Author: claire

Present: Dan Orzechowski, Glenn Thomas, Joe Sarnicola, Claire Lovell, Sarah Dibble

• Call to Motion at 5:32pm
• Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes
  • Glenn made a motion to approve and Dan seconded.  All approved.
• Budget Update – Joe
  • Only expenses were $37 for supplies of the riverwalk cleanup and $400 for Finger Lakes Art Council for the Casey Park figures 
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/15ltHW8LHdXsHbDh-53TlhP_Ux5WmOxlk/edit
• Finger Lakes Art Council Project: Casey Park Figures
  • Got a truck and moved the figures to Willard Chapel.
  • There will be an article in the newspaper on Sunday 
  • Work day planned: June 12, 11 am to 2 pm
• Website Discussion
  • Claire talked to Dave Homick but he was on vacation, so she doesn’t have the FTP information yet.
  • Dan will forward Claire the login information
• Social Media Update – Dan/Sarah
  • Dan posted pictures on Facebook and got some traction
  • Everyone should send pretty pictures of Auburn to Dan
• Earth Day Event Overview
  • At least 60 volunteers, including city councilmembers, county legislators, city workers, and the whole modified field hockey team from AHS.  
  • 2,210 pounds of trash were picked up. 1,600 pounds of yard waste plus 8 tires and some shopping carts.
  • Sarah has hundreds of pictures on her phone from the event.
  • Dan let the Citizen know about the upcoming cleanups.
  • Tim has the signup sheet from Earth Day.
• ABC Park Pick-up day: Saturday May 22, 2021 9am Veterans Park
  • Will need tools from Permaculture Park, so Sarah will ask Pete for them.
  • Would like to get another group photo… Please try and attend!
  • Sarah or Joe will get bottled water.
  • Sarah will resend to the school district and National Honor Society.
  • Joe will check to see if we need more mulch for the Welcome to Auburn sign near Hoopes Park on Genesee.
  • It’s also the Day of Service, which includes the BID planting (hanging flowers around downtown), Veterans Cross cleanup, and Westminster Church picnic at 11 am.
  • Sarah will bring a table, bottled water and a sign up sheet.
• Other Business
  • Historic Markers
    • Glenn is interested in repainting historic markers.  He asks for funding or supplies directly: metal brush, sandpaper, and paint.  He got the specific details for paint from the Pomeroy foundation. 
    • In particular, he wants to work on a Lake Ave sign.
    • Glenn will buy the supplies and ask for reimbursement (estimated at less than $50).  
    • Sarah makes a motion to approve the funding and Joe seconds.  All approved.
  • Welcome to Auburn sign
    • The W is missing from the Lake Ave “Welcome to Auburn” sign
    • It’s made out of plastic (not wood) so Sarah will ask the tech teacher to see if a new one can be 3D printed. 
  • Vigil for Hunter Hanmore
    • Hoopes Park at 8 pm on Wednesday night
    • Celebration of life on Saturday, May 15 at 3 pm at Sennett Fire House Hall

• Schedule next meeting Tuesday June 15 , 2021 @ 5:30 pm – Zoom?
• Sarah made a motion to adjourn at 5:57.  Glenn seconded. All approved.

