met with Tracy Robinson who's the um
21. 5:13I guess the coordinator of uh programming at the library and she and I were talking about the best way to communicate with people and I I know that our former commissioner would post everything on Facebook and people got used to seeing it on Facebook but since she's gone that it's basically dead. So, she was saying to me that when she has asked people that come to the programming at the library, um that they get their information from flyers. So, maybe a flyer at Bliss or a flyer at
22. 5:52Providence Hall or, you know, just at local businesses and maybe that's another way we could get information out.
23. 5:58I am I am taking a swing at that. Um there's a few things going on at the Spark. Um uh there's a program that Holly's Tanner um a woman named Renee and Hudson Dots is going to put together for scammers and um to teach the seniors how to avoid the new scams that are going on.
24. 6:23So they have flyers. Um
25. 6:26there's an event going on, I believe, at Providence Hall soon. And so I'm I'm going to take the flyers that are going on in the community geared towards seniors, share those out and see the response. Um I spoke to uh Mr. Abav who heads up the high school's um community service um for the seniors in civics and in uh government. So they need community service. And social media, I think, is a great way for the kids to get community service because they're going to be on their phones. And I'm going to pull them in to help build the um senior cent's
26. 7:05page
27. 7:06and it'll be a page that stays with the senior center, not change with a commissioner or staff.
28. 7:13Okay.
29. 7:14All right. Great. So, its own uh website, I guess.
30. 7:19Yeah. Um, I was thinking it might be nice and I I was telling the other members of uh the committee think it might be nice to kind of have if we could have a program with the youth department and the seniors once you see who start who's coming a lot maybe we could have a you know adopt a grandparent or you know something where they're working together. I would love to work with talent on that because I wanted to come up with programs that are seasonal. Um
31. 7:55like a tea party. It's going to get cold out and they may not have too many things to do. the youth can help serve and they can mix and mingle with I say the the older younger crowd because 55 is still kind of young and I think that would be fun you know to have an event that the youth are geared to serving and the the 55 and up crowd is geared to coming and relaxing and mixing and mingle with each other so they can also build their own community. Um, [clears throat] so I spoke to Dominic
32. 8:29for um brief moment about um like indoor golf or something like that.
33. 8:35Oh, that could be fun.
34. 8:36And that could be done on the week.
35. 8:38Yeah.
36. 8:38So that's another opportunity to allow the youth to come in, show them how to use it, have fun in that format also. So okay, I um I sent you an email or I sent everybody an email. I don't know if that I didn't get any answers. So
37. 8:54yeah, let me just so this is uh council member Jennifer Belin.
38. 9:00Yeah. Hi.
39. 9:00And [laughter] next next to her is Council Member Gary Fernandin. And on my left is uh Council Member Lola Roberts, which we all know. And then Logan is our person who coordinates our our meetings. So just so you Yeah. And Linda is our note. Did I miss anyone? Yeah. No, not everybody. And
40. 9:26and Jen's I'm sorry, but she's got some great information. Is it on?
41. 9:33No. Romy, right? Vomit.
42. 9:35No, no, Claire.
43. 9:36No, she can't get it enough.
44. 9:41Well, I saw the graphs put that together. I was looking at a lot of the um feedback and a lot of people want to do workshops. So, yeah,
45. 9:51I thought that could be a fun thing to do. Um, the workshops could be something monthly. I don't know. It It just all depends on what workshop sticks here. Oh, well, here's more of them.
46. 10:06This is like the breakdown of
47. 10:08this is the No, the graph is a totally separate thing. This is from our online survey and those are actual paper surveys that I handed out at Bliss and Providence Hall.
48. 10:20How Oh, okay.
49. 10:22Yeah.
50. 10:22So, the online survey, how good did that do?
51. 10:27We got a lot of answers from that.
52. 10:29And was that posted through the Hudson uh the website?
53. 10:32The hub. Okay.
54. 10:33Yeah.
55. 10:35Now,
56. 10:35and it was on the website.
57. 10:38Who runs the hub?
58. 10:40Right. to Tiffany Martin.
59. 10:42Okay.
60. 10:43Yeah.
61. 10:44The the mayor's aid.
62. 10:46She mentioned the Google forms.
63. 10:48Yeah, that's it.
64. 10:48Okay. So, this is that
65. 10:50Well, that's this one.
66. 10:51Yeah.
67. 10:52Okay.
68. 10:52Yeah.
69. 10:53Okay.
70. 10:54Yeah. I'm not going to keep this, but I'll look it over and
71. 10:57Yeah, you can you can keep it. I don't need it. [laughter]
72. 11:00Okay.
73. 11:04So, these were given out at Bliss Towers.
74. 11:06Bliss and Providence. and they still have some and I haven't I just haven't had the chance to pick them up. Yeah.
75. 11:13Okay.
76. 11:14Yeah. But basically, I mean, the the big takeaway was that just nobody knows what's going on and and there are people who need transportation.
77. 11:25Okay.
78. 11:26And
79. 11:26to get to the library
80. 11:27to get to the library.
81. 11:28Oh, wow. In the past, was there like um notices put out like um flyers for activities like in the senior um province or the sour?
82. 11:39That's what I'm saying. I think that there should be, you know, there's there's free meals given people probably don't know about that. You know, there's there's all kinds of things.
83. 11:50Yeah. The answer.
84. 11:51So, maybe they can start like, you know, when things are
85. 11:54Yeah. And then if once the website's up and running or our page on Facebook or Instagram is up and running, then we can just give the link and people can plug it in with their phone. But right now there's just nothing.
86. 12:07It sounds to me like there's I'm hearing three main issues here for us.
