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Support from town and village helps Catskill Community Center thrive

By Colin DeVries

CATSKILL — Members of the Catskill Community Center Board of Directors recently presented a mid-year update to the Catskill Town Board, highlighting successes and potential financial challenges.

“I can’t stress enough to this whole board how grateful we are of your support and your leadership,” said board President Rich Ahlberg. “We wouldn’t be here today without the support. We’re very gracious of that.”

The report was presented with emphasis on a new grant writer that has been acquired for the community center, with the intention that by seeking independent grants the burden on the taxpayers of Catskill will be lightened.

Councilman Michael Smith indicated that acquiring a grant writer is a great indication of progress, but close communication with the board should be established on what funds are being sought by the community center.

The town and village contribute a combined total of $100,000 to the community center annually.

Smith said he would ultimately like the community center to be able to sustain itself independently, without the money from the town. The acquisition of a grant writer brings that dream one step closer to reality, and is in accordance with the community center’s goal of sustainability.

“I think it would be an important consideration to the town to see what progress your grant writer is making relevant to that,” said Smith.

However, the notion of becoming independent of the town creates somewhat of a Catch-22 for the community center, according to Ahlberg.

“Here’s the thing, we would not be getting grants, donations and fundraising coming through the door if it were not for this entity’s support. I can’t underscore that enough,” Ahlberg said. “We need to demonstrate that we’re a sustainable operation, but then the question becomes to what degree can we start reducing $100,000 via other grants and fundraisers?”

Ahlberg alluded to the impact of rising fuel costs on the current community center budget and the effect town funding has on obtaining funding from outside sources. Municipality support provides an avenue of appeal for other organizations, which in turn may provide funding on that basis. Therein lies the quandary.

Catskill Town Supervisor Peter Markou stressed that lines of communication be established to make sure their respective grant writers were not stepping on each other’s toes.

“We’re going to be competing for the same grants,” Markou said. “And there are other needs in the community that may come before yours.”

The community center reported a budget of $176,000 for 2007-08, which included an earmarked amount of $51,000 for the summer recreation program for children.

The summer recreation program, which came under some scrutiny after it was employed under the umbrella of the community center instead of being town operated, services approximately 300 children annually.

Catskill Community Center Director Kellie Darling — promoted from program director — said that in addition to the children’s programming already being offered, the community center hopes to expand its adult programming in the near future.

“The phone rings everyday,” said Darling. “There is a need for the community center.”

Darling reported that the center as a whole currently services approximately 600 children, with the ability to serve 835.

In the coming year, Andrea Lowenthal, member on the Board of Directors, said a financial audit may be necessary to enable more funding opportunities for expansion and infrastructure needs. An indication of progress, according to Markou.

“As far as I’m concerned, the very fact that you’re recognized enough to have an audit is progress to me,” Markou said.

The community center, which faced dissolution in 2005, has been built anew — from the ground up — with the help of the current board, including Hudson Talbott, original owner of the community center building at 344 Main Street.

Ahlberg attributed much of the community center’s transformation to Talbott, letting him know at a public forum that the board and the community appreciate what he’s done for the greater good of Catskill.

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