freaking crazy. >> All right, we are live. >> All right. All right. Good evening everybody. Hello. Hello. Hello from town hall. Uh welcome everybody. It's um little bit after 6, so we're going to call the meeting to order. Uh first up on the
agenda is public comment. There's a roll call first. Oh, first roll call. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, Rich Han, >> Eric Gavin, Kate Came, >> Laura Nun, Melissa Pooie, >> Nick,
>> Eric Bamer, remote on Zoom. >> All right. Awesome. All right. Thank you. So again, the first item besides the we just had is public comment. Anybody from the public want to
>> not seeing anyone online raising a hand? >> No. >> All right. All right. Next item is uh we have two amplified sound requests. Um the first one is from the Reading Lions Club. Um for the date of June 20th,
which is a Saturday, it's the Reading uh Friends and Family Day. Uh the location is the Birch Meadow uh complex. Time is uh 10:30 to uh 3 p.m. Uh and the sound will go uh from 10:30 to 3 p.m. Uh
they're going to be using musical instruments, general announcements, music, and sound effects. That's the first one. >> Vote on that one. >> Vote. >> Motion to >> This is a repeat. >> This is a repeat from the friends and
family day. Uh, I'll make a motion to uh to approve the amplified use permit for the Red Alliance Club >> June 20th. >> Jim, no complaints from previous. >> No complaints. >> Okay, second. >> Second discussion.
>> Any discussion? All right, let's take a vote. Right. >> Eric. >> Eric, yes. >> Kate, yes. >> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Be Eric. >> Eric, >> yes. and myself. Yes. And Nick.
>> Nick. Yes. >> Associate member, right? >> Nick, you're an associate member still, right? You have elevated. >> Okay. >> Never mind. Nick, >> I just felt like voting. I felt appreciate the support. >> All right. So, next one we have is from
the uh Reading Lions Club as well. Uh it's for July 16th, which is which is a Thursday. It's the 5K road race. Uh the location is Memorial Park uh from 5 to 900 p.m. the sound. Um again, they're
going to be using uh speakers, a mixer and uh microphone, general announcement, u music. >> This is a receipt as well. This used to be the friend of wreck road race that was given to them. So >> they always go till 9:00. That says
>> um by the time they clean up. Yes. >> Okay. Oh, I was just going to ask, is like the music going to be playing till 9:00? >> Yeah, I think the music's done at usually like 8 o'clock. I can clarify if you want. >> Yeah, it says sound duration to, you know, 5 to 900 p.m., but you're right. Clean me up.
>> I'll make a motion to accept the amplified use permit request from the Ring Alliance Club for July 16th, 2026. >> Second. >> Second. Any discussion? Has there been any complaints in the past about
>> Not on these events? No. Okay. >> We don't get them too much. Um when these aren't filled out and it randomly appears, like maybe our summer program where we have a boom box outside and the kids crank the music a little too loud, the neighbors will reach out, but that's kind of done without them asking me and
trying to keep it light and fun and they just have it turned the wrong way. So, um outside of that, no. There's been some youth organizations where they've done some announcements over at these small fields over at Huntfield where we haven't had permit requests done before. Little League knows they need to do them now. So, but nothing from any of these
big events. No. >> Okay. >> All right. We have a vote. >> Eric, yes. >> Kate, yes. >> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Yeah. >> Eric, yes. >> Uh, and myself, Richie, yes. So, both
pass. I can take those. >> Okay. Uh so our special guests are not here yet. They're at another meeting. So Kate, if we can ask you jump in next on the next >> Sure. >> for the uh CPA community updates.
>> Yeah. All right. So Kate had given me something to share. Let's see how quick I am. I'm going to share my screen. So the CPA committee, the community preservation act committee was formed
summer of 2024. The original w liaison was Eric. His schedule was such that I took it over. Okay. >> Um so after nearly two years, the committee is ready to present to the board of selectmen. We're scheduled for
tomorrow evening on their agenda. >> Okay. Um the committee was tasked with not determining whether the town should or should not adopt but was more factf findingformational committee. So we put together I think that the the complete packet is a 40page
report that we did. Um God bless the other members who were really I kind of I was you know trailing along there. Um so this is um Jim has put up on the >> Jim's just put up here. This is the
brief presentation that we'll be giving to the select board tomorrow night. Um community preservation act was adopted by the state in uh 2000. It allows cities and towns who opt into it to levy
a search charge onto uh homeowners or commercial properties as well. And that money is specifically used for um there's four pillars in that for specific use open space recreation historical usage and um
>> housing >> housing affordable housing. Um so uh the committee is going to recommend to the board of selectmen a 1% sir charge which on average just average
data was taken from the previous assessments and whatnot. That would be for for an average assessed house in reading it would be about $90 a year. A $90 search charge to to the homeowner. Um
benefits of this is that if you if we are a town who belongs to the CPA that the state of uh Commonwealth of Massachusetts they will they call it match funding but it's not dollar for-doll match and that
uh funding each year depends it's a complex formula but that the amount matched um floats each year depending upon a lot of different circumstances, but Jim has this report. Anyone is welcome to it. >> I don't know where you want me with
this, Kate. If you need me to go ahead, let me know. >> Um, you can keep flipping through. I just I'm trying to, you know, be more um timesensitive. I know we have other guests in here and stuff. So, uh, like I said, we'll be before the select board
tomorrow. The full report is on the town website. Um and just specifically for recreation purposes. So um you know if if the if the citizens choose to adopt this then
it would be pretty significant for recreation programming um capital improvements acquisitions um fields that sort of thing. So um uh yeah there you go. These are some of the
past and future projects that could be on could be included in this funding. Um, with the assessment with the 1% assessment, the um estimate is that it would raise about a million dollars a year that these four pillars could use
for projects. >> Say there's 40 pages >> if you stop there. So that's just that's a an estimate of property values and whatnot. If you look over to topline
residential overware total $986,000. So it's about a million dollar. The CPA committee, we have decided not to include commercial and industrial in there. So that that's forformational purpose. Had we, it's it would only be
about like $65,000 um delta there. So um and also one thing also um it says exemption of first 100,000 of property value. So your first 100,000 on your property would be exempt
from the from the um search charge and that shows you the estimated what we're estimating what the um search charge would be. And so this is the timeline if you can hold it here Jim. So, we go to the board uh select board tomorrow to ask them to
put it on the agenda for April town meeting. If April town meeting approves it, um we're asking town meeting to approve it to put it on a townwide vote in November. So, November 26. So, we go to townwide vote and if that's adopted,
then it goes to town meeting April 27 to create a permanent community community preservation committee. Um and then allocation of funds begins in distribution. So July of 28 would be the first payout.
And that's about it in a real nutshell. Unless you want me to read the 40 pages. >> No, that's good. >> I'll just flip through them so that they are recorded and anyone interested, they can stop and they can view it at a later time. >> And like I said, the full report and
this as well is on the town website. Okay. I have a question for you. Jim's going through through that if that's okay. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Yeah. Um, so how does the money get distributed? So you get this say million dollars in it goes to the the committee or they make recommendations and the
people >> so at the end of the day everything it's always the select board's decision. Okay. But when it, you know, when this permanent committee is created, I would assume it'd be similar to what the committee is now, right? A representative from recreation, from
housing, from open space, you know, that sort of thing. And then probably someone from fin um select board member. >> Okay. >> And they would it basically they would sit and okay, here's the pot this year.
Who who's getting what? Now each each um eligible uh group like us yeah >> we would go before and pitch you know it would be like Jim okay where's the wish list and what's it going to be >> okay and then it goes to this committee
and then they present it to the select board and >> and then it's dist then the money is distributed >> they make the final decision in terms of how >> correct so prime most of the money comes from the search charge from the citizens of the town and then the state does that match every here. And just quickly, the
the a lot of the state money comes from this is a little it's it's it's pretty obscure. Um deed transactions. So any real estate transaction in the state gets a sir
charge onto it and that money is CPA money that comes back to the towns. >> Okay. Now I will tell you when the when the CPA fund was first started there were few towns that participated in it. So they were receiving significant
>> like 100% matching. >> Oh okay. >> Significant. >> Oh okay. >> Now there's 201 towns that are participating on a 351 or whatever. Winchester was the latest town to adopt. Um and interestingly many of the towns
surrounding him are not members. >> Oh, interesting. >> So see uh see if Reading chooses to do so. >> It be interest um in somewhere in that presentation or in the context of the conversation with
the select board will there be kind of a what we have lost? I know that initially there was a discussion of like, hey, this was up be in reading. It was it was it was it's already been voted down. Um, >> good point.
>> Several years ago, like >> 1400. >> Yeah. Yeah. So like like over 20 years ago essentially 20 years ago. So we've lost on >> quite literally millions of dollars of
CPA money. >> Yeah. Because it that match money, right? So, so that's the the discussion I guess is the town spends about a million dollars a year on these eligible projects. >> Mhm. >> So, if we could put the sert tax and
then get that money and then get some matching, you know, it kind of it's exponential on what we have then and then that million that the town had been spending, they can spend it on something else. So, um we'll see. The vote last time it was less than 1%
difference on there. Yeah, >> it was very close, huh? >> Yeah, it was very close. So, we'll see. >> And any estimate you talk about the matching, it's not 100%, you know? No. >> Is there anything like say say it's a million dollars, will the state they give us a half million? I mean, is there
any figures like that? >> So, like I said, it's it's tied into real estate transactions. So, if it so you could kind of in general terms, it kind of runs it runs how interest rates run. So if interest rates are low, the historical data shows more more is
generated, more is put back to the town, >> right? >> You know, sales, refies, all that stuff. So >> So the last few years there have not been as many real estate transactions historically as there have been say in
the last 10, 15, 20 years, >> right? >> Um so when you think about it, it's really more than a million dollars, right? We're saying I think the LA the 10-year average has been 25%. >> Oh, okay. >> This is pretty good. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um
>> pretty kind of free >> pretty free. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Hate to use the word. >> Right. Right. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> So, we'll be like I said, we'll be on the agenda tomorrow night and I'll let Jim know and we'll I'll update you on the next meeting. What's going
>> Anybody else have any questions? Thank you for serving on for a number of years and thank you for >> I didn't realize it was that long. >> It's almost two years this committee. >> Yeah. So, thank you for doing that. >> Yeah. Thank you, Kate, for stepping up
>> as well. Anybody on Zoom have any comments, questions for Kate? >> Not seeing any hands. >> All right. All right. We got some special guests here tonight. Thank you for joining. I hear you at another meeting. So, thank you for coming from
one meeting to another meeting and um thanks for coming and joining us and updating us. >> We have another meeting after this. >> Oh, all right then. Floor is yours. The mic microphone is yours. >> Thank you. Uh I'm Jane Wellman. I'm the assistant town manager and I'm here with Katie Gabrielloo. She is the director of
operations. Um the director of operations is in charge of risk management, uh communications, and procurement. And so we are here today with our procurement hats on to talk about what will be the future of the Pleasant Street Center. >> Okay. >> Um we're not looking for a vote from the
recreation committee. We are on a tour of boards, committees and commissions because um we don't think that there is a monopoly on good ideas and through your service to the town and your unique positions, you may have ideas that others don't have. And I think we hear a
good new idea or few in every meeting we talk to. So, this has actually been just tremendously fruitful and it's kind of a fun thing to do. >> Um, so we're not sure. Um, next slide, please. There we go. Um, so let me take you through some facts. Uh, building was
built in 1883. It was our first municipal building serving as a fire department, police department, town offices, and there is a jail cell downstairs, but the the bars are on it. >> Uhhuh. Yep. And um the finished living area, finished usable space is 4,300
square f feet. We did an appraisal last year uh in advance of town meeting and that appraisal came in as if we were to sell it at $965,000 last year and the rental income potential, the net operating income would be about
$72,000. Um the finance committee asked how much it would cost to how much it cost to operate that building and if memory serves it's about 70,000 but I need to confirm that number with Joe Huggin who's our facilities director. Uh the site is a little too small to be uh
developed into condominiums or an apartment uh complex. Um but it could go it could be gifted to the housing authority for housing development. Um because it's historic, they would be eligible for additional tax credits which would help put their financing
package together. Um the building is on the Massachusetts Historic Registry and the National Register of Historic Places. Um and with that, it does come with a preservation restriction that limits the interior and the exterior um
changes without approval. So, um the we we met with the historic commission first and they um have expressed an interest in trying to change that preservation agreement uh so that they have more control that they're the authority. Right now it's the state and
the state is um overwhelmed with um historic properties and they just aren't staffed well for people who want to make changes. So, if we can make that change, but I don't want the preservation restriction to limit the ideas in this room tonight.
Um, so next slide, please. >> Sure. So, just walking through some potential uses. Um, we could certainly sell the property. That's one option. And we saw the appraisal on the previous slide. As Jane mentioned, it could be gifted to the Reading Housing Authority for the creation of affordable units. We
could keep it for future town use. And you see over on the right hand side in green that includes things like educational space, office space, storage, meeting space, or we could lease it to a for-profit or a nonprofit. So continue owning the property um and
lease it out. And then over on the left, you'll see, you know, some of the different ideas of what it potentially could be leased as. And then on the next slide, you'll see um we took some examples from neighboring communities of some nonprofits. So in Wakefield you see
the Inspire Cafe and in Peodyy the Breaking Grounds Cafe. These are both food service related but we thought these were nice examples of uses by nonprofits and potential spaces like what we have at the Pleasant Street Center. And um both of these provide meaningful employment opportunities for
individuals with diverse abilities um in different capacities. So we wanted to highlight those. And then on the next slide you'll see um some additional repurposing examples and certainly especially the center for the arts and nic certainly looks very similar to what we have at the Pleasant
Street Center as a former fire station. Um same with the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newberry Port and these are both examples of a more arts focus, culture focus um in these communities. So these both serve as performance venues with live theater, with movie screenings, with music, with gallery,
with various educational opportunities. Um, so a cultural hub in these communities. And I think we've we've learned that at least in certainly in NATIC, it's not owned and operated by the town. It is something that um they partnered with a nonprofit in a sales
model and it was redeveloped into the Center for the Arts. I'm not 100% sure on Newberry Port, but I don't believe Newberry Port is the operator of this venue. >> Right. >> So, and the next slide. So, um some things to keep in mind as we
go through this process as a community. Um with the lease or the sale of the property, the town has to engage in a competitive solicitation. So that means that we can't say put out an RFP for um a particular business or a particular
kind of business necessarily to go there. But we can say things like we will offer um we will give greater weight or favor proposals that um will serve us best. And so that might be particular dollar value or we could
lease it to we say we want to lease it to a local nonprofit, something like that. Um, I will say in the interest of fairness that the the um food pantry, the writing food pantry has come to the select couple of select board meetings to express their interest in this property and um I think they're
interested in the the main floor and then the basement floor for usage. Um, and so, you know, that's very interesting. We can't make our RFP say we want the food pantry to be there, but um, it's wonderful that we know that we have a local nonprofit. So if the if the
appetite of the community is to kind of pursue a nonprofit utilization, you know, we can we can put that f we're not at the mercy of whoever comes in with the most money. We the town can has more control than that through the procurement process. >> Um the select board may lease the
Pleasant Street Center building in whole park, but if the parking lot is included, then that has to go to town meeting. town meeting has to decide what happens with the land. Uh either either
selling it um or leasing just the just the parking lot as land has to go to town meetings. So we don't make up the rules in uh Massachusetts procurement law, but there's some funky ones like this that we kind of run headlong into from time to time. >> Um and in the addition,
>> so I apologize. Uh so you can lease the building specifically. The select board can authorize a lease. >> can authorize a lease. If it doesn't include >> parking, but if it does include the parking, then it has to go before town meeting. >> Correct. And that has to do with the
exclusive use of the parking lot. So, if the select board did determine a lease was the best model, the tenants could use the parking lot, but they would not have exclusive use of the parking lot. So, it would remain a municipal lot open to the community. >> Right. >> Okay. >> So, you might add, you know, it's it's a
municipal lot right now. stay a municipal lot. Um but you know, if the best best usage is to lease out the parking lot too, then we'll we'll go through that open town meeting, make that decision. Um and then just to let you know, the initial conversation we
had with the select board is they're sort of favoring a lease versus selling it. Um we're here to get your ideas about who you think um might be useful and um you know, we'll report that back. We're collecting all this data. we'll report it back to the select board and
we'll be also doing a community survey online. Look for that. You can fill that out as well. So, um that's where we are right now and open it to discussion. What you folks think we will capture your thoughts and we'll report them
back. Hey, one question before we get um what's the timeline in terms of >> so >> yeah if you just broadly what's the what's the >> sure we're moving uh the recal center should be opening uh in August of 2027
>> 27 okay >> so a year from this August y >> and so then the pleasant street center would be vacant for a new tenant or owner to you know move in um we are sort of the mind that a decision ision should be made at some point prior to November.
So we can put if there's a decision that needs to be made at town meeting, it go November town meeting >> and then ideally we could put out a solicitation and then that new owner or tenant would have time to make design decisions if they want to make changes
inside the building. >> Okay. So, we want to kind of give some some runway for the future owner to do that so that when they move in, they can do what they need to do. But it's our property and we can take the time we need.
>> Right. Right. Excellent. >> And I would say my my my first comment is first of all, it's a lot of lot of work. So, thank you. Um to kind of like keep your things organized and to, you know, gather everybody's thoughts on it. Um
my this is just my personal opinion, not reflective of the rest of the recreation committee per se, but um strongly would support any sort of lease uh and maintaining ownership of it um as opposed to selling it. I think it'd be
very shortsighted to sell it. Um I've heard some folks really lobby for it to be sold. Uh, and I think property in our town is so valuable to our community that it would be silly to
uh to let it out of our hands. It'd be better if we could maintain control of it and do what is best for the community. >> Okay. >> Personally like some of the I like some of the creative ideas around an art some something like an art art center. You
could even combine I mean it's I feel like it's almost big enough you could you could combine it. You could have some of those >> those those interesting little coffee shops >> kind of like as part of that like >> to sell to patrons of
>> that come in for the for the arts. So >> I wouldn't I may maybe it's not an eitheror but >> right sure. >> Okay. So Jane, the two uh uh New Report and NICT, I believe the ones you showed,
are those properties comparable and square footage to >> Yeah. So I've been to NATIC and that is it's four bays instead of three bays like ours is. And that's a big blackbox theater inside like stage. They do >> okay >> music there. I saw a Soul Asylum there a
couple years ago. >> Yeah, it's a throwback. Soul Asylum. Um but um yeah, it's it's fantastic and that is owned by a nonprofit, right, that that runs it. So they bought it from the town. >> New report looks a little smaller.
>> Yeah, I'm not sure. I haven't been to the fire center for the arts, but yeah, I think it's it's a little bit different. >> And just lastly for me, the um $80,000 net operating income. So that's >> like 72. >> Oh, 72, sorry. So that's net coming back
to town, >> correct? Okay. Yeah. So, it's not a huge windfall. >> And you said it's a Oh, me not not a >> whole It's not nothing. >> And it's about 70 or so to operate it. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay.
>> That is based on my recollection of conversations last year with Joe Huggin that I have not confirmed. Just on the record, >> if you hear a different number later, it's because I finished my homework. But at this point, if we lease it, the expectation is it would operate in the
black. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I think I think and school committee members and others have said we'd really like to see it pay for itself. >> You know, I think that it would be if we maintain ownership, it would be nice that whatever goes in there benefits the community and pays for itself,
>> right? >> Okay. Um, I will also I'm with Eric and uh just initially listening it would be nice if the town could hang on to it especially with its historic designation and the
>> great location. >> Well, if you look at the NIC Center for the Arts, it looks like the same architect built it and it's so >> Yeah. Um, okay. >> So, question for you guys. What else have you heard? You said you've been
going around other committees. What is what are some of the other feedback you you've heard? >> Sure. Very similar to what we're hearing from you folks and in keeping with what the select board's kind of initial thoughts. It's been pretty strongly with, you know, you can't we're not growing new land. We should absolutely
hold on to it. Um the location is so central to our downtown. So, we've definitely been hearing that a lease seems to be the current preferred option from most of the boards and committees. We've certainly, as Jane said, heard the sentiment that, you know, the town should be cautious about entering into
the landlord business and the building should absolutely, you know, not be costing us money to run. So, it's been it's that that has been a very strong message we've heard thus far. >> We've heard the historic commission really would like um sort of like a
museum space or document storage to be able to showcase some, you know, of the documents that they're >> holding on to in a room. Yeah. >> Um downstairs. >> So, um that's that's one that's one option. Uh the basement at the Pleasants
Center currently floods from time to time, so we want to be careful with anything put in there. Um and um multi-use is another thing that's come up. So, we could have one entity lease, main floor, basement, and then something
different upstairs. There's been talk of would RCTV be interested in being upstairs. This is the second time RCTV is, you know, broadcasting this meeting. So, there's a lot of conversation about RCTV that they're not part of right now. It's awkward, but um you know, there's been that conversation and then maybe,
you know, the food pantry or another entity on the main floor in the basement. So, we could we could separate it and and do a multispace lease. That's possible, too. Um we did talk to the housing authority and there was some discussion about could it be an adaptive reuse and turned into you know a few
apartments um uh like a studio size apartments. >> So that's an option. Um and then a member of their committee was also a fan of some sort of a cultural center or something that would activate the downtown at night and bring people into our restaurants. >> Yeah. >> Can I ask a question? You had said in
your presentation that it was a little bit too small to be repurposed and made into condos or an apartment building, but then like in your next graph, you said, "But we could gift it to housing authority and they could make like apartments out of it." So, I just didn't understand like how those two things
connected. >> Yeah. because housing authorities have sort of because they're doing affordable housing, they have sort of some exemptions that they are able to do um because it's providing a public good versus a commercial enterprise cannot
just come in and drop in into a smaller, you know, undersized lot. So, I'm not a zoning expert. Um but the planning department does report up to me, but um so there's there's more information. We can always dig in and get you more information about about that. But yeah,
the housing authority can do more >> um and they have access to more funding um options and you know they because of we have a a housing trust we don't know what it would cost to to rehab that building um especially with the preservation restriction on so it's
complicated but it's something that if if reading decides that that is a priority we could could go down that avenue and I'm not sure the housing authority wants to take it on either but they some of them you know let's talk about it let's not nothing's off the table. Let's not, >> you know, let's keep our minds open. Think of
>> and I think CPA funds if it's >> adopted could be put towards something like this is >> and I saw in the CPA slides the weight list for veterans housing that is certainly something that has been floated as a need. So definitely exploring all those different avenues >> 100%.
>> Yeah, I would be in favor of exploring the housing piece because there's such a shortage on on affordable housing. >> There is, right? And so exploring what their cost would be and the benefit. >> We know that there are long lines and um
we know people that are, you know, on on that list to try and get into our housing in town. It's it's really >> very uh impactful. So for sure. Okay, that's great. Anybody on on Zoom comments, questions?
No hands. >> No, Eric. >> Nope. >> Well, thank you for coming. Thank you for going around getting feedback from everybody because I think that's an important piece. >> Do you have something? I saw you come off mute.
