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�' RECEIVED <br />Town of Reading TOWN CLERK <br />Meeting Minutes READING, MA. OR <br />ro <br />„��'"°�^• 2123 JUN 29 AH 7: 36 <br />Board - Committee - Commission - Council: <br />Historical Commission <br />Date: 2023-06-14 Time: 7:00 PM <br />Building: <br />Reading Town Hall <br />Location: Conference Room <br />Address: <br />16 Lowell Street <br />Session: Open Session <br />Purpose: <br />General Business <br />Version: Final <br />Attendees: Members - Present: <br />Virginia Adams (VA), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), Pino <br />D'Orazio, Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), Christine Keller (CK), and Jonathan <br />Barnes (JEB) participated by 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 7:04PM. SC made VA a voting member for the meeting. <br />Guest, Ben Cares Economic Development Director. Town of Readino <br />Ben previously met with RHC on April 12 to discuss options to enhance community feeling <br />for the Town Common environs. Since then, he has communicated with other municipalities <br />to gather feedback on how they have activated public spaces. In his presentation titled <br />"Reading's Town Common: Increasing Use and Access," Ben shared photos and comments <br />from his professional peers in Weston, Great Barrington, Lexington, Needham and <br />Newburyport. Tables and chairs and colorful, modern Adirondack chairs were used in <br />gathering areas in these towns. Ben also showed a photo of a bench that can transform <br />into a picnic table. Funds ($5,000) from the state's rapid recovery plan have been <br />designated for seating options in Reading and must be spent by 2026. <br />There was discussion among the group regarding the "Guidelines for Evaluating Changes to <br />Common" and the current park benches on the green. Location of seating, style and color of <br />seating, seasonality of seating, as well as materials were discussed. Ben is going to explore <br />winter storage of seating with Jeff Cummings at the DPW, and he will meet with the RHC <br />again to follow up. <br />Officers for July 1. 2023 <br />SC proposed the slate of officers: PD Chair; SC Vice Chair; JEB Treasurer and CK Secretary. <br />VA second. Vote 5-0. <br />Reauest to MHC to add five Reading structures to their Inventory of Historic and <br />Archaeological Assets <br />On June 2, JEB submitted Form Bs for 115 Eaton St., 158 Salem St., 767 Main St., 832 Main <br />St., and Hillcrest Rd. to the MHC. We are awaiting feedback. <br />Page i 1 <br />