Youth Services Board

The Youth Services Board is an advisory board to the Tompkins County Youth Services Department and the Tompkins County Legislature. Members are appointed by their respective municipalities and serve as representatives of their communities. Adult members are appointed for three-year terms renewable as determined by the appointing municipality. Youth members (ages 16-20) are appointed for two-year renewable terms.  All board members must be residents of Tompkins County and must complete the Tompkins County Advisory board application. 

 

Board Meetings

Youth Services Board meetings occur on the last Monday of each month from 5:00-6:30 pm. Meetings are currently being held in a hybrid format with options to meet in person (at the Office of the Aging office) or via zoom. Most years an annual retreat is held in place of one monthly meeting and the board does not meet in July or August. All meetings are open to the public.

Meeting Minutes - hybrid options

Meeting Minutes

Board Member Roles

Board members are responsible for: 

  • developing multi-year plans that include goals linked to community priorities based on locally identified youth needs, gaps in services, and opportunities for coordination. 
  • reviewing grant proposals that address the needs, goals, and priorities contained within the departmental comprehensive plan. Each year the board members recommend how to allocate approximately $1 million in state and county funding to local agencies and communities that plan and sponsor youth development programming throughout Tompkins County. 
  • supporting the work of the Youth Services Staff members as they gather, analyze and share data on youth needs; collaborate with others to develop a supportive service for youth; monitor funded programs; implement metrics to trace programmatic performance; provide training and technical assistance to nine community-based youth commissions and agencies that serve young people; coordinate a wide variety of public and private services for children, youth and families. 
  • participating in their communities while learning about the youth needs of each of their appointed towns. 
  • serving as a liaison between the County Youth Services Board and their respective municipality, attending town and/or village board meetings as needed. 
  • advocating for youth from throughout Tompkins County. 

 

Current Members 

Executive Committee
Role Name Representing
Chairperson Patty VandeBogart At-large Member
Vice-Chair Khaki Wunderlich At-large Member
Secretary Lisa Monroe Town of Enfield
   Ian Schachner At-large Member
 
Board Members
Name Representing
Randy Brown Legislative Liaison
Kate Kelley-Mackenzie Town of Caroline
Ruth Merle-Doyle * City of Ithaca
Marnie Kirchgessner Town of Danby
 Susie Gutenberger-Fitzpatrick Town of Ithaca
Leonardo Vargas-Mendez Town and Villages of Dryden & Freeville
Michael Jordan  Town of Newfield
Susan Ainslie Village of Lansing
Patricia Buechel At-large Member
Jennifer Dean At-large Member
Becky Koenig Town/Village Groton
Marley Thomson At-large Member

 

Current Vacancies

The Youth Services Board is currently looking for representatives from these municipalities:
Town of Ulysses and Village of Trumansburg

 Town of Lansing

At-large member  

If you are interested in applying for an appointment to the Youth Services Board, please contact Kate Shanks-Booth by calling (607) 274-5310.

* Pending Official Appointment by the Tompkins County Legislature