87. 12:12One is uh communications, letting people know what's available to them. two is and I don't know if we've discussed it just this moment but the coordination between um the youth center and the youth department senior citizens and the library
88. 12:30right because you know there's activities among them
89. 12:34and let's be more efficient about it
90. 12:37and and then third um
91. 12:43there's a third you said
92. 12:45we said transportation communication And then the coordination.
93. 12:50Yeah. And making sure.
94. 12:52Yeah.
95. 12:53So another question mark that I had um
96. 12:58these are a lot of programs already happening.
97. 13:01Yeah. So to find out how many people that um I guess fall into the category of as a a senior, how many of them go to each of these programs? If you go here, it gives you the attendance and adults and then I guess if you subtract one from the other, then you're going to get how many children are there.
98. 13:26But these were the programs she thought skewed toward uh people who were older.
99. 13:35Okay.
100. 13:35Yeah.
101. 13:38But you can't really tell. I want to see if I can I'm meeting uh next week with uh Nina Benito and I'm going to see if maybe if we can figure out a senior uh city senior path for transportation where maybe we can get them free transportation as an incentive uh to use the transportation if they need to need to bus if you know I know Calvin has also offered their van if we can do something with their van which also would be nice because we we can alter
102. 14:08and be more flexible with a schedule. If we use internal van, right, we can kind of gear uh the transfer container schedule on the need rather than the county bus driving.
103. 14:21Uh Alvin's could figure that out. [clears throat]
104. 14:24Look at his smile. [laughter]
105. 14:27But I you know,
106. 14:30if [clears throat] you think about it this way, the seniors that want to go have lunch, the kids are in school. So during the school year that it could work out pretty well. During the summer it's probably going to be a little problematic.
107. 14:43Yeah. A little
108. 14:45more transportation part, but the space itself would actually be more available.
109. 14:51Yeah.
110. 14:52Yeah.
111. 14:52Okay.
112. 14:54So that's true.
113. 14:55The good the neat thing is that you know you know we kind of got the it started a little bit with the survey and everything. So it gives you at least a springboard of some things.
114. 15:05Yeah. Look at that. Yeah, you know, so
115. 15:07now you have all the info. Okay.
116. 15:11And Margaret had her hand up. I don't know if she had a comment about something specifically or say hi Margaret. You there Margaret?
117. 15:30Am I unmuted?
118. 15:32Yes, you're there. You're good.
119. 15:35Okay. So, we're talking about senior services here. I am 71 years old. I have not received a single piece of information about any services in the city of Hudson for seniors. So, is this about seniors or is it about a subset of seniors? And why is it that I have not received as a resident of Hudson, 71 years old, why is it that I have not received a single piece of information? Uh I was trying to get on to the Hudson hub for many many months.
120. 16:14Uh could not get onto it was every time I tried to download it, it told me it was not available in my country. Uh apparently has now been resolved. Uh but I'm telling you here I am a 71-year-old in Hudson and I have not received a single piece of information about the senior center or the services or anything else that is offered. So what gives her Margaret? That's what we were just talking about. We we were just saying that we have to find a way to better communicate. And when I spoke to Tracy, who does all the programming at
121. 16:53the library, um she was saying that a lot of the seniors get their information from flyers. So flyers that are posted at different businesses, so on and so forth. I I know that a lot of people got their information from Facebook. I know that you do not do social media, so that wouldn't have helped you. I think bar I think that the goal is now is is doing exactly what you're saying is getting that and I think uh Britney has the pulse of that. Janice filled f
122. 17:24fil f fil f fil f fil f fil f fil f fil f fil f fil f fil fill in a lot of the gaps on that. So I think we're going in the right direction and finding that sweet spot of getting the information out. So we just got to start shaking the tree a little bit and getting it getting it in place.
123. 17:37We've also been without a leader for this in in for the last year. So
124. 17:42actually two years.
125. 17:44Yeah, exactly. You're right. Because it was two years ago, February.
126. 17:48So, you know, without a leader, nothing's getting done. So, now we have one and she's excited and I'm excited for her and [laughter] I think this is going to work.
127. 18:01I'm curious.
128. 18:02So, so here's my question. How are you going to communicate to people over the age of 55 in the city of Hudson about the programs that are available?
129. 18:14So the first question I would want to know is how would you like to be communicated with if you cannot get online if it doesn't work for you? What would have been the best option?
130. 18:25I do no I do I do get online. I just don't do social media and
131. 18:29No. So, if if the online avenue didn't work for you, what would you have appreciated next? A phone call? Um, if there's like robocalls to say, "Hey, this is the Hudson Senior Center." Or would you have appreciated something in the mail? Would you have liked to seen it at the post office? What would you have preferred? Or your or their own website? I would I would like to see the city the city of Hudson website posting what information is available about what activities are going on at the senior center because that's not social media.
132. 19:05That's just the city of Hudson and the senior center is in fact funded by the city of Hudson and so the city of Hudson should be posting exactly what is available and to whom it is available. So, if the internet, if the website fails and it's not working and we can't get it up and running, what would you have preferred? Would you have liked to seen it at the post office or something in the mail or a robocall?
133. 19:32No. No. The fir the first the first stop here the f the first stop here is that the senior center is funded by the city of Hudson.
134. 19:43Yeah.
135. 19:44Just a moment. And so the first stop here is that as such there should be postings on the city website about what the se the senior center is offering. That's that's that's the bottom line.
136. 20:02Margaret, I think that's a great starting point, but I think what Britney's getting at is I think we need to tap into all because what works for some might not work for all, right?
137. 20:11Other options,
138. 20:12right? So I I get that. I get I get that Dominic. I understand that Dominic. I do understand that.
139. 20:18But part of what I am seeing and and by the way Britney I am the president of the common council. I don't think we've met. Um but part of what I am seeing is an attempt to uh identify people like the survey going out reaching out asking people what they want etc. Part of what I'm seeing is an attempt to establish a need where no need has necessarily have risen.
