Present: Joe Sarnicola, Claire Lovell, Sarah Dibble, Pete Cramer, Chuck Mason, Glenn Thomas
- Call to Motion at 5:41 pm
- Tim made the motion and Glenn seconded. All approve.
- Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes
- Sarah made a motion to approve. All approve.
- Resignations
- Dan has moved to Buffalo and regretfully resigns.
- Joe is resigning as of October 1.
- New members
- The commission needs to attract new members, including a treasurer and social media director.
- Tim suggests the Leadership Cayuga graduating class. He has a list of the members.
- Budget Update – Joe
- The City gave us our $5,000 budget for the year.
- Our bank balance is $13,504.08.
- David Homick has been paid out for the website- $76, retroactive to January. The BID has been paid $500 for sponsoring Founders Day.
- Permaculture Park Update – Pete
- One of the fenced-in trees was busted by a storm. It may regrow.
- The willow structure is growing well!
- Social Media Update – New Social Media Director
- Sarah shared the ABC Google Drive with Claire, who will add the minutes to the website.
- Sarah suggests a professional group out of Cayuga BOCES.
- Claire suggests that the group first discuss the intended audience and hopeful objective for any PR efforts and social media work.
- Casey Park Plywood Figures Update – Joe
- The Finger Lakes Arts Council had a few successful days with painting efforts to refurbish the plywood figures.
- They’ll also bring 3 or 4 to the Tomatofest (there are 16 in total).
- Historical Signs repainting – Glenn
- Glenn purchased the paint but hasn’t yet begun taking the signs down to repaint.
- He plans on starting at Lake Ave and Camp Street.
- Chuck reiterates his recommendation for Real Deal Dollar Store on Grant Ave for Glenn’s paintbrushes and wire brushes.
- Glenn will let someone know when he’s going in order to get photographs. ABC will need to get before and after pictures.
- Joe suggests the sign on the Auburn Public Theater next.
- Glenn will save his receipts and turn them into Joe.
- 2021 Projects -Prioritize / pick dates
- Clean-up nature trail in Fleming/Dunning Ave
- Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street
- All the Department of Transportation, so we’ll leave this.
- Clean-up of Y-Fields / Clifford Park
- Rescheduled to Tuesday, August 10
- Routine riverwalk cleanup
- September 25th (Art in the Park is September 18th)
- Routine Buonocore Park cleanup, Market Street Park, and Freedom Park
- The BID has a new maintenance employee, Chuck Weed, who’s doing a good job in these parks.
- All of the parks are going to have new signage through the City’s comprehensive plan.
- Tim asks if Chuck will ask Mike Talbot to replace the Owasco River sign on the Genesee Street bridge.
- Planting/Maintenance of triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
- Chuck asked A&M Graphics what the price of a new, nicer sign like the sign at Seward Park, on Genesee Street, and Lake Ave.
- Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St. – Cigarette butt holder
- Claire has weeded throughout the summer.
- Adopt the garden on Exchange Street between APT and Next Chapter Pub
- Chuck personally adopted the space there, where he’s planted some basil and mulched.
- Welcome to Auburn sign on Lake Ave
- The tech teacher at AHS is going to measure for the missing W. Sarah will check in on him when school starts up again.
- Crocus planting throughout playgrounds and parks
- 2,000 bulbs for $289
- They’d have to be planted in the fall before the ground is frozen
- Sarah makes a motion that we purchase the bulbs. Tim will second. All approve. Sarah will buy them.
- 2021 Fundraising
- ABC Tent at ERHC? Chuck to keep us updated
- ABC is welcome at any of the Saturday markets. We’ll just have to fill out a form. The last Saturday is September 4.
- Founders Day – Saturday, August 7
- Chuck and Tim will both be busy on Founders Day.
- It’s 9 am to 4 pm. Be there by 9 am. Chuck will set up the tent and two chairs.
- Sarah will put together a gift basket of Lowes gardening equipment and Joe will put together a gift basket. Visitors to our tent can enter the raffle simply by giving us their email address (to sign up for emails) or potentially volunteering.
- Rummage sale – when safe from COVID – location? dates?
- Probably not feasible. Not for 2021.
- Scarecrow contest – Dates? Start planning now
- Stephanie at the BID was very supportive.
- Sarah hasn’t heard back from the woman in Batavia. In Batavia, there’s a $20 entrance fee, for which they got some (unknown) supplies.
- We could just open the contest up to the community, but we’ll need to have people sign themselves up so we know who’s participating.
- The scarecrows can go up in mid-September through October 31, at which point ABC will do the judging
- Other Business – Claire
- ABC Awards
- “Great job” awards – just take a picture and post it online with accolades
- Something like the Bouck sign
- Medians on Lake Ave
- Could have a handful of these signs made. Note that they shouldn’t be removed.
- “Nominate your neighbors.”
- Garden Tours
- For 2022.
- Tickets, planned tours.
- Bulletin board
- Tim suggested finding sponsorships for an external bulletin board. He’ll find details and more information.
Next meeting Tuesday August 10, 2021 @ 5:30pm at Clifford Park on Mary Street.
- Tim made a motion to adjourn. Pete seconded. Adjourned at 6:41 pm