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p,�N prp^O <br />�. Town of Reading RECEIVED Meeting Minutes TOWN EI� <br />I's <br />3� <br />READING,MA <br />°an.ixmxxpP� <br />Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2823 MAY 15 AM 11: 43 <br />Historical Commission <br />Date: 2023-04-12 Time: 7:00 PM <br />Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room <br />Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session <br />Purpose: General Business Version: Final <br />Attendees: Members - Present: <br />Virginia Adams (VA), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), <br />Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), Christine Keller (CK), <br />Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS); Jonathan Barnes (JEB) participated by <br />phone per the Mullin Rule <br />Members - Not Present: <br />Others Present: <br />Ben Cares <br />Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller <br />Topics of Discussion: <br />Meeting called to order at 7:01PM. <br />Guest: Ben Cares. Economic Development Director. Town of Reading. Ben joined our <br />meeting to discuss options to create community feeling for the Town Common environs and <br />to Increase foot traffic downtown. The Town has received $100K through the Economic Bond <br />bill that has to be spent by 2026. The funds have been earmarked to activate downtown, <br />public spaces for the benefit of the community at large and local businesses. Ben shared <br />some of his ideas for increasing seating on the common, which might be adaptable for <br />events. <br />VA shared some history of the Common, including the fact that widening Salem Street in <br />front of the Old South Methodist Church took away part of the Common. The RHC position is <br />documented in its "Guidelines for Evaluating Changes to the Common," which VA shared <br />with the RHC and Ben Cares. Additional focal points that would compete with the existing <br />major focal point are to be avoided, and the Common should be kept as a green space. The <br />Common was never used as a pound area for animals nor militia. It was home to Reading's <br />early Meeting House. <br />The idea of reinvigorating the common and encouraging its use was discussed at length: <br />JEB mentioned a park in Winchester that appears to be well used by townspeople; ADF <br />mentioned Chicago's use of Cows on Parade (started in 1999); seating Ideas included picnic <br />tables, Adirondack chairs, and benches. <br />Ben has professional contacts in Concord and Lexington performing similar economic <br />development roles, and he will reach out to them and come back to a future RHC meeting to <br />discuss ideas for activating downtown Reading further. <br />Page I 1 <br />