140. 20:54Margaret, that's actually not true. when it was posted on the Hudson Hub and when I did go to Providence Hall where which is for 55 and older residents,
141. 21:06there were people who needed transportation. Some of them have mobility issues. They can't walk to the library. Some of them don't have cars. So, we're not trying to create a need. The need exists. And that's what the survey proved. We're trying to create this service to be used since it's there, right? So, we're trying to figure out what we can do to put people in the seats at the senior center where where's the gaps? So, I think, you know, I think we have, you know, with the limited time that we've gone with, you know, surveys and everything and where we at and now we have some information. I think Britney is now armed with you know the passion,
142. 21:51the determination and like what you said and I will tell you that what you said Margaret is totally true right that once this got on the website uh the survey was answered right I mean we got a lot of answers on the survey on the website right
143. 22:05Dominic I did Dominic I did not get a survey
144. 22:09it was on the website I'm 71 years old and
145. 22:14I am go on the website and look for the survey.
146. 22:17Just just a moment. Just a moment. I am a 71-year-old resident of the city of Hudson and nobody sent me a survey.
147. 22:27Margaret, it was available to all citizens on the city's website where you wanted things posted and it was on there. That's how I got to it to look at the answers
148. 22:42on the Hudson Hub. It was sent out through the Hudson Hub and it was it was also on the city's website. It It's probably still there. I don't think Tiffany's taking it down.
149. 22:55And Margaret, I would tell you that, you know, Jen and I went to some public things. We We don't have a budget for what you're asking too at this point, right? So, you know, so um we had to use what was in front of us, right? And that's, you know, the hub. We we went to the power. So, you know, we we we did the best we could with a limited time and you know, and no money, right?
150. 23:16Well, if I can interject, I think that it's we identified it. Margaret's identified it.
151. 23:23Yeah.
152. 23:23Right. You know, you're absolutely right. We could have done a mailing, but that's not going to address everyone. So, we're going to have to have multiple methods to be reaching out with what we want to be reaching out with. And I'm looking here now on our on the city's website. We do have a senior service services Hudson senior center and it does identify Britney as our commissioner. So we do have a place here and it you know there's medical alerts, star enhancement program. So you know
153. 23:52there's some information here.
154. 23:55I think we can do better about getting the word out on on what's going there on going on there and now that we have someone in place to do that we can do it.
155. 24:04I have a question for you Margaret. Do you have any suggestions?
156. 24:11Do do I have do I have any solutions for your problem? Is that what you're asking me?
157. 24:17No, because your your suggestion may not actually be a solution, but I'm open to hear um to listening to any suggestions that you can make.
158. 24:27Okay. So, here's a thought. Here's a thought. The voter roles for the entire city of Hudson provide information Uh it it's not great, but they do provide information about date of birth of every registered voter in the city of Hudson.
159. 24:46Okay,
160. 24:47you could look at that. Many of them have email addresses, but that is a roster of people who are over the age of 55 that you could start looking at how can we reach these people. Um, that's a good suggestion, but that voter's list is not always accurate. It's not always it is it is very much not great.
161. 25:14Yeah. So,
162. 25:15it is very much not great. A lot a lot of the people on that role, what what I tend to do when I'm looking at the voter role is I filter it and then I look at who has voted in the last say four years. And that's my kind of quasi thing of okay these are people who still actually live here. So you can filter it in different ways and you can identify okay this is a group of people who appear to live in Hudson currently and
163. 25:47those are folks I want to reach out to. Some of them have emails that that would be a place to start. But there are ways of filtering that data and to reaching out. But I I'm I'm just saying to you, all I'm saying to you, and then I really appreciate the efforts that you're putting into this, but all I'm saying to you is that I'm sitting here as a 71-year-old resident of the city of Hudson who received zero information directly from anything about anything that the senior center is doing. That's all I'm saying
164. 26:20because there wasn't no
165. 26:22there was no commissioner. Now we have one. So we're going to start
166. 26:25and that's what the survey was was actually meant for, right? is to try to figure out those gaps and and so now you're identifying you're totally right and that's what the survey also stated right what you're saying is now we need just figure out how to tap in now what you said about the voters I mean yeah I mean if if you can filter through seniors age you know whatever yeah but I mean that's that's a chunk of people right I mean you can use many ways and I
167. 26:52think that's the goal is to figure out how to use whatever ways to do it right and the first thing is to do is you getting it up on the website, uh, getting what Brit's talking about, signup sheets, contact contact information when people come into, you know, you know, these are great ideas for a starting point, right? So, um, I'm looking forward to, you know, listen, if we if we if we take this, all right, and we have 10 10 seniors today and in three months we we we're we're at 30 because
168. 27:24of what we we succeeded somewhere, right? because something worked. So I think now we have a gauge to springboard it. Britney can gauge from the numbers. What do we have today and shoot for whatever she wants to shoot for and to make sure the message is getting out and find out the gaps. But I I thank thanks Margaret. I appreciate your thoughts.
169. 27:49Thank you. Any anything else or sorry sorry Britney sounds like you probably should have packed a lunch or something.
170. 28:02This was good.
171. 28:03There went a Dunkin Donuts. I heard there's a guy named Dominic at Dunkin Donuts. So you could
172. 28:06There's a guy named Dominic that runs Dunkin [laughter] Dunkin. But it's nice to hear feedback from someone in their 70s because now I know that if the website fails then there should be a backup plan to reach
173. 28:23s. Yeah.
174. 28:25So
175. 28:25yeah.
176. 28:27Yeah. And and again and the key points right we got Providence and Bliss right those definitely should have be a point place for all the flyers right. Yeah.
177. 28:34Um you know in terms Yeah. Crosswinds. Yeah. uh the terrorist, right? They
178. 28:42roll the groceryer.
