HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-21 Board of Selectmen HandoutPage 1 of 1
Schena, Paula
From: bonazoli@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 200611:55 AM
To: Schubert, Rick; Schubert, Rick; Anthony, Camille; Hechenbleikner, Peter; Tafoya, Ben; Schena,
Paula
Subject: March 21 Selectmen meeting
Hello all - I hope you are doing well. I'm in Vegas and about to go down stairs to hear Bill Clinton
speak at the Health Club industry. Should be interesting.
If you don't mind I wanted to share my thoughts a the agenda items for tonight.
First, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Connolly and Nadeau Families. May they find comfort in
their friends, family, and community. I pray that Andy Jean continues to improve and has a speedy
recovery. My best wishes to all.
the Water Treatment Plant
I think we had a very good forum last Tuesday but look forward to move community input next week on
the 28th. This is a very difficult decision to be made for our town. I do see (especially since all the
letters we have received) the benefits the river would realize by not having anyone draw from it. But I
am concerned in having a single source of supply. As there are no communities willingly giving up
their connection. I would like to understand if we are tied to the plant decision that was created. I
would like to know if their are less expensive alternatives that gets us closer to the original design at a
much lower cost. Again I look forward to having more input as I have not completely made a decision
but today I am leaning towards building a new plant.
Oakland Road
As you know I would like to see this property sold as soon as possible as we could use those funds to
find and buy more open space. I would like the Town to investigate having the property go up for
auction and have the buy be responsible for any zoning changes that might be needed.
Thank you - have a good night.
James
3/21/2006
Nurse Advocacy and Community Parish Nursing
Within the last week or two the Board of Selectmen and the town have received
information regarding the plight of Community Parish Nursing (CPN). Through a
combination of dedicated volunteers and skilled nurses Community Parish Nursing has
served Reading seniors for many years now. CPN carne before Town Meeting last
spring requesting funds in order to continue their mission. Town Meeting needed to
understand if there was a need for such service as Elder Human Services seems to cover
much of what was being done. At that time Town Meeting created the Nurse Advocacy
Task Force. The focus of the group has been to investigate the need for medical support
or a nurse for our seniors. Based on a recent survey to seniors and care givers, there
seems to be a need for additional medical support. As this may be accomplished in many
forms and the Task Force is now examining how we may want to do it. The Task Force
will have a final report for the Board of Selectmen in May.
I would like to continue to work closely with Sandy Trainer and CPN to ensure our
seniors continue to receive the services they have been accustomed to. Together we can
continue to ensure our seniors can age in place in the comfort of their own homes.
I would like Community Parish Nursing to investigate alternative fund raising methods
and costing models as it will be difficult to support them as a separate organization both
financially and logistically.
The Town believes in the work and dedication CPN has for our senior community and
hope their work does not end
Sincerely
James Bonazoli
A2eC e, U,_1J 3/2J/z)6
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street HISTORICAL COMNHSSION
Reading, MA. 01867-2683 historical@ci.reading.ma.us.
(781) 942-6661
Fax (781) 942-6071
March 21, 2006
To the Board of Selectmen
Re: Bandstand Siteing
We would like to share some of the background regarding the siteing of a bandstand on either the
Common or the Town Hall complex and our position on the matter.
Since 1990, the RHC has taken a pro-active stance in dealing with changes to the town's Common. At
the time, the RHC assisted the Board of Selectmen in developing guidelines for the preservation and
appropriate use of this historic landmark that is the heart of the Town Center. Since then, the RHC has
participated in discussions regarding changes that would affect the Common, helping to interpret and
enforce the guidelines adopted by the Board of Selectmen. In these discussions the RHC often acted as
the "advocate" in behalf of the historic property, much in the same way as abutters act as advocates in
their neighborhoods. Such discussions included changes to Route 129 and the selection of an
alternative location for a plaque that was proposed by a well intentioned group. The guidelines
governing the Town Common have also helped us understand the importance of the historic property
as revitalization of the downtown begins.
The RHC is concerned with any proposal to site a bandstand on the front lawn of Town Hall. In 1982
the Town Hall and former Public Library Buildings were individually listed on the National Register
of Historic Places as well as in the National Register Common Historic District, which also includes
the Common, Old South Church and supporting structures along Salem and Hamden streets. The
Town Hall and former Library are Georgian Revival buildings that are historically and architecturally
significant. Their style and scale contribute to the overall context of the focal point of the Town.
The RHC feels that a bandstand would impact the visual setting of these-buildings and their relation to
the Common and Old South Church. The proposal to place the bandstand on the relatively small Town
Hall lawn must be carefully evaluated, since it will inevitably have a major impact upon the National
Register Common Historic District. On this site a bandstand would visually compete with the Town
Hall and former Library buildings and distract from the Old South Church as a focal point. Even the
placement of a small bandstand would serve little more than a ceremonial purpose and be seldom-used'
for a musical event.
We continue to hope that the Board of Selectmen understand that we offer our comments to uphold
those guidelines that the Town adopted and increase public awareness that the Common and its
periphery is, perhaps, our most valuable and vulnerable community asset. By chipping away at it with
one "good" idea after another, Reading will eventually lose the prized centerpiece that we all hold in
common.
Re pectfully,
V
Rea' g Historical Commission