Below is a summarized version of the Recreation Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
Contents
🗓️ Recreation Meeting Summary – February 9, 2026
📍 Location: Reading Town Hall Berger Room & Zoom
🎙️ Chair: Rich Hand
🧭 Facilitator: James Sullivan (Recreation Administrator)
💬 Public Comment
🕒 0:19–1:16
- No public comment; no Zoom attendees requested to speak.
✅ Amplified Sound Permit Requests
🕒 1:16–4:41
Reading Lions Club – Friends & Family Day
- Date: June 20, 2026
- Location: Birch Meadow Complex
- Time: 10:30 AM–3:00 PM
- Use: Musical instruments, announcements, sound effects
- Outcome: Approved unanimously; no past complaints.
Reading Lions Club – 5K Road Race
- Date: July 16, 2026
- Location: Memorial Park
- Time: 5:00–9:00 PM (music typically ends 8:00 PM)
- Use: Speakers, mixer, microphone
- Outcome: Approved unanimously; no past complaints.
🏛️ CPA Committee Update
🕒 4:52–16:07
Presenter: Kate Camarero
- CPA Committee formed in Summer 2024; ready to present to the Select Board.
- Full 40‑page report available on town website.
- Committee recommends 1% surcharge on residential properties (first $100K exempt).
- Estimated average Reading homeowner impact: ~$90/year.
- Expected revenue: ~$1M annually.
- State matching funds vary (historical ~25%).
- Eligible spending categories: Open space, recreation, historic preservation, affordable housing.
- Proposed timeline:
- Feb 2026: Present to Select Board
- April 2026: Town Meeting vote
- Nov 2026: Town-wide ballot
- July 2028: First CPA distributions
- Recreation capital needs would be strong contenders for CPA-funded projects.
🏛️ Pleasant Street Center Future Use – Town Administrator’s Office
🕒 16:14–34:50
Presenters: Jayne Wellman (Assistant Town Manager) & Katie Gabriello (Director of Operations)
- Building built 1883, historically registered; includes preservation restrictions.
- Appraised at $965,000; rental potential ~$72K net annually.
- Four options presented:
- Sell the property
- Gift to Reading Housing Authority (affordable units possible)
- Town reuse – offices, storage, meeting space
- Lease – nonprofit café, arts center, food pantry, multi-use
- Community strongly leaning toward leasing, not selling, to retain town control.
- Food Pantry expressed interest; RCTV also mentioned as possible upper-floor tenant.
- If parking is included in any lease, Town Meeting approval required.
- Target decision timeline: By Nov 2026 Town Meeting to allow design work before ReCAL opens in Aug 2027.
🏛️ ReCAL Policy & Shared Use Discussion
🕒 35:06–55:10
Key Recreation Committee Feedback
- Strongly emphasized that the gym must NOT be designated as 60+ priority space, as this contradicts what residents were told during Town Meeting and public outreach.
- ReCAL was approved and funded as a community building, not a senior‑exclusive facility.
- Committee stressed need for balanced access, revenue generation, and flexible programming for all ages, especially under‑60 populations.
- Members expressed full trust in Recreation & Community Services staff (Jenna, Jim, Ed) to manage scheduling equitably.
- Acknowledgment that seniors have long lacked space, but priority designations must still reflect town-wide commitments.
- Plans to hold regular joint meetings with COA; next targeted date: March 9, 2026, ideally at 6:30 PM instead of 6:00 PM.
🏛️ ReCAL Construction & PBC Update
🕒 56:06–57:35
- PBC received six bids for ReCAL construction on Feb 5.
- All bids came in below the construction budget.
- Lowest bid was approximately $2.5–3M under budget.
- PBC evaluating bidders; shovel‑ready date could be within ~1 month.
- Very positive financial position for construction phase.
🧾 Committee Reports – Recreation Staff
🕒 58:10–1:21:25
🏀 Program Wrap-Ups (Ed)
- Sunday Basketball, Social Skates, NOVA all concluded successfully; strong participation and positive feedback.
- Summer Vacation Program registration opened Jan 28:
- 675 registrations on Day 1
- Weeks 4–6 sold out; others ~80–90% full
- Program moving from Coolidge to Barrows due to gym renovation
- All but 3 staff returning (excellent continuity)
- Puzzle Night collaboration with Pleasant Street Center continues to grow in popularity.
🎿 Winter Program Notes (Jim)
- Ice rink lighting now operational; DPW performs safety checks before lights are enabled.
- Pickleball:
- Pre‑bid walkthrough held Jan 12
- Bids due Feb 12
- Construction targeted for March 2026 start
- Membership & fee structure being developed with RPA input
- Field fees:
- Recommended increase (first in 20+ years)
- Grass: $12 → ~$15
- Turf: $14 → ~$17–18
- “Let Them Grow” new youth independence initiative in collaboration with schools, library, police.
- Driscoll Field lighting:
- 3 poles fell during storm; all poles now removed
- Insurance claim yielded $25,000 (max)
- Replacement cost for proper Musco lighting: ~$450,000
- Future funding likely needed (CPA a possible option)
📝 Meeting Minutes Approvals
🕒 1:21:27–1:28:17
- October 27, 2025 minutes: Approved unanimously.
- December 15, 2025 minutes:
- Approved with amendment noting:
- Laura Nun requested the gym be removed from the 60+ priority list.
- Her position was supported by Recreation Committee members present.
- Approved with amendment noting:
🗝️ Key Outcomes Summary
Approvals
- ✅ Amplified Sound Permits for Friends & Family Day and Lions Club 5K
- ✅ Minutes approved for Oct 27 & Dec 15 (with amendment)
ReCAL Governance & Policy
- ⚠️ Strong rec feedback: Gym cannot be 60+ priority space
- 🤝 Joint Rec + COA meetings to continue (next on March 9)
Capital Planning
- 💡 ReCAL construction bids under budget
- 💡 Driscoll lighting replacement estimated at $450K
- 💡 Pickleball bids due Feb 12; construction targeted for spring
Programs
- 🎿 Winter programs completed successfully
- 🏕️ Summer camp nearly full with 675+ registrations
- 🧩 Puzzle League events expanding
CPA
- 📊 Select Board presentation scheduled; potential $1M/year for recreation, housing, historic, open space
Pleasant Street Center
- 🏛️ Committee input favors leasing, not selling
- 🤝 Housing, arts, nonprofit café all floated as potential uses