179. 28:43Yeah. Yeah. Just putting them up at different every food pantry in town,
180. 28:48even stores. No kidding. They
181. 28:50have Salvation Army. Yeah. Yes,
182. 28:54I I'm pretty sure that a majority of the seniors that are willing and interested to come out to these programs um can be reached once we run into them at a different um event or you know so
183. 29:11the people that want to come out to these programs that are offered at the senior center most likely are people that are already out and about in the community because if you're not out and about how would you ever know what's going on outside.
184. 29:24You know, I I'm thinking of I love the idea of your tea party. Imagine doing a tea party/open house, right? That's when you have your tea party and then you say, "These are the things we have, you know, so then bring into into the senior center, right?
185. 29:39And then we find out who's interested in coming."
186. 29:42I don't if I reach out to a lot of people that are on the voters's list, that may be people that are not interested. So I just, you know,
187. 29:52wasted their time in the way in a sense. So it's a good thing to consider the rollers list, but
188. 29:59I have to meet people that are already coming outside.
189. 30:03I can't knock on everyone's door, but if I can meet them at the food pantry at Rolling Broster, Bliss Towers, then I'm on to something.
190. 30:12Yeah. Right.
191. 30:13Yeah. You don't want to be making people upset like, "How did you get my number?" Like the news, you know?
192. 30:17And then you know what? This also creates a marketing budget. By the time we have it's already 10 or 15 uh programs here. That means that we need what a thousand flyers for each program.
193. 30:29So now we're talking money. So
194. 30:32that's why I was thinking, you know, just having a website and having it available on the website, but you know, list the programs, have pictures of what's happening, the food that's available through the county that comes in the, you know, like you said, get the people who are using the coming in, get their number, you do like, I don't know, the robocall or something.
195. 30:53Yeah. You know,
196. 30:54just targeting the people that want to be targeted. So
197. 30:59yeah, I think once things start growing, right, we we tap right on this uh Office for the Aging website, say, "Hey, this is what's going on in Hudson." And put the flyer right there.
198. 31:08You know, we're not even listed on the Office of the Aging.
199. 31:11Wow. We're not listed there at all.
200. 31:14Yeah,
201. 31:14we aren't listed at all. So, you know,
202. 31:18Britney's writing it down right now. Don't worry. [laughter]
203. 31:21You know, that's got to change. I mean,
204. 31:24yeah,
205. 31:26the only thing that I have when you go onto the office of the aging, it redirects you to the new county, Columbia County, uh, website, which is not free. Um, and I cuz I had to do some searching for an elderly friend of mine. Um, and the only thing that was when you look at all the different uh municipalities that have a a senior center, we we were there wasn't nothing.
206. 31:58Well, the ladies from that office reached out to me um last week, early last week.
207. 32:03Good.
208. 32:03Um so, who knows? Maybe that conversation will lead to that.
209. 32:07Good, good, good.
210. 32:08I'm optimistic. So, we'll see.
211. 32:11Awesome. Just know we're here to support you.
212. 32:14Yeah.
213. 32:15And it's not just we'll see you once a month.
214. 32:18So there's a lot of work here to be done.
215. 32:20I mean,
216. 32:21okay. If you want
217. 32:22statistics in here,
218. 32:24so we're here.
219. 32:25Thank you.
220. 32:26Okay.
221. 32:26Thank you.
222. 32:27Thank you, Britney. And feel free to reach out to any of us, all of us, whatever you need because each one of us have certain skills and and uh uh Gary's connected with the um
223. 32:40help me out, Gary. the chamber
224. 32:42chamber of com that's in my past.
225. 32:45Yeah. Yeah. But but but he has skills.
226. 32:49Okay.
227. 32:49What do you use, you know, from him? So
228. 32:51to reach the masses.
229. 32:53Yeah. So
230. 32:54we've uh Britney and I have done some work together.
231. 32:57Yeah. Yeah.
232. 32:59In the past.
233. 33:01So great.
234. 33:02Well, I look forward to working with the fourth Gillis. [laughter]
235. 33:07Thank you.
236. 33:07Okay.
237. 33:10Thanks. Thanks a lot.
238. 33:11Okay, so now we have How's it feel, Calvin? We have We senior center actually had a real meeting. [laughter]
239. 33:24You know, Calvin, you're gonna have to help me change. [laughter]
240. 33:27Just saying.
241. 33:28Maybe I should take that back.
242. 33:32Thank you, Britney. So, now we're going to move into youth youth uh services here. Good evening. Um, so for starters, going to uh give you guys an update about Oakdale Lake. Um, last week I sent you guys an email just to kind of preface what we anticipated and unfortunately we do have what is referred to as a HAB. It's a harmful algae bloom. So therefore we are going to be closing old for the rest of the season which we were planning to close the beach um this uh this Sunday
243. 34:25anyhow. So um ideally we would like to close on better terms but um due to a u a water sample that came back with [clears throat] uh essentially a harmful algae uh just to be you know just to take a time of precaution both for people pets uh we've decided to to close lake.
244. 34:47Now how's I know I know there's probably regulations but how is it posted at Oakdale? So currently, and this is something that we're going to continue to work on with the mayor's office on how to get that communication out um more widespread um but currently we've posted to our um um Instagram page. We've posted at the signage at Oakdale um around the perimeter of the lake um essentially saying that you know we're deterring folks from any water um any other activities. So that's
245. 35:21is there anything like uniforms for uh you know language like you know a big stop sign or anything that identifies it or or is it broken down into better Spanish and everything our signage or is it just um what's the sign
246. 35:37that that actually we we can do that um currently it's just in English um again posted on the perimeters and uh the building of at the beach house u but that is something further that we can do in terms of the the signage.