Present: Sarah Dibble, Tim Donovan, Chuck Mason, Joe Sarnicola, Claire Lovell

Excused: Dan Orzechowski, Glenn Thomas, Pete Cramer

• Call to Motion at 5:35 pm
• Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes
  • Chuck made a motion, Sarah seconded, all approved.
• Budget Update – Joe
  • $55 spent this month for the accounting firm
  • Bank balance is $8,959.76
• Social Media Update – Dan/Sarah
  • Facebook has done well with the pickup day on April 24.  Over 4,000 views on our Facebook page have come up as a result of the pickup day.  Sarah has put it out to the high school and will send it to the National Honor Society.
  • Chuck’s drone video (thanks to the Auburn PD!) has been wonderful to help promote the Earth Day pickup day.
  • Website Discussion
    • http://www.beautifulauburn.org/about/ 
    • Our website was down for a week this month.  Sarah found the man (Dave Homick) who hosts the site and pays for the domain registration.  He’s no longer an Auburnian and isn’t interested in building a new site for us.  We pay him $110 per year.  
    • Dan Orzechowski and Claire Lovell both volunteered to build a new site for ABC.  Claire’s husband, Dan Lovell, could host (Code Munkeys), for the same price or less.
  • Tim reached out to Chris Molloy and asked for photographs for the sake of social media.  Chris was very accommodating and sent many photos over, which Dan and Sarah were able to use on Facebook. 
• Earth Day Event reminder: Saturday April 24, 2021 10am Mill Street Dam
  • All hands on deck!  We’re going to get an updated group photo and distribute ABC polo shirts.
  • Mike and the city guys will be there to pick up the trash bags.  April 24 is also the city cleanup day at the dump.
  • 18 people are marked as going on the FB event.  128 people are “interested.”  We may see a few dozen people.  We need to be prepared with bags and gloves, although people were told to bring their own rakes and gloves.  Joe will do an inventory of supplies.  Chuck recommends buying enough bags for a few pickup days all at once, available this weekend so we don’t run out.  Sarah will bring some lawn bags, too.  
  • With more people, we can spread out farther.  Optimally, we’ll go from the dam to the Market Street Park, and maybe over to the opposite side toward Owasco Street.  
  • Sarah will bring a table and a sign-in sheet (for ABC promotions and COVID contact tracing if needed).  
  • Chuck invited Sarah to the City Council meeting on Thursday, April 22 at 5 pm to accept the Earth Day Proclamation.  Sarah will bring a single student.
• ABC Park Pick-up day: Saturday May 22, 2021 9am Veterans Park
  • Chuck will ask his colleague Rhonda to update the posters for the May 22 event, to be shared after the April 24th event. Chuck will send it out to ABC members.
  • The City always throws the Arbor Day logo on park pickup posters for the sake of future Arbor Day Foundation grants. 
• Casey Park Plywood Figures Update – Sarah
  • Sarah had met with Jeffrey Pirrozolo for another reason, and they discussed the figures.  Pirrozolo called Joe and Joe is picking them up on Friday.
  • Chuck makes a motion to proceed with the project and get the figures restored through the Finger Lakes Art Council for the suggested $400.  Sarah seconds.
• Photo Contest – Sarah
  • Can anyone make a flyer for this?
• Other Business
  
  • Claire shared The Lorax Project | “I Speak for the Trees” Grant Program information, which is $150 toward Earth Day kinds of activities.  Sarah will share the grant opportunity with students in the climate group at the high school.
    
  • The “Welcome to Auburn” sign near the high school is missing its W.  It might cost up to $100 to have a replacement W created.  Sarah will ask the AHS tech teacher, Justin, to look at it.  If that falls through, Chuck will find someone.
    
  • Chuck was invited to a meeting lately about a large Lowe’s grant that would require far more expertise and time than ABC has, so he declined on behalf of ABC.

• Tim will continue reaching out to the church group that routinely participates in the park pickup day.
  
• Claire asked if there’s a water hookup near the Wilds’ garden.  Tim will ask the owner for help getting water.

• Schedule next meeting Tuesday May 11, 2021 @ 5:30 pm – Zoom
  • The first Tuesdays at 5:30 seems to work for most members.
• Adjourn 
  • Tim makes a motion to adjourn.  Joe seconds. All approve.  

Present:  Sarah Dibble, Claire Lovell, Joe Sarnicola, Pete Cramer, Tim Donovan, Chuck Mason, Dan Orzechowski, Glenn Thomas

Guest: Mike Talbot (until 5:13)

• Call to Motion
  Sarah made a call to motion at 5:03 pm
• Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes  
  Chuck made a motion to approve, Pete seconded, all approve.
• Budget Update – Joe
  • This month there has been an accounting fee of $65 and another $60 to join New York Council of Non-profits (NYCON), which keeps us in a directory and nonprofit advice and guidance. Tim requests that we invite NYCON to visit and give a presentation.
  • Joe also has a $650 check for insurance that he will bring to Sarah at the high school to sign.
  • Expenditures $775 for the month, leaving a balance of $9,014.76.
• Permaculture Park Update – Pete
  • Pete is pruning the fruit trees.  Everything looks good there.
  • The city will eventually install large signs (through Walt and Mike).
• Social Media Update – Dan
  • Dan has gotten access to the ABC Facebook account.  He asks if he can advertise (unpaid) the meetings ahead of time. Sarah approves.
  • Please make sure you follow the ABC Facebook account!
  • Dan has been working on the website and installed a few free plugins. He asks if anyone has recent pictures for updating the galleries and for social media. Please email pictures to Dan. Joe and Sarah will find pictures of the Casey Park courtyard and the Franklin St triangle.
  • He asks if there is an ABC logo file. Sarah will send him one.
  • Sarah will also send him the list of board members.
• Casey Park Plywood Figures Update – Joe
  • Joe hasn’t heard from Jeff Pirozzolo yet.
  • This is a series of plywood figures of historically significant people. The district is going to research the provenance before handing them over to ABC.  The Arts Council will help restore the figures and ABC will find a new home for them.
• Look into Historical Signs repainting – Glenn
• 2021 Projects -Prioritize / pick dates  – Mike Talbot

ABC Projects

• Earth Day  Event?  Saturday April 24 Time? Flyer?
  • Earth Day is Thursday, April 22 but we will have better availability on Saturday. 
  • On Saturday, April 24, we will clean up the Riverwalk, meeting at the plaza parking lot with the sign company, behind Generations Bank. We’ll meet there at 10 am.
  • We have buckets, trash bags and three grabber-sticks.  Sarah can provide some gloves and Joe has some work gloves and a wagon. 
  • Mike has staff working on Saturdays who could pick up trash that day. Sarah will keep in touch with him.
  • Pete will extend an invitation to the Cayuga Climate Coalition.
  • Annual Park Pick-up Day  – Saturday May 22
    • Mike reports that the City is happy to lend tools and to pick up the garbage afterwards as they have every year.
    • This event starts at 9 am at Veteran’s Park.
    • Mitch will lend us a popup tent.? If not Sarah can provide
    • Chuck will send Sarah the flyer to update for 2021.
  • Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
  • Routine riverwalk cleanup – Quarterly
  • Routine Bonocore Park cleanup, Market Street Park, and Freedom Park

City  – Ask Mike Talbot

• Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park
  • Mike notes that the City does routinely do this every few years. They use Clorox and a pressure washer and will do it this year.
  • Tulips or Snow Alyssum @ Veteran’s Park
    • Mike suggests the group walk through the area and pick out a spot or two to plant flowers.
  • Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy

BID – Ask Stephanie DeVito

• Planting/Maintenance of triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
  • Stephanie was excited about ABC adopting this triangle.
  • Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St.  – Cigarette butt holder
    • Stephanie said the cigarette butt problem is universal and wishes us luck.
  • Sparkle on State Street
    • The BID wants to drape State Street from KeyBank (Genesee street) to Prison City (Dill street) with string lights. 
    • We would need to think about how many lights we would need, electricity requirements, lifespan (with regard to weather) and sustainability.
    • Tim wonders about the minimum height of the string lights, because that street does serve tall trucks.
    • Chuck notes that from June through September, the City is constructing a park there, so it’s probably a bad year to drape lights there.

• 2021 Fundraising
  • ABC Tent at ERHC? Chuck to keep us updated
  • Scarecrow contest (like in Batavia NY)
    • Businesses and individuals can decorate lamp-posts along Genesee Street. 
    • Stephanie at the BID is happy to help!
    • We will need to determine what supplies we need and bring that list to Home Depot to ask for donations.  Tim volunteers to do this.
    • What date span should we do?
    • Sarah will seek out the project leader in Batavia to get information.
  • Tree Sale
    • Pete had done all the number crunching for this potential fundraiser.  Joe noted that it sounds like a lot of work for Pete and the landowner.  The beds would have to be prepared first, and the plants would have to go in the ground on May 7 (the pick up day in 2021). They’ll need to be mulched after planting.  They should be dug up in the fall.
    • Pete suggests that once we plant them in Sarah’s yard, we work up the promotion and a campaign for planting in the fall (and to sell the trees at a profit).  Pete and Sarah will talk privately about her yard and logistics.
• Other Business
  • T-shirts/Polos
    • Sarah has ABC polo shirts to distribute to the new members, and would like to get an updated group picture at our next clean up.
  • Earth Day Kids Craft
    • Artist Sandy Shutter is opening a new art gallery in Willard Chapel and will have an Earth Day event featuring a free craft activity for kids. Joe wondered if ABC would sponsor the craft materials ($50-$100).  The group discussed the potential mission creep and decided not to support the request.
    • The group will discuss a mission clarification at the April meeting and will draft a form for donation requests.
  • (Pete will be unavailable for a few days around April 19)
  • Claire suggested we sponsor an online lecture or two this spring, possibly in collaboration with the public library, about planting and gardening.
    • Perhaps Pete? Or Janet Allen? Someone from SUNY ESF?
  • Dan suggested a local contest, incentivized by a modest gift card (~$10-$20), for photography of beautiful Auburn.
    