>> I was right when Right when you said I'm good. We're good and went over. I was about to say yeah, I'm all good. >> Awesome. Great. Uh well, thank you very much for your time this evening and entertaining our request. Uh when you
see the survey, feel free to also put your thoughts there. And um I always think of things after a meeting. So if you think of something later, you're more than welcome to email myself or Katie. Our emails are on the town website um with like, hey, I thought about this later, you know, can you put
this on the feedback list? So we're capturing this information and we'll report it back to the select board this spring. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Have a great night. >> Thanks for meeting three >> three and five. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Um >> uh next Oh, so um you didn't hear Pete coming in tonight. He had another um conflict. So again for the next meeting um just wanted to get everyone's pulse on our meeting last month with the um
COA uh meeting that we had over at Pleasant Street. You know um very um good discussion I guess I would say for us to kind of uh talk to that uh organization and that group. Uh, so I want to take a moment to get your
feedback um that Jim and I will kind of collect and Jim's gonna take it back to the working um committee and and after I get the your feedback, I want to update you on our meeting that we had uh today as well.
Laura's go for it. Yeah. Um, I thought that the comments that that I made and others echoed with um my my thinking that the seniors they said that they wanted to have more
use or it was it first refusal of the gym space. Yeah. prior that was priority of the gym space and I had expressed that that wasn't really what was pitched to the community and what the community voted on >> and that the gym >> was one of the rooms or I think the only
room that I said on this list of priority that really should be taken off of that list um and they shouldn't have priority for the gym space. And I thought that that seemed like it was wellreceived. >> Um it sound it seemed like it was well received at the time. We did get a memo
later from Jenna and >> it had more thoughts I think from that council on aging and as I was reading that I was getting like a different flavor like maybe they were taking back that they were wellreceiving that but um I hope that that was a wellreceived
message because I think that it's an important message that the gym in particular really cannot be priority use for um the seniors just because of how it was put to the community and then voted on >> right >> and how I weren't expected to use it. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I thought I'm glad you
spoke up to that there. Yeah. I thought that was a very important point in that, you know, as it was defined as a community center, >> right? >> Exactly. You know, center for active living. >> Center for active living. Thank you. >> Right. They changed the name and everything. It's not being talked about like a senior center anymore. It's a
center for active living. >> Right. Okay. >> And I want to echo that too because I, as we've been discussing here, I've been able to multitask on the meeting minutes on it and it mentions really only when it got to that point in the
discussion and correct me if I'm wrong, whoever else was there. um that when you did speak about it and there was mild there was some push back obviously but I also spoke up to that specific point of
um hey one it's not necessarily what the town voted for in the survey and two um are you hearing the concerns from my colleague and um I just want make sure
that Ora's concerns are in those minutes cuz I don't see her name ref. I'm in there. >> Yeah. >> As as kind of the cuz that was what your correct me if I'm wrong that was what
your main point was. It was just hey the gym space boy that's a big shared space. Come on. You know am I right? my uh and I didn't want to correct who wrote the meeting minutes or whatever, but my I I think that that point in the
discussion was sort of tabled and not put in there. And I think that's an important thing to make and I I and I definitely think Jenna's memo afterwards was a little like
clarification on whose part. You know, I thought we kind of >> it was um >> it it was on page two when I read them before it and it it didn't I I did notice that it didn't say, you know, Laura Nun spoke up and said I'm fine
that it didn't say that, but it it um I was fine with that. >> I didn't cover there for you. >> Because I was looking to make sure that what I had expressed was in here. And it says that in the >> recal policy timeline, there was like a generalized kind of like
>> right >> thorough sentence that said concerns were raised about the use of certain spaces such as the gym. >> Yes. >> And walking track with a focus on balancing access for both senior and general populations. So as I read this,
I thought to myself, this was a very lengthy meeting. And the poor guy, I don't know who got >> Jenna did. Okay, it was T who got um saddled with doing the minutes for this. They probably put it into um AI and this is how it probably summarized it. All right,
>> so I was like, eh, I'm not going to say anything because >> because it was probably a lot of work to to if you if you actually sat down and then the person said this and it would take forever. Um but that sentence was in there. I think that it's probably
good enough or we could add to it um that it really was pressed upon >> and it's funny to say by name because I did >> and I guess that's my point because that then they paragraphed it out and pulled
Eric B you know I was just following essence >> I was just in essence following up with >> supporting what you had and it a lengthy discussion for >> and then again like you said that
follow-up memo to their followup was a little bit like boy are we back to square one I thought we sort of hash this out >> I don't know >> too much yeah I wouldn't go too much off that um what Jenna was sent after that there's been a lot of discussion back
and forth within the working group that consists of myself Jenna Carrie Valley who's the um COA administrator right now she took over Chris Colesi who So Carrie has been doing it for way a little over a month now. Um, and John Sasso and Emily Sis are on there. So
they they saw that as well and we we had some conversations about that. Um, and that's what I'm trying to get out of here. Like we saw a lot of their stuff put in the forefront as far as like their concerns, their wants, their needs. So um, there was a lot of discussion that night and I don't know
if everyone's voice was heard within the rec committee because there was so much talking going on. So my hopes is to get all this feedback tonight, bring this to our working operations group with Emily, John, Jenna, and Carrie, and then say these are some of the concerns that the wreck has. I think we've been pretty
patient and pretty quiet to this point because, you know, we don't know what priority space is, and we still don't know what that is. Um, but yeah, that that gym is a huge huge piece. Um, are we going to be able to fill that gym during the school hours from 8:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. during a school year?
Probably not. So seniors are probably going to utilize it a lot then. But when school gets out, it would be nice to have because I I keep saying in these meetings, there's going to be a burden on wreck to provide some income and we need space and we need programs whether that's through direct programming ourselves or through rentals. So
>> but there's also going to be people under the age of 60 who aren't skaters, who aren't in school, who >> yeah, we're missing that population, that 40 to 60 age group. It's we >> might want to utilize that space. >> We're missing that. And like I said in
the meeting too, I did say like recreation doesn't stop at 60 plus. >> We program all the way up to now. We have people 90 years old out there doing pickle ball. You know, badminton would be something good. Billyards. So >> we don't just stop at 60 plus. >> Um you know what, maybe to Eric's point,
we should put in here um about that priority list because that was how I >> I said, you know, there is a list. Yeah, there is a list here of rooms that are on this priority list. And as I went through it, I said, you know, I'm really only advocating that we remove that one
room from the list, which was the gym, only because of how the whole project was pitched to the community. And then how people went and voted on it because they were like, "Oh, what a great great space I'm going to be able to use." And then all of a sudden, the gym, which is a huge part of it, was being sidelined
to priority use by the um 60 plus community. So that was what I was advocating for for removing that room, the gym from the priority list. So maybe maybe that should be in the minutes. >> Um just a just a point of clarification
here. Um totally valid and 100% if we want to make that change to the minutes, we should. Um we do have another topic of the minutes. >> Yeah. >> Don't do anything. Yeah. So, we probably we we we can talk about it in general and and we can continue to have a conversation about like how important
that is. >> Um but when but but let's leave the the actual modification to the to the actual topic. >> Got it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Glad we moved it to last on the agenda. >> Um >> it worked out well.
>> Yeah. >> What are those thoughts? Well, I Well, I I want to I want to echo one thing that you mentioned that I thought was really important. um was that the the the town voted on this and town meeting had
lengthy discussions on on it and it got to a certain point where it was presented to the town in the way of the center for active living and that that the one of one of I think one of the one of the big items in town meeting that
kept coming up again and again and again was generating revenue and recreation having the opportunity to to leverage the space. And I think that having those conversations and coming back to town meeting and saying this is
what we're doing um we would we would be doing a disservice to the town that voted on it with the idea that there would be some some revenue generating opportunities to help counter counterbalance the cost. Um, so,
uh, I I think in general probably going to be able to do both things. We're probably going to be able to offer some really great opportunities for, you know, for 40 to 60, for 60 plus, you know, during the day hours, uh, when kids are in school. And then
when kids are out of school, we kind of turn, we kind of flip over to programming that can raise can raise funds. Um, and you know, I I would I would hate to be so rigid trying to come up with like this
is the plan that is going to work or that we're going to because we because you don't know what you don't know. >> Things will change. we're going to get some great idea coming in in the in the 11th hour. Um that said that that said, "Hey, this is why don't we do this from
two to four because we have this great opportunity." Um you know, so I you know, I'll reiterate the other thing that I said at the meeting, which was, you know, ultimately I trust Jim, Ed, Jenna to make good, sound decisions for
the town and for the space when it comes to recreational activity. Um, and you know, uh, I know that they'll, they'll advocate for, you know, good programs for all ages. >> Anybody else? Kate,
>> no, I I I went into the meeting figuring, all right, this should be a quick one. And I with Eric, like it, you know, I fully trust Jim and Jenna. They're seasoned professionals. They know this town well.
