Reading Council on Aging Eyes New Senior Center Amidst Funding and Advocacy Challenges

The Reading Council on Aging meeting focused on funding and advocacy challenges for a new Senior Center, with discussions highlighting the need for transparency, community engagement, and the legal limitations governing the council’s activities.

A discussion centered around the Permanent Building Committee’s progress on selecting an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for the new Senior Center project at Simon’s Way. The committee has received all relevant documentation, including surveys and community meeting notes, and aims to move forward swiftly in October. The timeline for schematic drawings is projected to take three to four months, with emphasis on community engagement throughout the process. The importance of transparency was underscored, especially since additional taxpayer funding will be required for construction management, necessitating a town meeting vote.

Financial aspects concerning the OPM and architectural drawings were clarified, with confirmation that costs would be covered by previously allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Permanent Building Committee expects to make a recommendation soon, with the goal of presenting the project in January and reaching a town meeting by April. The project timeline is ambitious, given the simultaneous priorities of the Center for Active Living and the Killam School project.

The significance of pickleball as a senior activity was discussed, with plans to incorporate both indoor and outdoor facilities into the new Senior Center project. This requires additional planning and collaboration with architects and the OPM.

The Friends of Reading’s 60 Plus group, represented by Anarie and Joanne, shared progress since their incorporation in February. They highlighted their participation in a fair, which garnered significant interest and support for their initiatives. The group aims to increase recognition for Reading’s senior community and has plans for an official launch event on October 1st. Fundraising and public relations efforts are ongoing, with interactions with the Cummings Foundation and a focus on private community support and donations.

Updates on council activities included monthly statistics and upcoming events, such as an ice cream social and Labor Day lunch. A new nurse, Olivia, has been introduced at the Pleasant Street Center. Ongoing office hours for local representatives at the center were also mentioned, improving accessibility for residents needing assistance.

Sustainability efforts were discussed, particularly the initiative to reduce plastic waste by installing a filtered water fountain and using pitchers with lids at events.

The ARPA funding update revealed approximately $165,000 remaining in the budget, with plans to use this for programming and supplemental spaces. Members discussed the need for contracts with vendors to secure funding by the end of the fiscal year. Clarifications were made regarding the timeline for spending encumbered funds, which must be committed by the end of fiscal year 2024 but can be spent until the end of fiscal year 2026.

Discussions on campaign finance laws and ethical guidelines were led by Donna Brewer, who provided clarity on the limitations of public resources in supporting the new Senior Center project. The council can advocate for appropriations at town meetings but cannot use public funds for ballot questions. Members expressed frustration over these restrictions, particularly the challenge of informing the public about the Senior Center’s needs without breaching legal boundaries.

To navigate these complexities, it was suggested that council members could use personal funds for initiatives like lawn signs but must not solicit funds from external groups. Additionally, while members can present information at community gatherings as private individuals, they cannot distribute advocacy materials at such events.

The Massachusetts Council on Aging Conference scheduled for October 23-25 was discussed, with a motion approved to allocate $860 for up to four members to attend. This motion was met positively, with members committed to remaining engaged and informed on issues impacting their constituents.

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