    
• Schedule next meeting Monday April 12, 2021 @ 5pm – Zoom?
  • Joe has a new job where he will be unavailable on Monday evenings (3 to 9 pm).  Sarah will send out an email about availability.
• Adjourn
  • Tim makes a motion to adjourn. Dan seconds. All approve.  Adjourned at 6:08 pm.

Members Present:

Joe Sarnicola, Sarah Dibble, Tim Donovan, Peter Cramer, Claire Lovell, Glenn Thomas, Chuck Mason

Members Absent:

Dan Orzechowski

• Call to Motion
• Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes-ACTION ITEM
  • Joe makes a motion, Pete seconds
• Budget Update – Joe
  • We got a rebate of $12 from the MasterCard account
  • Joe checked the mail and found the board insurance bill and NYCON membership bill, so those will both show up in next month’s budget update.
  • Joe and Sarah will go to the bank to switch names to Sarah (from Mitch)
  • Chuck will look into the City’s $5,000 annual contribution
  • Balance is $9,789.76
• Permaculture Park Update – Pete
  • No new updates. Wintertime.  This month, they’ll prune the fruit trees.
  • The fencing purchase was canceled (and returned on the credit card) because Pete’s access to a trailer fell through. 
• Social Media Update – Dan/Chuck
  • Dan was able to sign into the new ABC Instagram account.
  • Chuck is the administrator for the ABC FB account and will need to add Dan.  Sarah is only an editor.
• Casey Park Plywood Figures Update – Joe
  • Joe sent an email to Jeff  Pirozzolo (superintendent). The person in charge of the figures has been out on quarantine.
• Harriet Tubman Mural Update – Joe
  • They’re looking for insurance assistance and $30,000, which we can’t help with.
• Look into Historical Signs repainting – Glenn
  • Glenn left a message with Paula at the Pomeroy Foundation but hasn’t heard back.  
  • He also talked to Ruth Bradley, the Cayuga County Historian, who gave him some insight about maintenance. She suggested talking to the Pomeroy Foundation to get information about the paint, and also noted we should talk to the local property owners before we touch the signs.  Some property owners have maintained the signs themselves. 
  • Glenn found an online map with the markers of Cayuga County: Historical Marker Database Map (hmdb.org) 
  • Tim suggested Glenn talk to Michael Long, retired city employee.
• 2021 Projects – Prioritize / pick dates
  • Annual Park Pick-up Day – Saturday May 22, 2021
    • Sarah will double check with the Health Department (we’ll follow safety guidelines). Chuck notes that typical city events aren’t scheduled in 2021.
    • Chuck will try to send the existing flyer to Sarah and she can update it.
  • Earth Day Event – Thursday April 22, 2021
    • Sarah suggested a social media post.
    • Chuck suggested a riverwalk cleanup the next Saturday: April 24.
    • Pete will ask the Cayuga Climate Coalition if they’d like to collaborate on this.  
  • ABC sponsored Wreath for Memorial Day – Monday May 31, 2021
    • The event will probably not happen because of COVID, but we could still do a sponsored wreath for the Veteran’s park.
  • Claire suggests committing to a set schedule for monthly cleanups. Chuck notes that we could do the riverwalk clean up monthly because it accumulates so much trash. He proposes four cleanups over the year at the rivertrail.  
  • Other proposed cleanup spots:
    • Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
    • Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street
    • Clean- up of Y-Fields 
    • Routine Bonocore Park cleanup, Market Street Park, and Freedom Park 
• City  – Ask Mike Talbot
  • Sarah will invite Mike to the March meeting.
  • Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy.  
    • Sarah did talk to Julie Liccion and the Z-club’s plans are still on hold as they wait for the state to respond.
    • Tim noted the vast improvement of Erie Boulevard in Dewitt
  • Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park
  • Tulips or Snow Alyssum @ Veteran’s Park
• BID – Ask Stephanie DeVito
  • Sarah will also invite Stephanie to the March meeting. 
  • Planting/Maintenance of triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
  • Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St. and install a cigarette butt holder?
• 2021 Fundraising
  • ABC Tent at ERHC? Chuck to keep us updated
    • On hold due to COVID
  • Rummage sale – when safe from COVID – location? Dates?
    • On hold due to COVID
  • Scarecrow contest – Dates?  Start planning now
    • Sarah had sent out two articles about a scarecrow competition in Batavia that we could mimic (here and here). Entries were $20 to participate and there was a “cash prize for most creative.”  
    • Claire suggested asking Lowe’s for sponsorship, as the Batavia one had Home Depot as a sponsor. 
    • This would definitely require talks with Mike Talbot and Stephanie Devito, too.
• Selling plants/trees – Pete/Claire
  • The plant sale listing will say things like “2-2,” meaning it was raised for 2 years and transplanted for 2 years, but the size is extremely variable.  If we had a place, we could plant them immediately and then sell them from that land over time.
  • We need space with sun and no grass.  Sarah volunteered her yard.
  • Pete mentioned that the Cortland County program offers a few other really nice options. He specifies that there are a lot of great trees in the Cayuga program.  
  • He recommends that we ask Walt Aikman what he’d like to see in Auburn.
  • A bed 4’ by 8’ long – 50 could be planted 6 inches apart.  Some bigger conifers needed a foot apart.  They can be relatively close.  If deer are an issue, we’d need a fence.  These trees are about 6” by 2’.  
  • Pete will do some math to figure out the number we’d need.  
• Other Business 
  • Tim brought up that it’s the last phase of community development block grant money.  He’d like to see a new sign at Bonocore Park.  Chuck notes that there is a new program from the planning department for new signs at all city parks.
• Next meeting: Monday March 8, 2021 @ 5pm – Zoom
• Adjourned at 5:58 pm