247. 35:52Yeah. I mean anything you know you know the caution whatever that's going to alert you know what I mean that there's cuz somebody can sign can be down somewhere right you know or whatever. So I think the more the notification uh the better especially when it comes to the pets
248. 36:09right and I believe it was also uh posted to the um uh Hudson hub as well which um you know again I realize we have to have multiple methods of communication and so um you know again this is something that will probably you know it will continue to happen provided a natural body of water um And you know, with this in mind, friends of Old Lake, they are continuously um you know, they are the stewards of the lake, so they're continuously sampling and working on ways to try to minimize the algae bloomings. But again, it is a natural
249. 36:49occurrence. And
250. 36:50luckily, we were able to get the most out of Oakdale this summer.
251. 36:54Yeah. And so again, that's our overtail um updates. Um this is an overview of our after school program. Um we're gearing up for that. Our first day of program will be September 14th. So the first day of school is uh September 9th. Uh they'll have uh three days of school and then we'll open up that following Monday uh for the first uh week. And so uh this is just a list of the programming that'll be available to the different uh groups. Our K through 2 group will remain at the library on the second
252. 37:35floor and our third through 8th will be at the youth center. And um yeah, pretty much uh similar programming. Uh we're continuing to do art with uh Tangu um who is uh Tangu is from the Fedilla family. And so um uh that uh class has been I think really uh really fun because that's been geared more towards our littles who are very um very artsy and they like to express themselves and so that's been a really good uh program. But um a lot of them we're returning we're continuing to work with. Um the
253. 38:11difference with this after school program year is registration is online via our my uh platform. And so with that we are continuing to support families with registering for again provided it is a new feature folks have questions or uh if um if internet access is a is an issue we are um assisting folks with that. Um so registration will continue on a on a rolling basis. Um so we uh we attended the block party the uh this was the 12th annual uh block party with the uh greater Hudson Promise neighborhood on the uh second in Colia
254. 38:55or second in um state of uh this year. And for us, it's always a fun event to be out in community, you know, seeing the kids, uh the families, and it is our first um go at um after school registration. So that uh that rock party uh serves a great deal for us um and also just the department, you know, um as a whole just to extend our platform. And so that's an actual uh painting um at the uh well growing up that was the handball court u but they've they repurposed it to uh to reflect the
255. 39:31community and so that's an actual uh painting ground there at the playground. Um I could gave you guys um an overview of the ending of Oakdale last one, but this is just pretty much the wrap up of that just to highlight our last day which was the reach party. Um uh council person uh Roberts was there. Um I believe uh Captain Miller was there.
256. 40:00Um a lot of lot of um uh parents were there. You know, they took off work or took their lunch to come see their kid. Uh we had a ton of volunteers that helped us on the grill and just organizing food. Um overall we had a little over 90 kids that day and it was a day just really a fun fun in the sun. We had bike games, we had beach games, we had a talent show, uh tons of food and of course tug of war. And so all of
257. 40:28that uh couldn't have happened without you know a community effort. Um, huge thank you to DPW for digging out the hole so we could have that that uh that competition. Um, and again to all the volunteers and parents that came up that event. And this was um I couldn't get the that center picture to lighten up a bit, but this was the uh the banner contest that I referenced to you guys. And so each group u created a banner and uh this summer it was the it was a um it was a
258. 41:04comic theme kind of a a superhero game. Um so to the left you kind of see the 5 through 7 they kind of uh re repurposed the Superman logo and the 11 through 13 they did a Marvel uh feature. Um every everyone was a winner that day. Um it it was hard to to pick, you know, to pick just one and I didn't want to upset all of those kids, right? So [laughter] everybody got ice pops out there.
259. 41:33And uh these are just some photos. Um to the left uh the the actually the two photos um on the left and the right that was the 5 through seven's uh town performance. Uh they were singing and dancing and and flipping. And in the center that is uh Noah uh Noah Pierce. He was um he was doing a a juggling act. A lot of our kids are in circus and they they really practice those skills and so that was uh his uh contribution uh to the talent show.
260. 42:10Uh this is um just an overview of our sports leagues. Uh so currently we are approaching um soccer. So, soccer will begin on the 12th and that will go out until the end of October. Um, similar format in both uh provided they are a developmental league. Uh, skills and drills is geared towards our our younger kids grades K to second and then the third to six they engage in more um game play. Um, all practices or excuse me, all games take place on Saturday and they practice uh once a week. And so
261. 42:49that practice schedule is really relative to availability of the coaches that are also volunteers. And so um currently we are in the uh the beginning of our soccer league and following that uh basketball follows and so there's usually a lot of a lot of carryover. Basketball does kind of pick up a bit. Um and so we're always in need of volunteers whether it's for soccer or for basketball and so please you know feel free to send folks our way. um we would love to engage them and see how they could support. And um we we always
262. 43:29invite folks to come out and and and see the the skill set, you know, of our of our little um relative to the to the basketball league. A lot of our student athletes, whether currently in high school or going off to college, have started in the in the YDBL league. And so, um, it's very much so a feeder program to, uh, in this case, Bluehawk basketball. And in theory, we like the same to to come to life for our soccer league as well. and to to contact us. Um again, we are
263. 44:07on social media, whether it be the the city website. Uh we also have um our Facebook page as well as Instagram. And then again for registration this year, it's a little bit different. Folks can register at hudson youth center.mmyre.com and that's for grades K through 12. So everyone can go to that website. You just find your age group and you're able to register for programs and that concludes the department.
264. 44:43Great. Uh how's staffing?
265. 44:47So, uh staffing is looking uh so we are in a in a good spot in terms of staffing. um provided budget season and the the financial state of the city, we do need to um kind of trim the fat um as they say and come in at a num at a number that's pretty close to last year's budget. Um so, uh some creativity will have to be applied to to to do that.
266. 45:17Did you look at me when you said trim?
267. 45:19Oh, no. That was me.
