HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-07 ad Hoc - Symonds Way Exploratory Committee Minutesor
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Symonds Way Exploratory Committee
Date: 2023-11-07 Time: 6:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Carlo Bacci, Vice Chair Chuck Robinson, Karen Janowski, Nancy
Twomey, Andrew Dribin
Members - Not Present:
Angela Binda, Heather Clish
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Jackie McCarthy (remote), Mike Coltman, Judy
Coltman, Reading Pickleball Players Association
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Town Hall Conference Room, and remotely via
Zoom.
Chair Carlo Bacci called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Discussion and Potential Vote on RPPA Proposal
Nancy Twomey stated that she is not against pickleball at Symonds Way. However, the
citizens petition warrant article at the upcoming Subsequent Town Meeting is premature.
SWEC has not yet had the chance to do Its job and make their recommendations to the
Select Board. The warrant article likely will not have Town Meeting support at this time,
and suggested it may be better presented at Annual Town Meeting in the spring.
The Committee continued to discuss other factors that they need to consider including: the
Request for Information (RFI) received from Edge Sports that has not yet been reviewed or
discussed by the Committee, negotiations that would need to happen with Burbank Ice
Arena to amend their lease, and the ongoing feasibility study for the Senior/Community
Center.
Mike Coltman of the Reading Pickleball Players Association (RPPA) stated that he
understands the concerns about getting the timing right, and plans to table the citizens
petition article until SWEC can complete Its work, and the RPPA can work with the Select
Board to get pickleball at that location. He requested that when SWEC makes their
recommendations to the Select Board that pickleball Is Included In that plan.
Future Agenda Items
Karen Janowski suggested SWEC having a joint meeting with the Select Board to hear from
Edge Sports on their proposal, and hearing from the Burbank Ice Arena.
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Nancy Twomey suggested including in their recommendations to the Select Board that they
hire a planner to plan out the development.
Carlo Bacci suggested having a meeting to discuss the RFI and the criteria.
Members had questions on the draft of the minutes and agreed to review them at the next
meeting.
On a motion by Karen Janowski, seconded by Nancy Twomey, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 5-0 to adjourn at 6:54 pm.
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