Members Present:

Joe Sarnicola, Sarah Dibble, Glenn Thomas, Chuck Mason, Claire Lovell, Dan Orzechowski

Members Absent:

Tim Donovan, Peter Cramer

• Call to order at 5:05 pm
• Approve Previous Meeting’s Minutes
  • Joe made a motion to approve the minutes from December 14, 2020, with a date change to the minutes
  • Glenn seconded, unanimously approved
• Officially Vote in Slate of 2021 Officers & New Members
  • Chair: Sarah Dibble
  • Vice Chair: Peter Cramer
  • Treasurer: Joe Sarnicola
  • Secretary: Claire Lovell
  • Member: Dan Orzechowski
  • Motion to approve the 2021 slate of officers made by Joe, seconded by Glenn, unanimously approved
• Budget Update – Joe
  • Pete made one more purchase (fencing for $99) but it’s not yet on the ABC books.
  • One additional line is under programs & projects: $422.18 for plants ordered now that will be delivered in the spring.
  • Ending 2020 balance of $9,777.72
  • Claire made a motion to approve the 2021 budget, seconded by Chuck, unanimously approved. 
• Review Tentative 2021 Budget
  • Delineate General Project Line Item Budget for 2021 Projects
  • Currently budgeted for $5,610, of which $2,360 remains for “general projects”
  • We already have buckets, grabbers, and bags for clean up projects.  We may need one more $20 grabber.  Sarah would donate boxes of gloves.
    • Annual Park Pick-up Day (already budgeted at $150)
    • Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
    • Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street (need clarification on exact place)
    • Clean- up of Y-Fields
    • Routine riverwalk cleanup
    • Routine Bonocore Park cleanup, Market Street Park, and Freedom Park
  • Planting at the triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
    • Sarah will check with Stephanie Devito of the BID about permissions, in order to plant perennials, add landscaping paper, lay down mulch, and add a solar light (to match the other four Welcome to Auburn signs).
    • Sarah will email Pete for plant recommendations.
    • Glenn recommends that we plan to remove the solar lights before winter to keep them safe.
  • Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park
    • The group isn’t sure if the cross is a stone that requires careful, professional cleaning, in which case we’ll need to get three quotes for cleaning it. Either way, we will need permission from the city before we touch the cross.
    • If it can be done with a power-washer, both Sarah and Glenn have personal power-washers.  Glenn suggests we could look into an anti-mold solution.
    • Chuck confirms that there’s a water hookup there.  He suggests we compile our list of project plans and then bring a comprehensive list of city-property projects to Mike Talbot, head of DPW, for his input and help with coordination.
    • The same would be true for planting Tulips or Snow Alyssum @ Veteran’s Park.
  • Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy 
    • Julie Liccion had started some application process with the state for the Z-club to do a pollinator garden.  This was prior to COVID.  The New York State Department of Transportation will need to be involved.  Sarah will ask Julie.
    • Chuck noted that the median, where there’s grass, is probably filled in with bad-quality fill, so planted trees would not be successful there.  
    • Given the barriers and complications, this will be a low priority for 2021.
  • Assist with funding/installation of Harriet Tubman Mural (on side of Nolan building)
    • This was way out of our budget, but we might do something as a token effort.
    • Laura Ullyette had contacted Joe initially, and he’ll follow up with her.
  • Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St.
    • Claire had planted some azaleas and other plants and found that the quality of soil was very poor, with only a few inches of dirt before finding large rocks.  Pete had shared a lot of helpful insight over email, noting that the spot is also difficult for plants because of the lack of sunlight.  Joe and Sarah suggest a rock garden or art installation instead.
    • Chuck added that this project should be brought up with Stephanie Devito of the BID.
  • Casey Park plywood figures
    • Joe got an email from the superintendent that they’re “still looking into it.” Joe will follow up in a few weeks if he doesn’t hear more.  
    • Joe suggested about $400 to be budgeted for this project if we can get the figures.
  • Historical Markers
    • Glenn will follow up about the possibilities for repainting chipped and faded signs.  There are certain colors to use, and the sign has to be treated properly.  Chuck noted that Seneca Falls had re-done many of their historical markers leading up to 2020 and would have a company name.
    • Claire brought up a new Legends and Lore marker program from the Pomeroy foundation.  Claire will email the link (Legends & Lore® Marker Grant Program | William G. Pomeroy Foundation (wgpfoundation.org) 
    • Chuck mentioned that the city will find out in the spring if the Pomeroy Foundation will fund Women’s Suffrage markers that will be purple and white.
    • Chuck added that Cayuga County has one of the highest number of the markers, and the historian’s office is really good at keeping track of them.  However, more markers mean more maintenance.
  • Social Media presence
    • Sarah created an Instagram account for Auburn Beautification Commission: ABC (@aubbeautificationcom) • Instagram photos and videos. Dan will take it over, as that is his professional expertise.  Dan and Claire both suggest sticking with Facebook and Instagram, not bothering with Twitter.
    • Claire suggested we not just post our events and before-and-afters, but we also share and re-post pretty pictures from other Facebook groups and Instagram accounts, where possible. 
    • Claire made a motion to appoint Dan the social media coordinator, Joe seconded, unanimously approved. 

