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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2823 MAY 15 AM 11: 43
Historical Commission
Date: 2023-04-12 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Virginia Adams (VA), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC),
Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), Christine Keller (CK),
Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS); Jonathan Barnes (JEB) participated by
phone per the Mullin Rule
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Ben Cares
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting called to order at 7:01PM.
Guest: Ben Cares. Economic Development Director. Town of Reading. Ben joined our
meeting to discuss options to create community feeling for the Town Common environs and
to Increase foot traffic downtown. The Town has received $100K through the Economic Bond
bill that has to be spent by 2026. The funds have been earmarked to activate downtown,
public spaces for the benefit of the community at large and local businesses. Ben shared
some of his ideas for increasing seating on the common, which might be adaptable for
events.
VA shared some history of the Common, including the fact that widening Salem Street in
front of the Old South Methodist Church took away part of the Common. The RHC position is
documented in its "Guidelines for Evaluating Changes to the Common," which VA shared
with the RHC and Ben Cares. Additional focal points that would compete with the existing
major focal point are to be avoided, and the Common should be kept as a green space. The
Common was never used as a pound area for animals nor militia. It was home to Reading's
early Meeting House.
The idea of reinvigorating the common and encouraging its use was discussed at length:
JEB mentioned a park in Winchester that appears to be well used by townspeople; ADF
mentioned Chicago's use of Cows on Parade (started in 1999); seating Ideas included picnic
tables, Adirondack chairs, and benches.
Ben has professional contacts in Concord and Lexington performing similar economic
development roles, and he will reach out to them and come back to a future RHC meeting to
discuss ideas for activating downtown Reading further.
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Inventory Form B submission to MHC for 115 Eaton Street and 158 Salem Street. SB and
JEB will submit the Form Bs to MHC, as well as the Form Bs for three properties added to
the Reading List of Architectural and Historical Inventory in 2021 (832 Main Street, 767
Main Street, and 158 Salem Street).
186 Summer Avenue. Nothing new to report.
583 Main Street. Nothing new to report.
25 Haven Street. The property is now on the CPDC meeting agenda for May 15.
531 Main Street. SC visited the property and described how one wall of the lobby will have
large historic photos, and a second wall will have space for a plaque. SB is writing the text
for the plaque, which will include building history, and the names of the Chronicle's editors.
SC to share pictures of the building with the commission.
RHC Inventory/MHC Inventory reconciliation. This project is ongoing and will be on the next
RHC meeting agenda. In the interim, JEB will review the Bylaw and MACRIS inventory.
Postmark-Preservation Award Plaaue. JEB to follow up with U. DiBiase about plaque
dedication in May.
ARPA funds/Archive iob description/Past Perfect software status: SC and VA attended an
online demonstration of Proficio software. SC is suggesting that we go with the Past Perfect
software and will follow up with the Reading Public Library and Reading Antiquarian Society
about sharing costs. Any software purchase must be approved by the Town of Reading IT
department.
SC has an intern who is studying at Simmons and is on the Archive track. SC will invite her
to our May meeting for a chance to meet the RHC and visit the Archives.
Finances: SRS presented the Treasurer's Report.
• General fund $576; SB and VA to develop new brochure for homeowners to research
the age of their house.
• Donations: $3,230.14
• Trust fund: $43,786.67
JEB to follow up with Franklin Marval about additional Utility Box wraps for Memorial Park
and Woburn Street.
Officers for 2023: Discussion and vote postponed to May 10 meeting.
Next meeting: May 10; Vernon Chandler, Guest speaker, WWII Soldiers buried overseas.
New Business:
• Reading Friends and Family Day, June 10 - RHC will not participate.
94 Prospect Street - SB will provide information to a local real estate agent looking
for information on the house.
Review minutes from the 3/8/2023 meeting. Accepted as amended. Motion to accept by SC,
second by PD, Member roll call vote to accept: 5 - 0.
Motion to adjourn 9:13PM by SC, second by SRS. Member roll call vote to adjourn: 5 - 0.
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