PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN
ARMONK
MINUTES OF MEETING ON OCTOBER 5th,
2000
Present at the October 5th, 2000 meeting were Bob Ballengee, Arcangelo Bollella, Alexander Bacon, Pat Cummings, Jack Di Pietro, John Erickson, Joe Finnerty, Anna Sachko Gandolfi, Frank Golden, Mary Lou Greco, Vincent Greco, Joanne McMahon, James Morrone, Ann O'Sullivan, Ruth Pell, Father John Quinn, Sheelagh Rabo, Mary Ryan, Bill Shaheen, Ann Silvestri, and Barrie Watson.
Ruth Pell led the Parish Council in Vespers.
Father Quinn welcomed everyone and distributed the agenda for the meeting. The agenda focuses primarily on plans for the proposed expansion of the Religious Education facilities. Regular Parish Council business has been deferred to the November meeting to allow ample time to discuss these plans and to work on the development of a master plan.
Frank Golden reported that Alex Bacon has drawn up new plans for a proposed classroom addition based on comments that were made at the September Parish Council meeting. The new plans call for building out at grade level that will be more cost effective than the previous plans because no elevator will be needed.
Frank told the Parish Council that Tom Lindgren has obtained more court time for our CYO basketball team at the North Castle Community Center in North White Plains. However, according to Judy Fox, the Byram Hills School Board still will not allow St. Patrick's to use the school's gym for practice. Frank suggested that we wait until we hear Tom's recommendations before we proceed further. The basketball program has been very well received and interest has been expressed in forming a girls' team.
Alex Bacon presented two drawings to the Parish Council. The first was a drawing of a proposed first floor classroom addition. The second drawing was of an existing site plan that included a proposed site for a new gym/social hall.
Alex reviewed the details of the drawing of the classroom addition with the Parish Council. He pointed out that the drawing depicts 6 classrooms that mirror the existing 6 classrooms in size and style. Each new classroom would have a door to the hallway and a door to grade level. The plan includes 2 storage rooms. One of those storage rooms may be later used to accommodate a stairway exit from the basement. With the Parish Council's approval, the basement stairway exit could be constructed at the time the classrooms were built. This would save money in the long run and allow for future development in the basement. The plan would then contain only 1 storage room.
Alex next turned to the drawing of the existing site plan. This drawing depicts the existing Church buildings, playground and parking lot as well as St. Patrick's property line and building set backs. The 13.21 acres of Church property are bordered by Cox Avenue, Sunset Drive, Hunter Avenue and existing residential property. There is a right of way reserved for a future road.
The drawing of the existing site plan includes a proposed site for a new gym/social center along with an expanded parking lot. The gym/social center is located on the drawing behind the existing playground. It would be a 1 story structure of 19,200 feet and would include two entities, a gym and a social hall. A parking lot expansion would be required to accommodate the increase in parking that would result from the use of this center.
After discussion, the Parish Council approved the plan for the first floor classroom expansion.
Alex presented a timetable for the project. In October design development will be completed. Appointments for approvals will be made with the Archdiocese in November. December and January will be dedicated to making blueprints for bidding and construction. In February bids will be received and contractors secured. Construction will progress from March through August with the opening of the classrooms anticipated in September.
Father Quinn reported that a census was taken at the 10:30 A.M. Mass on Sunday, October 1st. The attendance at that Mass was 809 people. Of that number, 303 were children. This is another indication of growth in the parish community and the need to plan for facilities expansion to accommodate that growth.
The agenda for the next Parish Council meeting will include an update on the classroom expansion project and reports on regular Parish Council business. The focus of the meeting will be a discussion of the direction which the master plan is to take, specifically with regard to the proposed gym/social center. All are especially encouraged to attend this meeting and help plan for the future building expansion of the parish.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday, November 1st immediately following the 7:30 P.M. Mass.
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