• 2021 Fundraising Ideas & Planning
  • Claire had previously suggested re-selling young plants from the Cayuga County Conservation Plant Sale.  Pete had replied with a thoughtful email about just how young (and therefore delicate) those plants often were, so that re-selling them might not be feasible.  Claire will forward his information to the rest of the group to consider.
  • Could we do a scarecrow contest?  Sarah will look into the details of the inspiration contest.
  • ERHC – reselling tulip bulbs – but that Saturday weekly market might not happen this year, reports Chuck.
  • Joe suggests a coordinated yard sale when we’re able to do events again.
• Schedule next meeting
  • Our next meeting will be Monday, February 8 at 5 pm.
• Adjourn
  • Glenn made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Joe, unanimously approved at 5:54 pm

Members Present: 

Mitch Maniccia

Joe Sarnicola

Sarah Dibble

Dan Orzechowski

Chuck Mason

Peter Cramer

Members Absent:

Tim Donovan  

Glenn Thomas

Guests:

Claire Lovell

• Call to order at 5:05 pm
• Motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting made by Joe, seconded by Dan, unanimously approved

Slate of officers 2021-2022 – To be officially approved at January meeting

Chair: Sarah Dibble

Vice Chair: Peter Cramer

Treasurer: Joe Sarnicola

Secretary: Claire Lovell

• Officially Vote in: Dan Orzechowski, Claire Lovell, Julie Liccion

• Motion to approve the slate of officers made by Sarah, seconded by Joe, unanimously approved

Budget Update

• Review of 2021 – 2022 proposed budget
• Suggestion of possibly delineate General Project’s line per project
• Current balance $10,199.90
• Motion to approve proposed budget made by Sarah, seconded by Dan, unanimously approved

2020 Projects

• Casey Park Project – Plywood figures – Joe in touch with Finger Lakes Arts Council and AECSD Superintendent Jeff Pirrozolo, about restoration of figures and display all over city

Permaculture Park Update

• Signs done for park – Pete and Walt to install
• Black Walnut tree in park – oldest in county – city repaired split in tree using flexible webbing
• Living Willow Art – project funded by CBDG

2021 Fundraising

• Could we explore Community Block Development Grant projects?