They don't know what they don't know yet. And you guys say that too. Let's get in there and see what happens. And then we came in this meeting became very rigid on on one side. This is how it should be. And um so I would recommend
let them do their jobs. and also that everyone all users of that facility have to understand that uh you know revenue producing needs to be a priority there as well. It really does. I mean you know
the town's looking at some >> bumpy weather financially and uh this really needs to work for us. So, um I think that's why I was kind of like my when I left there, I thought, h they'll they'll get on board with what
>> but I I want to be sure like Laura says like if we have to be documented that this is what we want, then that's what we should do because >> we shouldn't all of a sudden we're playing nice and then all of a sudden the gym's like what? Yeah,
>> you know, but you know, my feeling is let the professionals run it and >> yeah, I mean, it's going to be it's going to be a great basketball court and basketball court >> volleyball. But like it it >> let them be creative.
>> Yeah. Like after after you know evening hours, >> adult programming, >> lots lots of opportunities for revenue there. >> Weekends as well, right? >> Saturdays and Sundays. There should be no reason that building isn't closed. >> Should be no reason.
>> No reason. >> Yeah. >> It can also be a good I mean if you you do it for different leagues that have I mean you have >> it becomes a community thing, right? It's a place where people can go and watch your watch sports and watch watch
competitions >> and but it's also too residents un you know you pay to play you know. >> Yeah. you grow with it. Like how great you preschool program and you can grow with that as you continue to keep your family here hopefully as a senior too. You go right in there and it's seamless. >> Yes.
>> But that's why we have professionals to do this. >> But we love input from you folks here too. I like my wall. I like my rec committee. So um Nick, do you have anything on on this? >> Uh no, not really. Actually, uh I was
actually laughing at the last meeting, too. One thing that stood out to me was the uh when they were talking about the 80 plus uh someone with a cane in the track. That one uh that one really got me. >> Yeah, that was a good one. >> Yeah, that one really got me, guys. But uh no, I like I like the direction that
we're going right now. >> Great. >> Yeah, I mean I I totally agree. I mean I think that you know it's it's uh something that we have to work together on, right? you know, then there's gonna be have to be a balance with everything in terms of programming, revenue
generation, um, you know, what the active community 60 plus going to use or even under that as as well. All of us are going to be using it. You know what I mean? And um, and you don't want to be I think you said or Eric said you don't
want to be too rigid. That was a good word, you know, in terms of this is what it has have to be because things change, right? programming changes. Um, you know, you think about pickle ball, right? Pickle ball wasn't on anyone's radar screen, >> right, >> 12 years ago, right? 15 years ago, that
wasn't a thing. And all of a sudden, pickle ball is what it is today. Um, you talk about, you know, bad men, maybe bad men might become the next big thing. I don't I don't know. But >> you have to have that flexibility to adapt to um what the trends are, you
know, and could be a program for, you know, um education as well that that that we might need. So, you know, I think it's a important resource that, you know, we're going to have here in this community we're very lucky uh to to have. And you know with that Jim you you
please fill in some gap there that you know one thing we were thinking was that was our first meeting with that group and that we feel that you know we we need to have other meetings together so they can hear you know our concerns and just hear their
concerns so we can we can work together. So that's one thing we we thought about doing and we're tenatively scheduled to meet um next a month from now March 9th as a joint meeting and we feel that we need to have these joint meetings so
that they can hear our voice and we can hear their voice and um you know come together how do we work together and use the word trust. I think that's the big word is trust the professionals, right? Um and that you know we know that they have the best interest of the community.
Um and um I know I trust them and I think we all trust them that you know this team is excellent. It's the gold standard right in terms of recreation and community and um you know with that they're going to um make it make it
work. So I think you know by working together um with that group you know I think it would be better for all of us. So that's one thing we wanted to put forth and see what you guys thought about that in terms of meeting you know I don't know if it's going to be on a
monthly basis or every other month with them uh so we can work through these um together. I think Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. >> I guess my question is, you know, >> because we've all because we've been too
separate, right, for for this long and now we're sort of all coming in together. Is there thoughts as to like what's going to happen with this committee and what's going to happen with the senior, you know, with recal like is it are we going to dissolve at
some point and then merge as one rather than having >> these us and them kind of thing. Has that been discussed or thought about >> the operation plan right now? Right now, we're still going to be community service department with the three divisions that fall under that veterans
recreation council on Aging. So, we'll still be similar how we are right now. But 5 years down the road, could that change? You know, someone could say parks and recreation sound like a great collaboration and then all a sudden it's parks and recreation and we're dealing with the parks that works for DPW. You
know, things could completely change, >> right? >> You know, towns reorg all the time. um we could get into this building and they could look at it financially and say, "Why don't we do this?" >> I was just wondering if any of those discussions had happened at this point since we're it's it's happening like
we're going to be together. >> Yep. So, we've been meeting uh myself, Jenna, we do a a town team meeting with veteran services. We meet monthly um COA which is Carrie now and myself and we sit down and we talk about everything we're doing just to start to build. We're going to be in the same building.
We're going to be helping each other. Like not going to be like this is a senior program. They need table set up. You deal with it. We're going to have to work in collaboration. >> Um so it'll be good. Um we're meeting every week with our working group. Um that includes Emily and John. And they'll be present at that meeting on
March 9th. Um Jenna will be there, myself, Carrie, John, and Emily. So they'll probably be leading the meeting, which I think is good. Um because John and Emily are impartial. Um, so they'll be completing the meeting and they're going to bring up these concerns that
you guys are mentioning now or things that you want to make sure aren't going to get lost when we get in there. Um, so >> make sure you show up. >> Well, um, I was going to say the 6:00 start time to that meeting was really
hard. Um, so I think that >> for seniors. >> Yeah, I know. I know that. Like, so I know that I'm not a senior, but I have a job and three kids, which clearly they probably do not. Um, but 6:00 is is really hard. >> An hour past dinner. >> I agree.
>> So, so the collaboration in the meeting like it very fruitful and I think it's a great idea and they should happen, but if we could just like not do it at 6:00, um, cuz even I had a hard time getting here at 6:30. Um, so 6 o'clock was just really hard. So, >> maybe we could do it at 6:30 or so. >> 6:30. Yeah. >> I appreciate it.
>> You request it. You're the chair. Okay. 6:30. Okay. >> Fair enough. Y >> Thank you. >> Y >> and one final thing on it. I was as we're hearing about moving into it or sharing that I've asked this multiple
times. Where's the permanent building committee on this? Are they ready to rock and roll? They're waiting for all the various constituencies to come back and say here it is. Or is it, >> you know,
>> I can pie in the sky. This may not I I don't know. >> I can give you a quick a quick little update. PBC is meeting on Wednesday. Um the bids for the Reading Center for Active Living came in last Thursday. I
believe there was six applicants that were on the bids. So these bids were for construction costs. Um the town had I think allocated 21.9 towards construction costs and all six of the biders came below which is great.