268. 45:20Okay. Yeah. And I
269. 45:22So I did lose a little bit. [laughter] Let the monero kick in. That'll kick in on me, right?
270. 45:28But yeah, you know, we are looking to um again um respect the the financial climate, you know, of the city and do what we can do um in our department to to come in the number of that is uh that is um decent. And so in order to do that, it it may result in cutting uh some personnel. Um that said, we we want to do that without sacrificing the supervision
271. 45:55of the of the youth. So um it is a bit of a a task. Um [clears throat] but this is uh this also is a is a routine thing. And so um we've had some honest conversations, you know, at the department, you know, about that. And so, um, you know, with that in mind, we are always a platform to to, uh, referral folks and be that, uh, that letter of recommendation. Uh, but, you know, we are hopeful to, uh, return a majority, um, of the staff. Um, but there may need to be some some personal
272. 46:30cuts. So one of the as you know I'm I'm old school and I'm an advocate of when school is out program should happen. So can you give me an idea of what because the playground stopped what? August 17th. So
273. 46:5314th
274. 46:5314th, right? So and it's going to reopen. So that's a month.
275. 46:59So what activities went on? Was there any drop? Do you offer drop in at the club? Do you offer, you know, Tuesday, Thursday nights at the at the OK? what was offered to the kids for those 30 days, you know, to fill the gap until the club was open and the school.
276. 47:19So, yeah. So, we didn't uh we didn't feature any um program per se. We did have we continue to do our community days on uh on Sundays. Uh typically what that looks like, folks come in to essentially utilize the gym. So it could be for soccer, basketball, um, uh, bad mitten. So that that was ongoing. Um,
277. 47:42but that's adults.
278. 47:44It's adults. It would be, yeah, community use. So you know, and so it was open, um, in that regard.
279. 47:51Um,
280. 47:52and you know, beyond that, uh, I think that's something that we can can revisit, you know, in the, uh, for for the for the next year. Um, and again being mindful of the budget, right? because we would have to we'd have to staff those those days. Um but you know I think that's something that we can look forward to.
281. 48:11But what happens for the 30 days though? So no part- timerrs are working during the 30 days.
282. 48:16Yes. It just it wasn't it wasn't 30 days.
283. 48:19Well I say during 3 weeks.
284. 48:21So essentially we shut down Oakdale, right? So we we sort through all of the stuff. Kids leave a ton of stuff. So we we sort that out. Um there's uh things that need to take place at the in the beach house in terms of sorting the beach toys and and and all the sorts. Uh we have to take down the sheds. Uh we have to um do do inventory, you know, of the the games and the the paint and and you know, all the all the sorts.
285. 48:47Um and then uh pretty much a same the same effort at the center, right, to then gear up for the reopening of the school year. Um, again, it just it was um with that itinerary, there just wasn't um I would say a month for it.
286. 49:08Okay. Um and then soccer, is that still at the Greenwater Park or is that
287. 49:14um high school?
288. 49:15Great. Okay, perfect. Okay, that's that's better. I like that idea.
289. 49:18And um actually, now that I'm thinking a bit, so next next summer will look different. Um, I know you guys heard the news about the park,
290. 49:27the park. Yeah. Um, at Oakdale Park. So, that will be under renovation during camp. So, that is uh again going to force us to be a little bit creative about placement um of our campers. Typically, our littles are at the playground. Next summer, uh that won't be an option. So, um, some of some of what we've done over, uh, this this summer was kind of strategizing, uh, placement, uh, and where we can put folks pretty much on the parking lot side of of the of the campus. Um, so,
291. 50:07[clears throat]
292. 50:07um, yeah, we're going to have to be creative on placement and and where we put folks. Um, typically there's two groups on that side. Um, one one to two groups, but this year it'll probably be all three. Um, and so we may have to you we may have to kind of repurpose the parking lot um to use that as an extension of a playground, if you will. Uh, that was one thought. Um, but again, we're continuing to strategize on how to how to best do that to support the needs of all three groups.
293. 50:42I mean, is there a I mean in olden days.
294. 50:48Yeah.
295. 50:49Right. Right. We used to have playgrounds on on every corner. So is there any spot that could gear for a certain age that we used to have available
296. 50:59um TV rights?
297. 51:00Yeah. You said kind of like satellite
298. 51:02right satellite sites right that Yeah. I think that's something that we certainly considered. Um I'm just like for example I'm thinking about uh the block party
299. 51:12and you know it's a it's a hub right right in the community right we have a playground there
300. 51:17um at the uh the highrise
301. 51:19local used to be we used we used to have one there we used to have St. areas. We had John El there used to actually be a playground right right there right from the city there.
302. 51:28I mean with that in mind, you know, Prominade Park was just upgraded that that was a playground, you know, back in the day, right?
303. 51:36Um and so I think perhaps pulling from that model could could be another option to utilize during the summer. Mhm.
304. 51:44It's just trying to figure out, you know, you want to back then it was all age. So now you figure out the new format of, you know, each site having different age groups, which
305. 51:53because then it gauges your supervision, engages your activities,
306. 51:57right?
307. 51:57Sure.
308. 51:59And yeah, you know, I'd love to connect with you to work through that.
309. 52:04Yeah. I'll bring out some old pictures.
310. 52:06Okay. [laughter] You know, it used to be Academy Hill, too. Uh, which was basically just a hill. You know, you know where Academy Hill is?
311. 52:14No.
312. 52:15By the cemetery.
313. 52:16Okay.
314. 52:17That used to be that used to be up on the park up by the cemetery. Yeah. They had a had actually a skateboard bowl or whatever.
315. 52:26Yeah. Now, we
316. 52:27Yeah. Yeah. That's old.
317. 52:30You know, we had dinosaurs.
318. 52:32Oh, man.
319. 52:32We had dinosaurs back then. [laughter]
320. 52:36Any Yeah. Catherine, has the Columbia County Fair reached out? Do they have an outreach program for kids?
