“NOTES”
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2002
DARTMOUTH TOWN HALL, ROOM 318, 7:00 P.M.
Present: Lorraine Gagne, Gale Schultz, Valerie Alves, Deborah Smith, Kevin Lee, Youth Advocate and Justine Clarke, clerk
Regrets: Christian Broughton, Chairman; Alison Nastanski and Debra
Absen Paul Foucart
Due to lack of a quorum, no votes were taken at this meeting. However, an informal meeting was held for those Commissioners present.
Ms. Deborah Smith called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m.
Discussion ensued regarding the Open Session Minutes of November 13, 2002:
Mr. Lee stated that Chairman Broughton sent a letter to former Commissioner Mr. Bruce Lider thanking him for his many years of service on the Youth Commission.
Ms. Smith stated that she is pleased to hear that Kevin’s student interns are responsible, hard workers.
Ms. Smith also noted that she feels Dartmouth High School is fortunate to have Lori Dias-Mitchell as their media specialist. Kevin stated that Lori did her student teaching at Dartmouth High School nine years ago. Before becoming the media specialist for Dartmouth High school in September 2002, she worked as a high school media specialist in Rhode Island.
Old Business:
Mr. Lee recently made contact with Mr. David Prentiss, who serves as a trustee for the James Arnold Foundation Scholarship Trust Fund. Mr. Prentiss will forward an application to the Youth Commission. This scholarship fund serves children and their families from the Greater New Bedford area. Ms. Gagne asked if the foundation requests how the monies will be spent. Mr. Lee stated that a letter of summary of how the funds have been used in the past accompanies the application.
Kevin stated that the Commission should be thinking of marketing techniques to help raise money for the Youth Commission Gift Account. Consideration should also be made to change the name to something that promotes the fund.
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Review Budget Accounts:
At this time there were no questions regarding the budget accounts.
Kevin stated that a representative from the Town Hall Employee Association contacted him with a $400.00 donation to the Youth Commission Gift Account for a needy family. Kevin stated that he would like the money to be used for a family that he has been working with who currently live at the Dartmouth Motor Inn. This family consists of a single mother with 3 children.
Youth Commission Vacancy:
Kevin stated that he hopes the Select Board will be appointing a new Commissioner in the near future. Kevin asked the Commissioners if they had any comments on the resume of Alyson Bellora who wishes to serve on the Commission. One Commissioner, while voicing clear support for the applicant, expressed concern; wondering if a mother with three young children and a demanding job would be able to attend the monthly meetings of the Youth Commission. Kevin stated that Ms. Bellora was aware of when the Commission meets and still felt that she could adjust her schedule to attend meetings. Other Commissioners expressed their comfort with welcoming Ms. Bellora as an applicant.
DartmouthYouth.com
Kevin stated that he recently meet with two art classes at Dartmouth High School to discuss with them the creation of a logo that would go on a newly designed home page. The project has become an assignment for all students as part of their class, and a final contest will determine which logo design will be used. Kevin looks forward to seeing what design logos the students create.
Youth Advocate’s Report:
Kevin reported that he has been busy meeting with clients. While at the High School he meets with teens in the Professional Development Center, which is part of the school’s Media Center.
New Business:
Kevin stated that he has heard no updates on the possibility of the Youth Advocate’s position becoming union. Kevin reminded Commissioners that his current contract is in its third year and ends June 30, 2003. It was noted that we should place this matter on next month’s agenda, purposing to begin negotiating a new contract in the months ahead.
The next meeting of the Dartmouth Youth Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, January 8, 2003 in Room 318 of the Dartmouth Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
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