2021 Potential Projects: Review & edit current list

• Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
  • Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street
  • Clean- up of Y-Fields
  • Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy – possible clovers, snowbells, cherry trees
  • Planting at the triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
  • Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park
  • Tulips or Snow Alyssum @ Veteran’s Park
  • Assist with funding/installation of Harriet Tubman Mural (on side of Nolan building)
    • Mitch reached out to his connections in Dorchester County in Maryland (who had funded a Harriet Tubman mural there), who pointed him to some funders of that area.  He referred Laurel to the same kind of funders around here.
  • Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St. 
    • Claire did some guerilla planting of clearanced plants (rhododendrons & azaleas) and discovered that the garden bed is only 2-3 inches of dirt on top of a mound of large rocks.  Chuck noted that the
  • Look into Historical Signs repainting
  • Casey Park plywood figures

• Routine riverwalk cleanup

• Chuck proposes doing something with the Bonacore park across from Wegmans on the corner of Loop Road and Genesee Street.  CBDG funds were used for this park, like removing diseased trees and adding nice park furniture.  This park is part of the revitalized river trail.  This would tie in well with the river clean-up in the summer of 2020. 

• The same will be true once the State Street Bridge is done; that area will need to be cleaned up next summer.  We could also review the Market Street park area, the Freedom Park, and through the Mill Street dam.

• Chuck proposes a routine clean up schedule to do 3 or 4 clean up sessions each summer. 

• Gary Oliver, a local volunteer, personally took care of the Market Street park this year, and it looks nice. 

• Annual Park Pick-up Day

Other Business

• Farewell Party? Mitch declined via email.  The group thanked Mitch for his years of great leadership.  ABC was the first community group he joined when he moved to Auburn in 2015 (and the first one he’s chaired since).

• Joe mentioned that there are some things (Lowe’s card contact, nonprofit tax paperwork, etc.) that will have to be worked out for the transition from Mitch to Sarah.

• Next Meeting Monday, January 11th at 5 pm via Zoom (rescheduled for Tuesday January 19)

• Motion to adjourn made by Joe, seconded by Mitch, unanimously approved.

• Meeting adjourned at 6:05

Members Present: 

Mitch Maniccia

Joe Sarnicola

Sarah Dibble

Chuck Mason

Peter Cramer

Tim Donovan   Glenn Thomas

Dan Orzechowski

Guests:

Claire Lovell

Julie Liccion

• Call to order at 5:05 pm
• Introduction of Guests – Julie Liccion & Claire Lovell
• Motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting made by Tim, seconded by Sarah, unanimously approved

Budget Update

• Total project money spent $7,460
• Joe to send out 2021 budget proposal for next meeting
• Perhaps search out other sources of funding

2020 Projects

• Casey Park Courtyard project was SPECTACULAR.  With assistance from Julie Liccion, the Auburn High School Z-Club and National Honor Society, with Auburn Alumni Jake Coleman
  • Cleared out weeds
  • Marked out path
  • Took down outdated plywood characters
  • Laid down landscapers cloth
  • Filled in with mulch in flower beds and rubber “chips” along path
  • Assembled and installed 3 picnic tables

Permaculture Park Update

• Pete meeting with Walt Aikman to install signage out of reclaimed wood

2021 Projects Possible Ideas

• Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
• Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street
• Clean- up of Y-Fields
• Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy – possible clovers, snowbells, cherry trees
• Planting at the triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
• Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park
• Tulips or Snow Alyssum @ Veteran’s Park
• Assist with funding/installation of Harriet Tubman Mural (on side of Nolan building)
• Adopt the corner flower garden in front of Wild’s on Genesee St. 
• Look into Historical Signs repainting

Other Business

• Possible Grant from Cornell – Feasibility Study – Sarah to follow-up

• Possible fundraising ideas:
  • Holiday event
  • Scarecrow Contest
  • Shoveling Event
  • Showman Contest
  • Sell blackberries & or batches of trees – Cayuga County Water & Soil

• Sarah to create ABC Instagram & Twitter account – maybe appoint Social Media Specialist?