321. 52:44Um, not not that I'm aware of. Um, but now you have my attention.
322. 52:48Good point.
323. 52:49I mean, you know, it's kind of late now because it's underway,
324. 52:52right?
325. 52:53But I know that they would have love to do do something even with the senior citizens.
326. 52:58Yeah.
327. 52:59Wednesday, the first day, I think yesterday was a kid.
328. 53:02Yeah. And they have tours and such that are just fast.
329. 53:05That would be cool. Like put a bus together, get everybody in the fair.
330. 53:12Yeah, I would um I actually I I know a a colleague that uh that works there. So um start there, but yeah, I think that can be Yeah. really fruitful.
331. 53:26Any anything else for Mr. Calvin?
332. 53:28No,
333. 53:29you have two hands on mine.
334. 53:31Okay. Margaret, I don't know if this hand was from earlier. Margaret.
335. 53:35Margaret.
336. 53:36Yes. Yes, I'm here. Yes. So, I actually have two questions. One is an observation for for Mr. Lewis. Um, the youth center, the youth department pretty much shut down programming in the middle of August. Um, that's the schools are not in session. The very time when parents need programming for their children is when the schools are not in session. So can you explain to me why it is that programming was not going on at the youth center when when school is and and this has been a thing. It's not not new
337. 54:22that programming does not occur when the schools are out of session. That's the first question. And also, what do the staff, the full-time staff do at the youth center from 10:00 a.m. to whatever 8 8 hours a day when they're not offering any programmings? Yes, you've just explained they had to break down Oakdale and sort out the the building and so forth, but that is not the work of six or seven full-time staff for 3 weeks. So, can you explain why is there no programming when the schools are out
338. 55:00of session and what are the staff doing when there are no children present at the youth center?
339. 55:07Yeah. So, as you said, this isn't anything new. Uh this is pretty much been the the routine of the department. Uh that said, this year we did uh we had a pretty I say pretty uh hefty uh foil requests uh that we needed to be to work on. And so the full-time staff have been uh have been working on that as well, provided that entails some um administrative uh duties. Um so that has taken up um a good deal of time. Um also they they too um uh support the
340. 55:46reporting that takes place. Um and so that has taken up uh some of that time. Uh keeping in mind uh that is the window of opportunity for staff to utilize uh vacation as well. um you know coming off of a six-w weekek uh camp program and then gearing back up for 10 months of uh after school programming that offers itself as a as a time to utilize their their PTO. Um and again provided this routine uh that that is something that um impacted um the ability to offer uh
341. 56:31programming throughout the summer. Well, at least that that last month.
342. 56:36Are [clears throat] you keeping track of staff hours for the PO so we can be reimbursed
343. 56:41because Okay.
344. 56:42Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
345. 56:46Yeah. I I know that because of the nature of the six week program and the because it happened with our camp, right? It's that it's hard to take vacation time, right? So, uh
346. 56:59you can't take vacation unless it's sick, right? You right and especially you. So um but um a lot of our scheduled vacation was obviously um you know so uh just because of one the transition and everything. So um but I think you know in you know may maybe you know in the future it is you know identify that in require you know because what happens is you know we we don't know some of those things right so and some of those things like you said are schedules traditions or or the pattern right so I I think it's important to
347. 57:39include that say hey by the way this is what we do right right you know we we can't do AB and C so staff utilizes two weeks into use. Listen, if they're using their PTO time, they're using their PTO time,
348. 57:52right?
349. 57:53That's time. But that being said, right, I I would like to see at least something offered two nights a week or something for kids to come to, right? because figure out that that schedule because again that's I I apologize but that's going to be kind of a pet peeve of mine is that um we need to offer because that keeps consistency right we we lose the kids for 3 weeks getting them back in September as you know is is a toy right getting them back in activities but if we keep you know
350. 58:30constant connection to them uh I think it's easier for them to stay on board so And I also I'm also one of satellite programs right for example you know during um you know you know bliss house right doing a satellite program like you said there's community you know doing a satellite program down there on Friday night or whatever
351. 58:51even if it's just like a movie you know your your
352. 58:54yeah whatever the activity it could be a wreck could be downtime social wreck weather whatever I'm not pushing back on that right it was just uh some more pressing demands that came up especially this summer. Um and to have um you know to have a full house it just
353. 59:14you can't anticipate the bloom this
354. 59:19sorry excuse me Dominic Dominic this Margaret I would like to speak to this issue of staffing which is that when you're running a program year round uh people can schedule notifications throughout the year and as a manager, I would never have allowed I don't know if you can hear me. Things seem to have stalled, but as a manager, I would never have allowed my entire team to take off for two weeks and shut down all operations.
355. 59:53I'm sorry. Calvin, sorry, Calvin. Calvin, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Calvin. To me, you're saying that you can't offer programs when the school is is closed is because people are taking the vacation. That is not to me an acceptable answer.
356. 1:00:12Mark, that's not what I like. You asked him what was the staff doing. He explained to you what were they doing and now you're asking him another question. You're trying like I mean
357. 1:00:23well I I think what what we're just looking for is a snapshot because we don't know, right? and there's a snapshot of what goes on and as someone who in the past run programs like that and I know how difficult it is to do uh even during a year right um so but you know I think our opinion our thoughts Calvin has you know I'm going to but about out of school we should be you know that's one of going to that's just let you know I was going to I recognize
358. 1:00:55that but I also want to say this is something that is a problem here and now and it hasn't been.
359. 1:01:03Right.
360. 1:01:04Right. So I I just want to highlight that as well.
361. 1:01:07But you also got signups for soccer going on if somebody's got to do that. Right. So
362. 1:01:12we're doing community events. It's not like we're just running up the electricity bill at the youth center. You know, uh productivity is occurring. Uh who's determining the efficiency of that? I don't know. But
363. 1:01:24Margaret should go down there.
