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An Open Invitation to the Tully Community
to shape the vision for the Tully Community Center.
TULLY Community Center
Education - Fitness - Recreation
Why a Community Center?
What will it do for the community?
A single, inter-generational Community Center complex can
help to bring together people of different ages - in their
respective or joint activities - thereby strengthening our
interaction and opportunities as a community.
A centralized facility offers economy of staffing and volunteer
coverage as well as utilities and support services. Benefits
also include better communication, support, and accountability
among our community groups.
We envision a 'village center' where people develop relationships
- they meet, discuss ideas, exchange news, increase mutual
acquaintance, provide mutual support, and make plans.
The facility is envisioned to be open to all Tully School
District Residents during established operating hours that
will optimize community needs.
Where did the idea for the Community Center come from?
A Community Center Review Committee (CCRC) was formed in
the fall of 1998 after a meeting was held with representatives
of the Town, Village, and School Boards, members of the business
community, and several representatives of various community
organizations. A telephone survey was initiated, and over
350 Tully families were contacted to assess the need and value
of a Community Center. Over 327 families confirmed that a
center was needed and offered ideas and input on activities
it could host.
Over a period of five months, the CCRC secured the services
of Beardsley Design Associates of Auburn, New York, to draw
up preliminary plans that incorporated the community's input
from the survey. The CCRC also hosted a visit to a similar
center in Cato, New York, and over twenty-five people took
a bus trip to help visualize what a Community Center would
look like and to meet with members of that facility's operating
board.
Why locate the center at the School?
As part of the school complex, funding is available through
the New York State Education Department's building aid plan.
In addition, the school campus is already a tax-exempt property,
so there is no effect on the School District, Town, or Village
tax base.
Moreover, the school is the centerpiece of our community,
and this center will only enhance the social welfare of the
community if located there. The location is favorable in relation
to other Town services, such as the library, municipal building,
town park, school complexes, post office, stores, churches,
doctors' offices, and many other activities. The building
will be handicap-accessible, and parking will be reserved
and adequate.
What activities will take place at the Community Center?
Having a Community Center of this size will allow for a wealth
of opportunities to all members of the community. In our telephone
survey of Tully School District residents, the following items
were named by residents as activities they would like to see:
A large community room that could be divided when not in full
use; an indoor walking track; a pool with access in the day
and evening; a gym; a fitness center; and numerous other social,
educational, fitness, and recreational pursuits.
How can residents get involved?
Volunteering is as easy as attending a meeting and gaining
insight and knowledge to share with friends and neighbors.
There are also expenses associated with mailing, postage,
and other miscellaneous items, so small donations are appreciated.
To find out more, or to join, simply phone or email one of
the committee members listed further down on this page.
What's next?
In September, the proposed Community Center will be showcased
at two big events.
On September 11, the Tully Community Fair will have a booth
staffed by committee members who will answer any questions
or concerns you may have and also provide architectural renderings
for you to view. The theme of this year's fair is "What
a Community Center Means to Me." Don't miss the opening
parade at 9 a.m. in front of the Elementary School!
On September 30, 1999 at 7:00 p.m., there will be a community
meeting in the Tully High School Auditorium where the architects
and committee members will discuss the project and answer
questions from the community. The event will end with a vote
of those present as to whether the project will continue to
be developed.
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an excerpt taken from "The Independent"
Mitch Pajonas and John Knowles have taken it upon themselves
to have a leading role in the development of a community recreation
center for Tully.
The recreation center they would like to see in Tully would
be patterned after the one they are familiar with in Cato,
NY. This $2.5 million facility was built at no cost to the
local taxpayer as part of an addition to the school. Ever
since they became aware of this facility, they have talked
to any group in Tully who has shown interest. October 14th
was the first meeting of a group of local citizens and government
representatives after which a committee was formed to explore
further possibilities.
Hopefully the successful Cato center will be repeated in
Tully.
The Goals of The Community Center Review Committee
To assess the feasibility of constructing and operating a
Community Center in Tully.
To assess the needs of the people of the Tully Area that can
be met by and enhanced through the development of a Community
Center.
To educate the community on how these needs can be met by
a Community Center.
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Upcoming Meetings:
On September 30, 1999 at 7:00 p.m., there will be a community
meeting in the Tully High School Auditorium where the architects
and committee members will discuss the project and answer
questions from the community. The event will end with a vote
of those present as to whether the project will continue to
be developed.
We will try to keep you posted on future meetings and events
regarding this proposal.
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Notes from our May 6, 1999 meeting
Tully Community Center Review Committee
Town Hall Minutes
It has been recommended that we do not have our meetings on
the first Thursday of the month because the Recreation Committee
meets then.
