Reading Council on Aging Debates In-Depth on Senior Center Site Selection

The most recent meeting of the Reading Council on Aging was dominated by a discussion on the potential locations for the new senior center. Key topics included the analysis of site worksheets by stakeholders, concerns over the impact on local taxes, and the need for effective communication of financial details to the community. The debate on the suitability of the sites, particularly Simon’s Way, Oakland Road, and Pleasant Street, brought to light varying perspectives on community engagement, site development, and the impact on the surrounding areas.

The council members delved into the evaluations of three primary sites for the new senior center, with Simon’s Way, Oakland Road, and Pleasant Street being the focal points. The discussion was comprehensive, encompassing the ratings and reasoning behind the rankings provided by key stakeholders. Participants weighed factors such as community access, the potential for future expansion, and the implications of traffic, noise, and environmental concerns.

One point of contention centered around the site at Simon’s Way, with members articulating the potential isolation of the location. Conversely, the development challenges posed by Oakland Road were also scrutinized. The Pleasant Street site sparked a debate concerning the suitability of its size and the design of the parking garage. Noise from pickleball courts was a specific concern, with suggestions made to mitigate the impact by strategically locating the courts.

The council recognized the importance of consolidating financial information and presenting it coherently to the community. Discussions touched on the impact of the senior center’s cost on local taxes and the necessity of clear communication regarding the financial implications. The timeline for making a recommendation to the select board was considered, alongside the feasibility of pursuing the senior center in conjunction with other significant town projects like the library and high school renovations.

In addition to the council’s discourse, input from residents was noted. Expressions of gratitude for the council’s thorough discussion were heard, as well as environmental concerns regarding one of the sites under consideration.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Manager:
Matt Kraunelis
Elderly Affairs Board Officials:
Marilyn Shapleigh, John Parsons, Nancy Ziemlak, Jacquelyn Behenna, Joan Coco, Linda Connors, Rosemarie DeBenedetto, Karen Fotino, Sally Hoyt, Karen Janowski, Karen Pinette, Jean Prato, Deborah Small, Nancy Tawadros, Genevieve Fiorente (Community Services Director), Chris Kowaleski (Elder/Human Services Administrator)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording