 | Marbletown Community Development Committee
Meeting January 9, 2003 at Marbletown Town Hall
In attendance: Carl Pezzino, Tom Jackson, Sue Benz, Roger Wells, Mary
Ranges, Dan Gagnon, Fabia Wargin, Doug Wolf, Marshall Borris, Jim
Economos, Brooke Pickering Cole, Eunice Shumalski, Lou Cardinale, Bruce
Littlefield, Lester Cohen, Amy Moses.
Guests: Peter Reynolds, Dan Shuster, Jim Abbott, Jim Terwilliger, Maggie Cohan, Barbara Esmark, Melissa Everett.
The meeting was called to order at 7:06pm.
I. Web Based Town Plan
Peter
Reynolds presented the idea for a Marbletown Comprehensive Plan
website. The site will be a working comprehensive plan that will be
available on-line and will include the Towns current plan, plus
information on projects, priorities, policies and archival material.
The intention is that the site will provide an innovative approach to
planning that will be alive and available as opposed to a static
document that is periodically reviewed and stored away.
A. Site structure: The site will have two parts:
1. The
Core Plan: non-interactive portion which includes the Towns vision
statement, goals and strategies in policy areas, data & archives,
guide to participation, and a help section. This core plan would be
updated as needed.
2. Working
Plan: interactive section with action items and projects in the works.
Committees will utilize this as they choose e.g. chat rooms, updates
for the public, solicitation of feedback.
B. Vision to Action Flow:
Items will move from the working plan to the core plan area as they
change from ideas to reality and become part of policy.
C. Questions
and Discussion: Further aspects of the plan were discussed as
questions were raised by CDC members. Topics as follows:
- Design calls for minimal amount of upkeep/maintenance.
- Committees will handle their own mailboxes. A general mailbox will be maintained by the Town.
- Differentiate between community calendar/cultural info. and Planning info. Role of Marbletown-on-Line.
- Links to other Marbletown institutions were suggested.
- Mechanics: Planning and Zoning is sponsor, Dan Shuster is evaluating hard copy. Town board has given blessing.
Peter R. getting a working group together.
All agreed that the CDC should appoint a liaison to the site planning
group.
II. Introductions
Carl introduced guests Glen Gidaly of Shingabus Assoc. and Melissa Everett
who is a doctoral candidate working on approaches to community
development. She has been invited to sit in on CDC meetings.
III. Subcommittee Restructuring
Carl
passed out the list of focus session priority results as bucketed by
the CDC in December. He suggested a clean slate and new subcommittees.
A. Discussion:
A discussion was launched regarding the changing function and
operation of the CDC. A number of issues were raised including:
growing emphasis on cultural rather than infrastructure projects;
efficacy of focusing on small short term projects vs. larger long term
ones; distillation of energy given large number of projects; impact of
the Future of Marbletown workshops on the role of the CDC. Mary R.
read the mission statement from the CDC by-laws.
B. Glen
Gidaly suggestions: Glen G. explained his own review of the project
list based on his knowledge of grant funds available. Singled out
three major projects: central water system, affordable housing, and PDR.
C. New Subcommittees:
Seven new subcommittees were identified by the end of the meeting:
1. Open Space: Local PDR initiative, forestry management plan, purchase of conservation easements, tax incentives for conservation.
2. Environment and Water:
Alternative energy, water & waste, revive environmental management
commission, community participation in local food production, water
resources development, survey of water resources, petition of water
supply.
3. Parks and Recreation:
Public access to water, Town Park improvements, Rail Trail law
enforcement, indoor pool, adult rec. clubs and bike map, access to
woodlands, assess Youth and Rec. director role, survey for snowmobiles,
ATVs.
4. Public Safety: Large village signs, ways to enforce speed limits, crosswalk to community center.
5. Community Enhancements:
Visitor Center, showcase 209/213 gateway, village green areas,
kiosk/information center, enhance communications infrastructure.
6. Streetscape:
Community involvement in rt. 209, incorporate water in 209 project,
historic lighting, uniform flowers/banners, holiday decorations,
municipal parking canvas, improve Town Hall aesthetics.
7. Cultural: Cultural center, expand outdoor music, historical awareness, community event development, free cultural programs.
D. Miscellaneous Decisions and Info:
1. Property Tax Reform Task Force: a task force or ad hoc committee will be created by the Town to address tax issues.
2. Environmental Management Commission: this should be revived and will eventually stand alone as a commission.
3. Water resource: Mary R. offered info on a free informational resource re. water: Rural Community Assistance Program.
4. The Director of the Ulster County Traffic and Safety Board is willing to speak at a CDC meeting.
5. The following items will be set aside temporarily:
Affordable housing, inventory health care resources, and survey
of senior needs.
6. CDC will appoint a liaison to the comprehensive plan website.
E. CDC homework:
Carl asked that CDC members think about which of the new
subcommittees they will want to join.
The meeting adjourned at 9:02pm
Submitted
1/14/03 by Brooke Pickering Cole
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