The BDA drawings were reviewed. We need more details from
Ron Bachta, for the next meeting in June. Questions were asked
about the parking for this facility. How many spaces? Location?
Layout?
A bus trip is planned to Cato for anyone interested in seeing
their center. P.R. will need to be done for this.
A mailing of 100 letters (time line) was done in late April
to the businesses in this area and 50 letters were sent to
invite members to this meeting. The low turnout is because
of other meetings being held in the community (Meet the Board
Candidates and Preble town meeting both tonight).
A community meeting for everyone in the Tully District was
suggested to present the drawings and recruit new members
and build interest in the project. A future date will be suggested,
perhaps June or September.
Fred Odhner presented values and concerns of a Community Center.
He is a new member. (See attachment).
Bill Hardy from Rec. Committee discussed shortage of gym space,
causing very late practices for many students, which makes
their time at home very limited for homework and studying
.
Sonny Battle mentioned the need for demographics to show breakdown
of ages. Fred Odhner is looking into this.
Rollin Mincher explained the importance of getting the consensus
of the town and village Boards and the Mayor. We need their
support. He discussed the fact that other school districts
bordering Tully may have students that will use the center
and a portion of their county tax bill could go toward upkeep
and maintenance of the facility.
Sub Committees: - Fred Odhner and Barb Hamlin - will work
on demographics and contact Cornell University for guidance.
Phyllis Opalat, Fred Odhner, Lori Spaulding
Daycare
Bill Hardy
A. Adult groups
B. Sat morning basketball youth
C. Senior exercise, etc
Summer Program - Evening program and winter program.
- Drama serves 85 students
- Art & crafts - 3 days per week in summer.
Bill Hardy will come up with a wish list.
Gary Heyman will be approached about a large community meeting
to inform people about the center.
A mission statement will be worked on in the near future
by the committee.
Ruth Poellot will be contacted about how young children will
use the facility.
Kay Shea will contact Eleanor Preston regarding the bicentennial
theme and the Sept. 99 Tully Community Days.
The fundraiser has generated $1866.00. Thank you for your
work. For those who need to get donations in, please send
in this week or bring to the June 17th meeting.
Kim Guttendorf and Mitch Pajonas went over community organizations
for committee members to contact about how they will use the
community center. This will be discussed at the next meeting
June 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Submitted by K. Shea, Secretary
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Questions and points of concern for Tully Community Center
In order to maximize the potential and flexibility of the
community center for the non-school population, several questions
and points of interest need to be addressed before firm architecture
plans are made. Some of the answers may be already known due
to legal or school policy constraints, but others may be items
that could be acted upon and carried out by the Review Committee.
Regarding the community room(s) what latitude is permissible
in a school setting? Could the community rooms be available
to the non-school population during some or all of the school
day when the school is using the recreational part of the
center?
Should we appoint a committee of the interest groups from
the community to establish how and when they wish to use the
community room so that the room structure can be designed
to meet those in needs? The community rooms should provide
to the fullest extent possible for the variety of programs
needed here in Tully, i.e., education, recreation, social,
and occupational therapy.
Should the community rooms be self-sustaining with their own
kitchen and bathroom facilities? This question is particularly
pertinent if the rooms are available to the community during
school use hours.
If the technology rooms do eventually become community rooms,
can a second story be added to those rooms?
Could Day Care (child and/or senior) be incorporated in as
an integral part of the overall plan? Day care would be particularly
beneficial for Tully school faculty and staff.
Input from members of the Review Committee would be appreciated.
Please prepare for a discussion of these issues at the June
meeting.
Values Related to a Community Center
Comprehensive Programming: All segments of the population,
including those with special needs and those less able to
speak for themselves, should be considered in the planning
of a community center. There are many needs, current, predictable
and heretofore unpredictable, which must be provided for,
e.g. physical fitness, social recreational, educational, special
(such as senior and child day-care and the like) and others
which should be considered at the outset. Facilities should
be designed with adequate and sufficiently flexible space.
Community Integrity: Functions should be located together
to promote as much interaction among all members of the community
as possible (including intergenerational interaction) to enhance
mutual acquaintance, support and accountability.
Accessability: There should be adequate parking, handicapped
and walking accessibility among community services such as
shopping, post office, municipal building, library and schools,
churches and community center.
Econonmy: Functions should be housed together so that there
can be economy on staff supervision, support services, utilities,
etc. Locating where there is already no property tax would
avoid having to use another taxable property in the village
or town which would impose a tax loss since the center would
be eligible for tax-free status. The acquisition and operation
of separate sites is obviously more expensive, and to whatever
extent this can be avoided it would seem cost-beneficial.
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For more information on the project, contact any of the committee
members below:
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