Date:  

June 12, 2008

Facilitator:  Maureen Cary

Location:

3 Blue Streak Blvd., 2^nd floor, School District Administrative Offices

Recorder: Robin Ambrosino

Attendees:

Robin Ambrosino, Kelley Bayer, Lori Beer, Kati Behrens, Jim Bell,
Maureen Cary, Judy Ekman, Bev LaBarge, Stephanie Lang, Bob Loggins,
Diane McGarry, Tim Moon, Dan Morley, Jim Murphy, Karen Pettigrew,
Brenda Quinn, Judy Tirelli, Dave Torres.
 

Materials Distributed:

Post Star article on statewide social host law

Overview

Discussion

Decisions/Actions

News &
Announcements

·     Social host legislation is pending statewide. Passed in the Senate this week, waited to be voted on in the Assembly. Can call Assemblymen and encourage to pass legislation. Law would make it illegal for owner of property to knowingly serve alcohol to someone under 21. In the past all a person had to do was claim they didn’t know. Closes the loophole, especially for people who repeatedly claim they didn’t know kids would be drinking. Post Star article clarifies. Intent is more a wake up call and embarrassment factor – charge is a violation for anyone 18 or over. Says property owner should reasonably know that drinking by minors could occur – i.e., parents who go away for a weekend. Gives more leeway to prosecute.

Encouraged partners to contact Roy McDonald, Teresa Sayward, or Jim Tedisco to urge them to vote for it.

Partnership Updates

·    Southern Comfort Music Festival scheduled for fall. Sent letter to Gavin Landry with NYRA, asking to meet. Referred to NYRA’s facilities director. Tuesday June 10 meeting with SSPD, school personnel, Prevention Council staff, DA Jim Murphy, several other SSPD officers who’ve worked big events, also reps from Southern Comfort risk management, marketing, etc. Event would be located along Union Ave parking lot next to the Reading Room. Alternative music, alcohol will be served, college audience. It’s already being marketed even though they don’t have permits yet. Our concerns were related to neighborhood, DWIs, disorderly conduct, fake IDs, designated drivers, etc. As organization wanting to provide positive messages to youth in our community – concert’s goal is to associate good experience with Southern Comfort brand. Other cities where concerts have been held are much bigger – San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Denver. They’re drawing from highly saturated college areas. Told them historically, Saratoga has not had good experiences with all-day one-day events – SSPD is under siege by early evening. SSPD thinks they are highly underestimating crowd size, small town security, parking issues. Whole point is not to make money but to do grassroots advertising.

What is partners’ feedback? Does this open the door to other events? Is it definitely happening? Permit process is underway. This is not really a public process. Criteria for issuance of permit is have they provided for police, fire, etc. Alcohol sponsored events are legal. But concerns building from neighbors and historic preservation people.

MC called state trooper in Atlanta who said there were no big issues, but he could see how a smaller venue in residential neighborhood would be a concern. Other venues were more self contained. Uncertain what attendance was in other events.

Community Norms committee identified this as something they are concerned with. Partners expressed concern that Saratoga encourages these kinds of events. Overall they bring people and commerce downtown. 

JK thought it’s important they know that we’re there, we’re watching them carefully. Can’t fight it because of Saratoga’s reputation.

·    Camp update: Full again this summer. Teachers from middle school are counselors. Had 45 sixth graders apply to be DARE Camp Helpers for 16 spots. PBA is building a new pavilion and basketball court.
 

·    Committees from last winter have made great progress. Mo thanked everyone for their work this year. Have had more reach into community, more people aware of us.

·    MC's plans are up in the air regarding England. Shell keep us posted.
 

Committee
Updates

·  Community Norms committee publicized 1866-Under21 hotline, and did another Parents Who Host Lose the Most mailing. Robin Lyle’s Shen Coalition did some radio spots people can listen to.

·  Parenting committee – EPIC starts a conversation. Also considering Parent University. We can use high points from last winter's parent survey as the first step:  how to talk to school, to child, cyber issues. Centrally located through school. Communicating with child was top concern survey showed. Also found that Internet was where people look first for information.

·   Youth Committee is meeting under Mike Piccirillo and Becky De Witt. Three youth have been picked as co-chairs. Have a list of things to work on – ie, art displays, prescription drug abuse, cyber bullying. Both short term and long term projects. Also working on planning another youth summit.

·  High school transition committee has been working on transition program. Kicking off this fall with a much broader transition effort via a mentoring program that school administrators and staff have signed up for. When focus groups asked about transition last year, kids from all grades across the board said they liked the idea of mentoring program. Older kids wanted to help younger ones. Will be a mailing at the end of the year and students moving into HS from other schools.
 

·   

Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place in September. Stay tuned for details.