Um well I don't want to say the wrong number and get quoted for it but the lowest one was about two and a half almost $3 million under the construction costs. So now PBC is going to look at all the applicants, the sub biders that fall under these contractors um evaluate
all of them um on Wednesday night and then eventually look to award the bid to someone. I don't know how long that's going to be. Um but what I'm hearing like moving as quick as shovels potentially in the ground in a month or so on PBC right now. Um and the bids
that we got were very competitive. They were very close and they were under the initial construction estimate >> which is great. >> Those bid documents are online or if you want to see them I do have a copy. >> So yeah it was close to almost 3
million. It was like 22 27 >> under for the construction cost. >> Shovel in the ground contingent on no not too many storms >> as well too. >> It's a melting. >> Yeah. >> So it's it's a the town officials were pleased last Thursday when they opened those up. So, it's great. That was going
to be on my report after you beat me to it. So, appreciate it. Saved me a little time. >> All right, brother. Dude, we can pick it up right from here then. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? >> Did I answer comment, Rich? >> Carlo. Yep.
>> Yeah. Go. >> Well, thanks, Rich. um a lot of good feedback and uh comments and I think uh I was at that meeting as well and I think I I I like what I heard as far as you know working together and working with COA but
like you guys said let's all remember this is a community building but with senior centric focus obviously but no one correct I agree with you guys no one's talked about the under 60 population and there was all this
concern concerned that mothers would go there in the morning and use the walking track and so why can't they use the walking track or why can't someone do this and why can't someone do that and why can't so yes you know stay focused
keep pushing ahead um we don't want to alienate anybody obviously but hopefully they'll the next meeting will be more productive is kind of working together and not working against them but I I think they just been
short change for so long that they're so anxious and apprehensive and skittish about the building's not going to be theirs. And that's not the case. It's not what I've seen. It's not what I've heard from from Jim and Jenna and the
powers that be. But, uh, I don't think you guys should back down at all. and for what the space this the requirements that you need the money to generate obviously uh to help fund the building which is going to cost way more than the pleasantry center and and as stated
before by Jane you know I'm I'm speaking for myself right now I'm leaning towards keeping the building and leasing it not I think selling it would would regret it on that note but um yeah just uh this was good I'm glad I
came tonight just to hear your thoughts and uh keep moving forward. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. >> Right. So >> be good. >> Got that. >> Close that one out. >> All right. Item is the
media report. You taking the lead? >> I'll let Ed go first. I can find my note that the notes right in front of you. I'll be quick too, so you don't have a whole lot of time to find. Um, a lot of our winter programs that are like our
bigger ones that I kind of circle on the calendar are wrapping up like crazy. Um, special skates ended on Saturday, our Sunday basketball ended on Sunday and then tomorrow our NOVA program ends. So those are kind of our three big winter
ones that are just wrapped up like that and it's kind of crazy. Um, >> so winter's over. >> Fish, right? That's not the groundhog system or whatever. Um, >> some good skiing though, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, that is true. It doesn't
take us two hours to get there. Uh, >> now always brings some I don't know. You never know what to expect with that program, but I will say it's probably the one we get the most compliments and most thank yous about. So, the kids love it, the families love it. So, if that's
the case, we'll keep doing it. >> Um, Sunday basketball was great, too. Coaches reached out, reached out, and just thanked our staff, thanked us for another good year with that. Um, and then our summer vacation program went live, which is always a fun day in the
office. Um, seeing all those registrations come through. Um, big change this year with that program is that we have we're moving locations to Barrows this year. Um, uh, I mean, Don't even know how long it's been at Cool Wish, but I'm sure since we started it,
I'm sure >> years at least. >> Um, but um they they have the gym offline all summer for some work, which sure is much needed uh on that gym floor, but we thought it'd be better to move to Barrow than to have a whole summer without a gym cuz
>> that'd be tough, especially when it rains. Um, and one thing I did want to point out, we have all but three staff members coming back for our vacation program. So, um, I just think that's pretty cool. Um, people enjoy working
there. Um, the kids like it and it's great for us to have, um, you know, another year of staff, um, that are experienced. >> Um, so the registration went live on January 28th. Uh that day alone brought in 675
registrations. Wow. >> Uh we have three weeks already sold out. Um weeks four, five, and six, which are like the last three weeks in July. Um and then those other four weeks are like 80 to 90% fill. So they kind of trickle in as time goes and they will be filled
up too. Um so it's just, you know, a fun day in the office. And um even with the changes and having to go to Baros, we still got it out earlier. Saved some phone calls, some emails. Um, so it was good. Um, and then again now I'm just kind of finishing up planning the rest
of our summer. Uh, the rest of the stuff will come out early March. Um, then Wednesday we're doing another competitive puzzling event which um kind of in collaboration with the um, senior center um just doing another puzzling
program which is fun. So just wanted to point that out. >> We will have a puzzle league in this town before you know it. It is >> other towns do it too and uh everyone loves it. It's just fun, you know, like just a thing that you casually will do in your living room with your family. You can bring it and see how good you
>> So, do you have a big supply of puzzles? >> Uh where do you get them? What do you do with them? >> Amazon. And then we just let people take them home afterwards. Um yeah, I mean like we've we charged um like $30 a team and basically
cover Yeah, it's break even program. >> I have a friend who flies to St. Paul, Minnesota every January and for their winter festival because they have a puzzle contest. >> She does it with her >> three siblings.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. We had grandparents >> size up for the weekend to do it. Winners do is a,000 or whatever, however many pieces and they do it in >> do 350. >> Yeah. And the winner does it in under 30 minutes. >> Wow. >> That's insane.
>> And she practices and it's like what? >> Line up the colors, get the corners, get the edges, >> whatever it is. I don't know. >> Assignments. No, it's it's >> winter carnival does and she said you have to apply and be accepted in and yeah. So pretty cool.
If anybody really likes puzzles, um I highly suggest a advent calendar that is a puzzle. It's basically a thousand piece puzzle and you get it's like you you basically doing 24 chunks of the puzzle. It's very fun. >> Just something to do every day with the
with the >> It's really fun actually. >> Really fun just to be like who's going to do it today or are we going to do it together? Yeah. >> So does that sell out Ed the activity? Um, so I have seven full teams signed up and then seven individuals. So they'll
create two two more teams. We max out at 10. So >> we should have nine teams. >> Very nice. >> Nine teams. >> Nine teams of above five. So Pleasant Street Center with the tables and stuff like we don't want to be over 50. So, but it's a blast. We put up this counting clock up there. We put the picture of the puzzle up there so that
they can look at that and knock the box and go back and forth. And >> I get on the mic and you know, we we have some fun. We put on music and >> they get stressed out when it gets really close to the end and we say, "We got one team that's close." But if you're in the area Wednesday, swing by. It's It's >> What time is it? On Wednesday. >> Uh 4 to 5:30.
>> 4 to 5:30. >> All right. >> We'll have some late refreshments and snacks. >> This coming Wednesday. >> Yep. >> This coming Wednesday >> at the Pleasant Street Center. >> Yeah. If you want to participate, we could use one more at four and four for those. >> What uh what ages are you seeing like um
all ages? >> Definitely. Yeah. I mean, the team that won um I think the last time we did it was like kids, parents, grandparents, like it was three generations was their team and we won and it was really really awesome. >> Yeah, that's nice.
>> I think they're signed up again, too. >> Just a small little hint of all the great things that we can do in the future >> great. Yeah, that's pretty much >> all right. I'll uh jump in. Um, no, but kudos again for our summer camp
registration. There's so much work that goes into like I don't miss doing this, setting up programs, whether it's our summer camp, you know, basketball, like our tennis program. There's so much leg work that happens months in advance to make sure that everything is set up correctly so that when we do open
registration at 8 in the morning, like the worst thing that can happen, we open it up and the phone starts ringing. It is instant panic. It happened. that happened to me not when I was in Reading, but in Winchester because I forgot to click off one button. I open up registration for flag football and I said immediately send people to the wait
list. Like there's little things like that. So if you got on at 8:00, you were on the wait list and our phones didn't stop. So, there's a lot that goes into making sure like programs are set up on the website properly. And we didn't get one phone call >> on that day when we opened up
registration until probably 1:00 after we had had um 600 registrations. >> Um so, kudos to Ed and Sue. >> Sue too, who Sue is our front line. Sue is great. She handles a lot of things before it ever gets to him and gets to
me. So, she's been there forever. So, >> quick shout out to you guys for getting all that done. It went so smooth, which I'm very grateful for. >> Um, we haven't met in a while, so some of these seem like they are very far. Um, all the lights were turned on at the ice skating rinks. There was some chatter that happened online.