364. 1:01:26Right. But um but again move you know it's a moving you know forward right in terms of schedule and everything if you say okay this is going to be you know the camp kids when they're out um two nights a week we're going to have open club right
365. 1:01:42camp movie nights
366. 1:01:44basketball absolutely
367. 1:01:46you know bike ride but you got to chat with certain staff right out the kids right with your budget right
368. 1:01:54well that's what I'm saying about the scheduling right so that's why you know anticipating you know August you know you know days and everything and there is a transition of moving your supplies moving I mean I think at one I think at one point they were moving one year right from one point you know you have to sanitize you have to organize you have to order
369. 1:02:16and it sounds to me there's a rhythm annually you know which makes sense
370. 1:02:24yes Um, something that you can consider, and I'd sit with you as well, is not just predicting, but tracking. And that's going to give you information for coming back to us and say, "You want two more programs during the week?
371. 1:02:39Here's where we are now. We're at 120%.
372. 1:02:42I'm going to need another person."
373. 1:02:44That's how you justify it.
374. 1:02:45That's right.
375. 1:02:46And that is the lens that we're going into this budget season with. um provided the need to, you know, reassess personnel. But yeah, I I agree with you
376. 1:02:56because we do have more people moving to the area.
377. 1:02:58Absolutely.
378. 1:02:59Every time you turn around, there's like new students, there's people coming up,
379. 1:03:02lot of renovation going on.
380. 1:03:04Yeah.
381. 1:03:04So, it's going to be more going to need more money in the budget, you know.
382. 1:03:11Well, again, right, because
383. 1:03:12there's someone else with their hand up, by the way.
384. 1:03:15Okay. I'm sorry. Okay, Bill. Hi, can you hear me?
385. 1:03:22Yes.
386. 1:03:24Hey, I have a few questions about um maintenance at Oakdale and then I have a a comment, maybe a helpful comment about the uh algae situation. Uh my first question uh for Calvin is in regards to the the floating dock um on Oakdale which Dominic mentioned a few months ago that you had told him that half of it was damaged and I haven't been watching all the um services committee meetings. So I haven't heard you mention anything about damage to that dock. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about it now. Is it is it indeed damaged?
387. 1:04:06So, uh, when in reference to being damaged, essentially what occurred was, uh, someone, uh, threw some some large stones, um, at the dock. Uh, so it did cause, uh, some some cracks in the dock. Uh, since then, those uh those the damage has been repaired. And so, um, if you've driven by or stopped at Oakdale, uh, you could see that the dock is fully functional. And so, the damage was repaired while it was out floating out there. And
388. 1:04:45yeah, and uh, the dock wasn't for the first time at least the 12 years that I've lived in Hudson. Last year was last winter was the first time that the dock remained in the water. I I kind of assume that caused the damage. I guess not. You guys saw somebody throw rocks or something. Um
389. 1:05:04I just told you how the damage was caused.
390. 1:05:06Are you going to leave the dock in the water this winter again? Is that the plan?
391. 1:05:14We we'll uh we'll remove it this winter.
392. 1:05:17But you is there a reason it wasn't removed last year? And you
393. 1:05:21ask and answer bill. Come on, Bill. He said they're removing, you know, so let's move forward. You said you had one more question. Let's go ask the answer.
394. 1:05:28Just want to make sure he's aware it wasn't removed last year. Um
395. 1:05:32I'm sure he's aware.
396. 1:05:36Why wasn't it removed last year? Um
397. 1:05:39again, again, move we're moving forward, right? It's whatever the reason is, it's moving forward. We're removing it. We
398. 1:05:47Whatever the reason is, that's that's why I'm asking. What's the reason? Why was it left in the water if it shouldn't have been? If it's going to be removed this year, why wasn't it removed last year?
399. 1:05:56Okay, so um go ahead.
400. 1:05:58Can you answer my question, Dominic? [snorts] [laughter]
401. 1:06:01Hey, I'll move on. There's also an issue uh that um Calvin is aware of of a long piece of wood uh at the shoreline uh by by the street uh at the outlet of the lake. Uh there's two there's been three, four, two cones surrounding it for I think a year and a half getting on to two years now. In other words, there's something wrong with the piece of wood. Stay away from it someday, maybe some year. DPW or youth department's going to fix it. Can you can you update us about
402. 1:06:31that piece of wood? Uh uh Calvin, so that all the committee members know what I'm talking about. Yeah, I think you're referring to the the section near the bleachers uh roadside there. [clears throat]
403. 1:06:45Yeah. So, that will be addressed when the um renovation of the playground takes place.
404. 1:06:53Who's going to do You told me that DPW is going to do the work. It never happens. So, it is somebody else going to do the work now.
405. 1:07:00It'll be a joint effort, right? Because it's grant funding. It's it's city funding. So, it'll be a joint effort. So, Peter Frank is aware that that that long piece of wood is going to be replaced and it's going to be part of that whole project. Is that right?
406. 1:07:15Well, he said, uh, Bill, he said,
407. 1:07:18Dominic, I'm not asking you a question, Dominic.
408. 1:07:20I'm running the meeting, Bill. Right. I'm running the meeting.
409. 1:07:24Why can't he answer that question?
410. 1:07:26Wasn't his three minutes over. What I'm saying right is that he's saying probably because of funding and that's the catchment area that that's part of the target area for repair during the out Oakdale uh repairs that's coming uh in spring. Is that all Bill? Thank you. Okay. Okay. Anyone else? Uh thank you. Um, and I Thank you, Calvin, so much. Good luck. Um, can I get a motion?
411. 1:08:02Yes. Yes. [laughter]
412. 1:08:04Can I get a second? All in favor? Thank you, Gary.

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