• Mitch to step down as chair.  Recommend’s Sarah, but of course this needs to be approved in January

• Motion to adjourn by Sarah, seconded by Mitch, unanimously approved. 

• Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm

• Next meeting Monday December 14, 2020 @ 5pm via Zoom

Members Present: 

Mitch Maniccia

Joe Sarnicola

Sarah Dibble

Chuck Mason

Peter Cramer

Tim Donovan  

Members Absent:

Glenn Thomas

Dan Orzechowski

Guest:

Claire Lovell

• Call to order at 5:04 pm
• Introduction of Guests – Claire Lovell
• Motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting made by Chuck, seconded by Joe, unanimously approved

Budget Update

• $10 to Custom Accounting
• $76.28 for supplies for River Walk clean-up
• $494.2 for Permaculture Park
• $99.00 Red Ribbon Week Tulips
• Current balance $13,181.12

2020 Projects

• River walk clean- up:  Went Awesome!  Great feedback from community
• Email to Julie Liccion re: Clean-up of Chloe’s Butterfly Garden
• Cayuga County Drug Free Coalition & SADD (Tiffany Whitacore) – Red Ribbon Week – Tulip distribution – Possible plant @ veterans park?

Permaculture Park Update

• ABC bought tools for Permaculture park, to keep in their shed
• Plan to order ground cover plants
• Walt Aikman to make signage out of reclaimed wood
• Pete is Fun-gi 🍄

2021 Projects

• Clean-up nature trail in Flemming/Dunning Ave
• Clean-up West-End of Genesee Street
• Clean- up of Y-Fields
• Do something with Arterial – Near Mark’s/Byrne Dairy – possible clovers, snowbells
• Planting at the triangle at the welcome to BID District – near St. Mary’s
• Clean Cross @ Veteran’s Park

Other Business

• Possible Grant from Cornell – Feasibility Study – Sarah to follow-up

• Request for proposals (RFP), google form to be posted on ABC Facebook page and shared on other Auburn pages by Sarah

• Website should be updated to include new board members, update with pictures of recent projects and add an upcoming project calendar – Dan to take on

• Dan and Glenn need ABC Polos for events

• Tim receiving an Award for service to community through Unity House
  • Time is Awesome 👍

• Boy Scout Jack Kennedy – doing conservation project – Sarah to send his info to Pete

• Per Tim – Lots of Trees being affected by Emerald Ash Borer – ABC should make list of most affected trees to give to city

• Walt Aikman’s – Grow Auburn Trees project Oct 31, 2020

• Possible fundraiser – sell bulk tree seedlings

• Don’t forget to VOTE!!

• Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!!

• Motion to adjourn by Joe, seconded by Tim, unanimously approved. 

• Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm

• Next meeting Monday November 9, 2020 @ 5pm @ City Hall

*UPDATE* – Meeting has been rescheduled to Monday November 16, 2020 @ 5pm via ZOOM!!

Members Present: Mitch Maniccia, Joe Sarnicola, Sarah Dibble, Chuck Mason

Members Absent: Peter Cramer, Tim Donovan

Call to order at 5: 19 pm

Mitch issues Executive order – appointing Glenn to the ABC Board!

Unable to approve minutes from last meeting, do not have quorum

Budget Update

Thompkins Bank AGAIN charged $5 fee – Joe called the bank.  This was due to debit card inactivity – we have 2 cards.  Each card should be used once every 6 months – easy as going to atm and checking balance

Thompkins Bank will re-fund $15 of inactivity fees

$100 to Custom Accounting

Current balance $14,064.77

2020 Projects

Franklin St median finish maintenance – Wednesday August 19, 2020 @ 5:00 – finish weeding – put down mulch

River walk clean- up (Osbourne St @ Market St. Park) – Saturday September 12, 2020 @ 4:30

Welcome sign Rt. 38 and Seward Park sign – Chuck said city workers will paint w/in next month-ish – still waiting

Still waiting for e-mail from Seamus re: fall planting at Hoopes Park – possibly mums

Permaculture Park Update

Living Willow completely installed – Looks amazing!! Installed utilizing ABC funding and CBDG funding

Per Mitch – Pete is a swell guy!!

Other Business

Other ideas??

Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!!

Meeting adjourned at 5:45pm

Next meeting Monday September 14, 2020 @ 5:00 pm. IN PERSON @ CITY HALL – use back door – sign in – wear a mask!