HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-07 ad Hoc - Reading Center for Active Living Committee MinutesTown of Reading t I V E i3
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Reading Center for Active Living Committee
Date: 2022-09-07 Time: 7:00 PM
Building:
Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Monthly Meeting via zoom Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
John O,Neill, John Parsons, Nora Bucko, Michael Coltman, John Sasso, Mark
Dockser
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Jenna Fiorente - Community Services Director
Marilyn Shapleigh - COA
Nancy Ziemlack - COA
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Ron Assini
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting call to order: 7:01 pm
Motion to accept: Ron Assini, Nora Bucko, Mark Dockser, John Sasso, John O'Neill.
Roll call: Ron Asslnl, Nora Bucko, Mark Dockser, John Sasso, Michael Coltman, John
Parsons, John O'Neill.
Accepting Meetings for the August 10, 2022 Meeting: Accepted.
Update on Working group for Walgreens site
Jenna Fiorente: Provided an update on the sub -group for the Walgreens potential site.
The Council on Aging also visited the site and had a number of comments on the site.
Many comments were related to space for programs.
John Sasso: Did the input that was provided in the spreadsheet go into some the planning.
Mark Dockser: There is a timeline to use the $300,000 for planning.
Walgreens, current Senior Center.
John O'Neill: There is just one place (Walgreens). There could be additional places to
consider.
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Michael Coltman: Parking is a major concern
Marilynn Shapleigh:
The COA has not met since their visit at Walgreens.
Parking is a concern
The current design is not wheelchair friendly.
Staffing for a potential larger number of visitors will require an additional staff or volunteers
and office space for them.
This current site consideration Is not a 5 -year plan, but a long-term site consideration.
Mark Dockser: The architect Involved in this phase is just for this phase. If the site is
selected, we must consider an architect who specialist in Senior/Community Centers.
John Sasso: The 2017 UMASS Survey just addressed broad needs for a new Senior Center.
It did not provide the level details that we've worked on developing via ReCalc.
Nancy Ziemlak: How does the $300,000 money allocated to the feasibility study?
Mark Dockser: The select board allocated $300,000 for the study. There is already $30,000
spent for the existing architect plans. For the Walgreens space we may have to decide in
calendar 2022. A feasibility study would be done by a firm that has expertise in
Senior/Community center.
John Sasso: Regardless of the feasibility study, the input to the study will come from
ReCalc, COA and community at large.
Michael Coltman: Hopeful that there will be other places to consider via the RFP process.
What are the next steps:
Jenna: Review the spreadsheet that was produced by the architect and provide comments
back to Jenna prior the September 19 meeting with the architect.
Add COA to ReCalc updates
Communication Update:
The Survey was sent out on September 7, 2022
• Via email
• Town website
• Hard copies, at Senior Center, town hall, library
• Will be available at the Fall Street Fair on September 11.
• Add the town/police billboards to advertise the Survey
John Sasso has a good outline of a video/story board.
It would be good to get the 2a" ReCalc Newsletter out soon.
Print out copies of the ReCalc Newsletter and post card survey for Fall Street Fair.
What about questions at Fall Street Fair about Walgreens?
Mark Dockser: Until the RFP is complete, there is no real update to provide with regard to
Walgreens. Need to be careful to express opinions.
What are the volunteer needs for the booth at Fall Street Fair
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• Chromebooks will be available and managed by High school student volunteers to
help people fill out the survey.
Weekly readout from the UMASS survey is requested
Next meeting:
September 28, 2022 7:OOpm 9:OOpm
Roll call to adjourn: Ron Assini, Nora Bucko, Mark Dockser, John Sasso, Michael Coltman,
John Parsons, John O'Neill.
Meeting ended 9:10pm
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