Minutes of Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting – October 18, 2022

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  • Minutes of Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting – October 18, 2022

ATTENDEES:  Roger Barnhart, Jr Bogert, Steve Cafasso, Jay Campbell, Dave DeClue, Mary Drachler, Matt Germond, Bruce Kellogg, Barb Mulkins, Dolores Nabinger, John Payne, Armando Petruccelli, Teri Schunk, Chris Smith, Phil Wade, June White

  1. Meeting called to order by Chamber President, John Payne, at 7:32 AM.
  2. Secretary’s Report:  motion to accept by Bruce, second by June, carried.
  3. Treasurer’s Report:  motion to accept by Phil, second by Barb, carried.
  4. Jay reported that the golf tournament made $3,700 and the General Clinton Canoe Regatta made approximately $20,000.
  5. Tim Ryan spoke about BGCSD. A flyer will be coming out in the mail shortly about the $15.4 million Capital Improvement Project. This project will have no impact on taxpayers. Many items have not been touched in years and need maintenance including the tennis courts, the track, etc. and items are needed for improvement such as the 102 parking spots that will be added next to the football field. The vote on this project will take place December 7th at Greenlawn and Guilford from Noon – 9:00 pm. Tim also advised that enrollment is up and is currently 840 students.
  6. Casey Caratelli attended today’s meeting to discuss crime in Bainbridge. Casey advised that the crime level has remained steady, however, drugs (Meth) have made it to Bainbridge. People tend to steal to support their drug habits. A recent drug bust in Sidney has dried up the supply of drugs to Bainbridge and subsequent investigations have cleared up a number of open cases including burglaries. To reach Bainbridge Police, dial 3911. If no one is available, the call goes directly to the state police. The Police Department only operates part time – 3 days a week, 60 hours per week primarily Tuesday – Thursday. When on duty, the Village is patrolled all 3 shifts. Important things to remember lock your car and your home, install cameras if you can and if you “See Something, Say Something.”  Thank you, Chief Caratelli, for joining our meeting today and answering our questions.
  7. Steve Cafasso attended today’s meeting to talk about his new business Bainbridge Athletics that will be opening in December in the old Great American. This is an indoor training facility for baseball, softball & soccer and is expected to bring people into Bainbridge from miles around. It will be a self-service facility – reserve your space on-line then access will be through your phone. Steve wanted to put a shout out to Erik Barnard who donated all the paint for the interior – Thank you Erik!!
  8. Phil provided a Village Report. The NY Forward Grant is complete and on the Village website if you would like to review it. This is a downtown revitalization grant. Phil should hear back by December. The next grant Phil is working on is the “Restore NY Grant” which will address vacant buildings in the Village. Leaves are currently being picked up – rake them to the curb and the Village will be around to vacuum them up.
  9. Dolores provided a Town Report. The Town completed the parking lot at the Community Center – oil and stone. The cost is approximately $5,500 which is a considerable savings – thank you to the Town for helping us out with this!! In addition, the town has paved the basketball courts by the pool.The electric is finished at the Community Center and the inspection is complete. Roy is waiting to hear back from Micah Casey regarding the heat then John Harmon will bring back a crew to put up the walls. Roger is working with Spectrum to get a quote for Wi-Fi. Dolores is also looking for someone to paint the lamp posts on the bridge – there are 12 posts total. They have received (1) quote but it is extremely high. Also, there will be a budget hearing on 10/25.
  10. June reported that the next Bainbridge Connects will be the Christmas Edition and it will be done for 4Towns Forward this year which will include all events happening during the holiday season in Afton, Bainbridge, Sidney, and Unadilla. Since Bainbridge Connects will be taking this on, Bainbridge will continue to be first page with the advertisers on the back side with the other towns in alphabetical order. This will go out to 8,200 households and will be printed and mailed by Bishops in Oxford. Cost is $5,200 and is subsidized by the advertisers.
  11. Teri also spoke about Small Business Saturday, which is Saturday, November 26th this year. Sidney, Bainbridge & Unadilla will be having vendors. Afton will not have vendors but will be set up to FREE offer gift wrapping. Someone may need to take over coordinating for Bainbridge as the person that was going to do it backed out. Teri will let me know so we can make plans to move forward. In addition, we would like to plan the block party for the same day to celebrate all the new businesses in Bainbridge.
  12. This year’s Christmas parade is Saturday, December 10th – always the 2nd Saturday in December. As always, the Chamber will have a float and our Citizen, Business, Business of Distinction and Service Organization of the year will be invited to ride on it. We also need to determine where the Santa photos will take place – update, photos will take place at the back of Bob’s Diner this year, immediately following the parade.
  13. 46 Christmas trees will be put out for businesses this year. They will be distributed on Saturday, November 19th. If you can help to distribute them, meet at 9:00 am behind Bob’s Diner.
  14. Christmas Caroling will take place on Sunday, December 11th @ 5:00 pm. Meet behind Bob’s Diner. Bring a flashlight and blanket.
  15. Chris & Jr’s board seats are expiring and were discussed. Since no one else is interested and both are willing to stay on, it was agreed that both will continue for another term.
  16. Roger discussed the American Legion flu clinic. Only 12 people showed up to be vaccinated so Roger wanted feedback on if they should plan to do again next year. Since events like this sometimes take time to catch on, it was agreed that the Legion should give it another try next year.
  17. Trunk or treat will be taking place from 4 – 7:00 pm on Halloween night out behind Bob’s Diner.
  18. Phil wanted everyone to know that the Rotary will be doing their Pancake Day again this year – Tuesday, November 8th – All you can eat!! 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and 4:00 – 6:00 pm, menu: pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider & milk.
  19. Also Moonshine Falls Bluegrass will be at the Theater on Saturday. Bridging between traditional bluegrass and the new Blue Movement. Gallery – Photography Exhibit
  20. Armando wanted everyone to know that the Deli is now open.
  21. Our next Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1st and the next General Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at the back of Bob’s Diner @ 7:30 am.
  22. Motion to adjourn by Barb, second by Phil, carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:49 am.

Respectfully Submitted:  Christine Smith, Secretary