HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-13 Council on Aging MinutesRECEIVED
�. Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
MA. Meeting Minutes READING.
lot,
2023 MAR 13 AM 9: 19
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2023-02-13 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Location: Zoom
Address: Session:
Purpose: Council on Aging Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
loan Coco Karen Pinette Marilyn Shapleigh Karen Janowski Nancy Twadros
Nancy Ziemlak Rosemary DeBenedetto Beverly Cunio Jean Pratto
Members - Not Present:
Karen Fortino John Parsons Sally Hoyt Sandy Schaefer Deb Small Jackie
Behenna
Others Present:
Jenna Fiorente , Chris Kowaleski
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nancy Ziemlak
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting called to order at 6:30pm
Roll Take: Members in Attendance, Not in Attendance and Others are listed in the
headerabove
Marilyn introduced the topic for tonight's discussion and the importance of this meeting.
She began by quoting Jenna's email that we have a very exciting opportunity in front of
us. It calls for the Council on Aging to provide feedback on the Draft ReCalc Summary
Report. Town staff are also submitting to ReCalc their own memo as well. This meeting
is our opportunity for the COA to formulate its position regarding a new senior center for
Reading.
A draft memo was presented to members for discussion. COA members voiced their
opinions, edits, and corrections! After much discussion a revised draft was completed.
A motion was made and all members present voted to accept the document and that it
be submitted to ReCalc for consideration.
The Memo reads as follows and was delivered on:
Fri, Feb 17,12:21 AM
to John, John, John, Mark, Michael, Nora, Ron, Christopher, Genevieve, me
Dear RECALC members,
Page 1 1
The Reading Council on Aging (COA) supports the efforts of the Select Board, the
Reading Center for Active Living Committee, and the 1,470 people that completed a
town -wide survey, notification of which was mailed to all residents.
We have reviewed the data and feedback from the UMASS survey, discussions at
community forums and focus groups, visits to other communities that have addressed
Senior needs, and discussions held with RECALC members, as well as the draft
summary report that is being prepared by the RECALC workgroup.
All materials continue to confirm the need for improved accessibility, inclusivity, and
programming for the target population of age sixty plus residents that has been well
established since 2015 through formal studies commissioned by the Town of Reading. It
is clear that the Pleasant Street Center is not adequate to support inclusive
programming for our current population. Moreover, the building and our staff size have
already reached (and in some cases exceeded) capacity; thus expanded space and
staffing will be required to accommodate the growing needs of our increasing number of
residents age 60+.
Regarding RECALC's draft summary report, during the COA's 2/13/2023 meeting,
discussion focused on the report's recommendation that the Town continue to place first
priority on meeting the needs of Reading's age 60+ residents. Toward that end, by
unanimous vote, the Council on Aging passed the following motions:
Motion 1: A motion to support a new senior center to support the current and future
needs of the over sixty age population living in Reading that encompasses the following
information:
The UMASS study, completed in 2022, indicates that 82% of the respondents
supported either a stand-alone or combined community center with designated space
for seniors.
Provide an accessible, inclusive Senior Center that has sufficient square footage
to provide support services, programs, and events for Reading residents aged sixty and
over as this is a well-documented need.
Continue to support the efforts of the Elder & Human Services to further the
enhancement of existing/additional new quality programming/services for Seniors
including evening and weekend programming available to those who have daytime
commitments. When available, after giving priority to senior programming, provide
space for all age programming for Reading residents.
Continue communication and community outreach to keep residents informed of
efforts and the rationale/priority for addressing the identified issues and unmet needs of
Reading's Sixty plus community
Motion 2: Move to support the concept of an all ages community center with designated
senior space and programming for Reading residents aged sixty plus due to the findings
of the UMASS study which identified an interest in a community center. However, the
Page 1 2
all -ages community center should not take precedence over first meeting the program,
service, and facility needs of Reading Seniors, as this is well documented.
We look forward to continued collaboration on this very important initiative and extend
thanks to all for everyone's hard work.
Marilyn Shapleigh (on behalf of the Reading Council on Aging)
Go here to view recorded meeting
httos:/Iwww.youtube.com/watc h?v=u VZU89FVxma
(or copy and paste link in your browser)
Gage 1 3