>> Um, the way it works, just to fill everyone in, is DPW does check the ice. They go up there with the drill and they drill it and they want it to be 3 to 4 in before they basically say, "Turn the lights on." Um, it's a skate at your own risk. Um, but we don't turn the lights on until DPW gives me the the Okay.
There's some areas that, yeah, they look frozen, but a little further down, if a hockey pucks goes that way, like if they go under, it's a foot of water, right? >> But, I mean, >> you go under and still get wet and you can't get out, get hypothermic. So, we're super careful with that. So, um,
we did end up turning the lights on a little bit after that people started going online asking why they weren't online. I try to do my best um to comment on the community services Facebook page just to give facts and I think that helps sometimes. Um a lot of times it's like don't respond, don't respond, but I'd like to respond when we
actually have valid answers of why we do something. Um so all the lights are on. I did get a call that Memorial Park the timer switch one of the toggles busted off. So Memorial Park lights were on I guess a little longer than they should have been um for the last two nights, but that has now been fixed as of 2:30
today. So that's all set. So that's how the skate rings work. Um I had >> Are they plowed? >> Um so DPW will do their best to plow them. Obviously they're taking care of the roads first, the schools, the parking lots, the town parking lots, and um snow removal from a lot of these
lots, too. They got to get to where they're >> the storm's been over for six hours, but they have piles of snow in the town hall. They got to come back out at night. So um shout out to DPW and those guys. They work so many so many hours. Um >> so they were out there again this
weekend. And then during the week, the regular work week, if they have time, they will get out there. I think they've Memorial Park has been already plowed. I saw Castine Field plowed. I'm assuming Sturgees did. They'll try to do the best they can to open up. Sometimes kids will get out there before they can and they'll shovel and then they'll make
piles and then it will rain or freeze and they can't get it perfect, but um they do try to get out there. So, we're very fortunate. >> Um January 12th, we had the pre-bid site walkthrough for pickle ball. had I think it was six companies attend that. Pickle
ball bids are due on Thursday, February 12th at 1 p.m. Um so we'll have a pretty good idea of where we are with um those bid numbers. Hopefully they follow suit with recal and they come back lower than you know what was approved for that. So
we'll certainly keep you guys in the loop um at our next meeting or if you're interested shoot me an email and I can let you know where they they landed again that project looking to move very quick to potential grub. a potential shovel in the ground um in March. So, a
lot of projects that are coming up >> and ready for the summer. >> Uh we'll say late summer or fall potentially. So, ideally, it would be great if they were open um this fall. So, with that being said, too, um we're going to start looking at what we're going to be doing with the pickle ball
courts, how it's going to work. I know um at town meeting there was talk about recouping some of the money. So coming up with membership um fees, residents, non-residents too to help bring in some income for those. So my plan is to reach
out to RPA this week. Um any stakeholders involved and start kind of forming a small little group where they come in and tell me like what works, you know, is it one hour, you know, that you're coming in there? Are you paying a membership or is it kind of what you're doing now? are you going on play local
and paying for, you know, a one-day pass or a two-hour pass? So, I want to involve our PPA as much as as much as I can and maybe even potentially have them come in when we start setting these fees. Um, and another thing, too, the field fees, I think that'll probably be on our next agenda after the joint
meeting. Um, bumping up our field fees for our user groups. Um, they haven't been touched in 20 plus years. Currently, they sit pretty low. We go to a lot of meetings where towns are charging a lot of money per user. Some towns don't charge. They eat the cost.
Right now, we stand at $12 per season per user for grass fields, $14 for chart fields. So, right now, we're looking at about a 20% increase. I did let all of my fall sports teams know about 3 months ago to start preparing. They do start registrations earlier. So, just letting
them know that's probably going to be close to a 20% increase. I can see grass going 12 to 15 and then turf going from 14 to 17 or $18. So, >> um it'll be some additional revenue that we can put back into the fields, too.
But it's been a long long >> overdue. So, that will be coming up. >> Um school department reached out to me um last week. They're starting a new initiative. It's called Let Them Grow. It's a program for parents and kids who
have those kids that are ages nine to even up to 16. Um, I don't know if you've seen it, a lot of stuff is structured for kids these days. Simple things as far as going to the bank, going into Starbucks, ordering your own coffee, you know, ordering through a drive-thru. there's these little initiatives that the schools, the
library, and then the Reading Police Coalition um want to work with us to try to get the word out of letting kids, you know, get out and, you know, get out safely, but play independently and do things independently. So, there's these little challenges that these kids will
have with the, you know, talk to a police officer if you see them. You know, go to the library and take out a movie and check out yourself. So there's all these little ticket items and it will be age based where um they can come into the recck department, they get their little card, they go out there, they try to complete these little
missions, you know, with the assistance of um their parents and all these are things that are safe. Um and they go out and they do that and then they come back to the rec department. If they did complete it, you know, they might get a $5 gift card, they might get a movie ticket depending on how much they do,
they might get a little grab prize. So, it's something that's free to the community. Um, Newberry Port did it and it was very successful. Um, and I think we see it even with our teens when we interview um, some of these, you know, young adults. You know, they've never had an interview in their life before.
Um, they come in and they're nervous and all this stuff. So, um, socially, I think it'll be fun. Um, not going to cost a lot of money and I like collaborating with whether it's the library, the school, or the police working together. So, it's something we hope to push out potentially this
summer. So, keep your eye out for that. Any questions on that? >> So, what kind of activities? Okay. >> Yeah. So, this this Let Them Grow group has a list of activities like that they recommend. It could be going to, you know, a park with your parents, you know, and trying to make a new friend or
introduce yourself to somebody that is also playing at the playground. You know, go out and >> gather five kids and play a game of whiffle ball, you know, take your bike, go for a ride. um the police are going to be involved so they, you know, give us all these safety precautions so we're not liable and stuff like that. Um but
we're open to suggestions. If you know of anything your kids >> would love to learn, we can kind of set this up however we want. >> Um my question was going to be you were reached out to by the school department. So does that mean it would just be like RPS students that would be able to be in
this program or would be open to the whole? >> We reached out to the entire So the entire community. So they they reached out to us directly being wreck um because we have such a big reach with the kids, young young teens too. So they want to use us like as almost like a
satellite spot where people can come in. We have normal town hall office hours. They can come in and they can get their little flyer of challenges that they need to complete. So yeah, they've been this uh I forget this woman's name. I don't want to say it and be completely off, but she reached out to me about a
week ago just saying she loved to collaborate with us. So, not just for writing students. It's >> Thanks. >> Someone from North Reading wanted to come and do it. I have zero issues with that. >> Thanks. >> Um, but that recal that's all I have right now. Now, we're
just preparing for the summer and fall spring sports right now. Um, >> and just a quick update too. Um I know at the fincom meeting believe it was last third Wednesday fincom Emily Sison she was at one of our meetings I think in October when we were talking when the
lights had just fallen. So um she reached out to me last week I filled her on in on everything that has happened. I think I filled you guys all in. So the three light poles that were damaged those had to come down immediately. They were removed within I want to say 15
days with the help of RMLD um and DPW. They did it completely as a partnership with us and didn't cost us other than I think it was $540 that we had to hire a company to come in to just hook up the lights back to the ice skating rink. Um I had another company
come in. They tested the remaining poles all on town that we had and a number of those came back as not serviceable which means that they need to come down because they are a potential hazard. So if you look at Driscoll Field right now, there are no light fills there. There was one I think that was left on the
list that said it was serviceable, but that was sitting over the third base dugout with a a decent lean on that and it would make no sense to leave up one light, >> right? >> Um to throw some lights on there. The lighting would be inadequate and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night
leaving another pole up there after, you know, the aftermath I saw when those three poles went down. Um I filed a claim with our town's insurance. We did get $25,000. That was the maximum we could get. Um I did get cost to replace
the three telephone poles with like poles, which would be telephone poles with similar lights. And it was uh $100,000. >> Oh. >> For that. So I chose not to take that money and just put up three random polls
there. We're going to hold that $25,000. And Emily just went to Fincom just mentioning all this just to have it on their radar. Not saying it's coming up this spring or this fall. I did reach out to my youth organizations and say this summer and fall when it does get dark. Um we're going to be limited over
at that Driscoll field. So Emily just wanted to get it on their radar. Um preliminary boats to light up that area that was affected with proper lighting, meaning musco lighting, which was kind of weaved in with phase one and phase two. Right now looking at it phase three
because that area was looked at to be lit. um just to light that softball field. It's close to $450,000 um right now and that would get us six poles to get that area that was affected back to >> good. So, she brought it up at the
FinCom meeting just to be transparent and put it on their map so that >> they know down the road we're going to be potentially looking for funds. >> CPA funding. >> There you go. There you go.
But um that is all I have on my updates. I think I missed any. Sure I did. >> Any questions? >> Any questions? >> Well, for for me, just a huge thank you for you guys. You know, everything you do, like you were saying, you know,
behind the scenes, you guys make it look so easy, you know, in terms of all the programming and stuff. And >> we have our moments. Well, like you were talking about the ski trip, you got stuck in the snow, you know, and stuff like that. I mean, those are the things you guys go through day in day out. So,
>> when you get stuck in the snow, it was more traffic. >> Traffic. Traffic. You know, >> it went from 35 minutes to an hour and 40 minutes. >> Yeah. >> Last Tuesday, we got stuck on 93 and there was four accidents >> right when we got on 93 and the bus driver >> chose not to get off right at the last
minute cuz he thought it was going to free up because it was an accident right in front of him. He's like, "Oh, it's on 62. It's good, but we're looking at our phones. We see three more accidents ahead. So, it was a tough spot to be in getting at Mishov at 5:30, but we actually the traffic went down and we
end up getting there about 4:40 and we just extended the kids times there. So, it was it was >> it's a lot being on a bus with >> 50 middle school kids like we're not moving, >> but it worked out. So, >> you made it made it work. and uh get over 600, you know, people who sign up
for the summer program. Shows you the demand, you know, for all the programming you guys do. So, >> yeah, that's just one program. We haven't even opened up our other stuff. We open up our summer >> basically camp. >> Oh, and then you're going to be involved in a major building construction.
>> Oh, right. Exactly. >> Pick a ball. Finish phase. Yeah. Yeah. Birch metal, right? Right. All that. So, handsful. >> So, thank you. chipping away. No, it's a it's a fun and exciting time like getting a new building. Like I keep saying like me and Ed like
>> we have a new job. We have a new job in a year and a half and >> I've been in a building too and it's completely different. >> It's rewarding. It's exciting. Like we're going to meet a ton of new faces and new collaborations and we basically got a a blank canvas right now and not a
lot of people in our profession get to do this. So, >> right. Good stuff. >> Exciting >> for sure. But yes, thank you guys for your support. I know you always thank us, but you guys volunteer. We do get paid. >> You're navigating it well, buddy. You're
really awesome. >> We're always looking to get better. >> All right, last um item on our agenda is to look at the med uh minute for our meetings and make some changes. You want to make changes? Any? So, let's take the first one, the October 27th
one first. Motion to approve the meeting minutes from October 27th. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Have a vote. Eric, >> yes. And Kate, yes.
>> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Eric, yes. >> And Rich, yes. >> Wow. Great. Thanks, Bob, for Oh, he didn't mind. >> I mentioned his name. I wasn't going to mention it. That was Bob that was supposed to do them. Oh, >> Bob, if you're watching, I got you.
Don't worry. >> All right. >> Now, he's been very busy and he asked for help. >> Okay. >> And you have >> So, next one is uh the minutes from December 15th, 2025, >> page two.
I'll make I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of December 15th. >> I'll second. Are you going to offer friendly? >> Yes. >> Discussion. >> I would offer >> you second it.
>> I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> I have discussion. >> Okay. Um, I would offer I think it would have to go someplace else because the on page two >> under the heading recal policy timeline
in that paragraph is the sentence that we called attention to earlier in the meeting. >> Um, it is the summary sentence >> and it summarizes a lot of topics in there. So the sentence reads currently
um concerns were raised about the use of certain spaces such as the gym and walking track with a focus on balancing as access for both senior and general populations. And that is a great summary, but as we mentioned earlier, we should probably put somewhere that I
made the specific ask that the gym be removed from the list of places in the building that has 60 plus priority. Um, so we could just put that sentence in. I don't think it falls under that
paragraph though under policy timeline. So we have to put it someplace. >> I feel like it would fall under community building shared use. >> Yes. Three. >> Yes. So that's my friendly amendment. If we could just throw that in. >> Um, >> can you repeat what you just said?
>> Yes. So, um, I would add a sentence on page three under community building shared use plan. And I would make it the first sentence because as Eric pointed out earlier today, he was piggybacking off of my statement. So, I would just
say Laura Nunan um made the ask that we remove the gym from the list of priority 60 plus spaces in the building. And that was specific on there, correct?
Remember we were looking through some of the notes. >> Yes. Right. >> Listed. >> Yeah. Because they're gonna they're going to dot our eyes and cross our tees for us as so I just want to make sure that
>> Could we put in there that it that my feedback seemed well received by COA? Because I thought that it was. >> Yeah. I mean, is that kind of a blanket statement? >> That's more of opinion than >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Well, it was fact that it was listed and I
>> How about Can you say that it was supported by the recreation members present? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> There you go, Kate. >> That works. >> Well said. Yeah. >> Yeah. Does anybody think it's necessary to add more detail like detail that I gave
about how um like why I thought it should be removed and because it was pitched to the community as a center for active living for all community members. I think they they put that in whoever did the minutes put that in there of my specific concern about Swack and the
town survey. So I I think and you know I kind of got pushed back on that. Well that was a while ago and I'm like well this is important because we you know town meeting was operating under the
assumption that it is for everybody not >> I think I I hope it's up to you guys. I think it's listed here with it. >> Especially Especially if your if your comment comes first and then Eric and then Eric B that that follows up.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> All good. >> I like you saying like the last sentence there, right? I mean focus on the shared community surveys. >> Yeah. >> Are there any other edits or changes besides that? >> Yeah.
We have to vote on this, right? >> Yeah. >> Motion to make a friendly amendment. >> Would I make a motion? >> So, motion to accept the friendly amendment uh and change to the meeting minutes of
125 26. >> Second that. >> Any additional discussion? >> No discussions. Let's have a vote. >> What are we voting on? We're vote. We're voting on the friendly amendment. Okay. >> So, not overall minutes yet.
>> Although technically we could have probably ruled, but >> yes. >> Kate, yes. >> Laura, yes. Yes. >> Eric Bamer. Yes. >> Rich, yes. >> Okay. Now that be another motion to accept the minutes, right? >> Well, we already we already have it.
We're now that motion is back on the table. >> Okay. >> And you second it, right? Correct. >> We're already in. >> Okay. Now we're ready for the vote. Eric, >> yes. >> Kate, yes. >> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Eric B, yes.
>> Uh, Richie, yes. >> Wants to do it. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Have a vote, Eric. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right, kids. >> Thank you, Nick, for being here. Thanks,
Carlo. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, everybody. Guys, >> I All right.