HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-21 ad Hoc - Symonds Way Exploratory Committee Minutes<n�xr\o
e\ Town of Reading
a Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2024-02-21
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
'A.
7:42
Symonds Way Exploratory Committee
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Vice Chair Chuck Robinson, Angela Binda, Heather Cllsh, Andrew Dribin
(remote), Karen Janowski, Nancy Twomey
Members - Not Present:
Chair Carlo Bacci
Others Present:
Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone (remote)
Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Jacquelyn La Verde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Select Board Meeting Room of Town Hall and
remotely vla Zoom.
Vice Chair Chuck Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Public Comment
There was no comment from the public.
Review Evaluation Criteria/ DISCUSRecorrigggodations to Select Board
The Committee engaged in a lengthy discussion of the recommendations for the best use of
the Town -owned land on Symonds Way, and how to best present those recommendations to
the Select Board. Andrew Dribin requested that the Conservation Commission review the
recommendations before they are presented to the Select Board. Other members agreed
that the CPDC, Recreation Committee, and Permanent Building Committee, as they have
been kept abreast of SWEC's progress, would not need to review the recommendations, and
the Select Board would go through those channels when It Is ready.
The Committee also discussed the ongoing feasibility study for the new Senior Center and
the land on Symonds Way being considered as a possible site. However, that decision will
not be known until sometime between late April and July.
The consensus of the Committee, and based on the community survey that was conducted
last year, was that the best use of the land is for recreational purposes. Angela Binda
recalled details of the survey, and noted that it would be valuable to include that
information in the presentation.
The Committee reviewed several recommended potential uses of the land including:
pickleball courts, dog park, turf fields, multl-purpose recreational facility, Senior/Community
Center, and many other uses.
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The Committee agreed to include supporting information in the presentation including: a
preamble that describes SWEC's process and overview of its thinking, community survey
results, recommendations, and methods to achieve those recommendations.
Committee members divided the tasks and assigned members to work on specific slides of
the presentation. The preamble was assigned to Nancy Twomey. The community survey
results were assigned to Angela Binda. A summary of the recommendations was assigned
to Heather Clish and Andrew Dribin. The summary of methods to Implement the
recommendations was assigned to Karen Janowski and Chuck Robinson.
Approve Meeting Minutes
Angela Binda moved to accept the meeting minutes of October 25, 2023 as originally
distributed. The Committee discussed and clarified the language of the Finance Committee
discussion as captured in the minutes.
On a motion by Karen Janowski, seconded by Angela Binds, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 6-0-0 to accept the meeting minutes of October 25,
2023 as amended.
Roll call vote: Andrew Dribin - Yes, Karen Janowski - Yes, Nancy Twomey - Yes,
Heather Clish - Yes, Angela Binds - Yes, Chuck Robinson - Yes.
On a motion by Karen Janowski, seconded by Nancy Twomey, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 6-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of January 31,
2024 as presented.
Roll call vote: Andrew Dribin - Yes, Karen Janowski - Yes, Nancy Twomey - Yes,
Heather Clish - Yes, Angela Binds - Yes, Chuck Robinson - Yes.
Discuss Future Agenda Items
Committee members will work on their portions of the recommendation presentation, and
review and discuss them at their next meeting on March 18th at 7:00 pm.
On a motion by Heather Clish, seconded by Nancy Twomey, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 6-0-0 to adjourn at 8:46 pm.
Roll call vote: Andrew Dribin - Yes, Karen Janowski - Yes, Nancy Twomey - Yes,
Heather Clish - Yes, Angela Binda - Yes, Chuck Robinson - Yes.
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