Town Manager Fidel Maltez reported that the town received two responses from its Request for Proposal, which was issued to determine space available for purchase in town for use as a senior center. The two responses were from the new owners of the former Walgreens building at 17 Harnden Street and the owners of the former Rite Aid building at 25 Haven Street. Proposed purchase prices for the buildings were only discussed in executive session.
Maltez did share preliminary ideas regarding how either of the sites could be used as well as possibilities for retaining and expanding the current Pleasant Street Center and use of the site on Oakland Road across from Reading Memorial High School. Maltez noted that stakeholders had little enthusiasm for the Oakland Road site.
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The Pleasant Street Center has 2,500 gross square feet of space and sits on half an acre with thirty parking spaces. Possible plans for this site include expansion of the building to three stories with a combined 20,000 gross square feet and two levels of parking with up to fifty parking spaces – possible costs for this expansion range from $24.9 million to $28.4 million. [Read More]
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By Kevin Vendt
Photos by Kenan Cooper
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The Select Board approved the composite annual review of Town Manager Fidel Maltez on Tuesday. Maltez received positive feedback throughout the review, which rated his goals in areas such as earning the trust of the staff and the community, support of the school department, economic development, and infrastructure work. The board also rated him for his leadership, communication, and management of the staff and town operations. Several employees of the town also submitted a 360-degree review.
Select Board Chair Mark Dockser noted in open session that he appreciates having Maltez in town and “recognizes the efforts you have made.” Select Board member Carlo Bacci stated that all the feedback from the anonymous employee surveys was positive and cautioned Maltez not to burn himself out. Select Board member Jackie McCarthy echoed this concern. [Read More]
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Reading Public Schools METCO Director Kurtis Martin and Harvard University Doctoral Fellow Joseph Longbottom shared insights from Longbottom’s series of “empathy interviews” that he has been undertaking regarding Reading’s METCO program. Longbottom has spoken at length with students, staff, and parents to help gauge the strengths and growth areas for the program. Longbottom shared a series of criteria as to how a successful program could be measured, including academic achievement, enrollment, graduation rates, sense of student belonging, and “family experience” for both Boston and Reading resident families.
Longbottom reported that bright spots in the program include the increase in enrollment this year, the school counselor/METCO coordinator positions at each school, the increased availability of late buses, and a commitment to the vision that “Every student [in the district] is a METCO student.” He especially praised that the school counselor/METCO coordinators were leaders of color who are working to improve student and family relations for all students in the school using their split roles, the first of their kind in Massachusetts. “Reading Public Schools is a METCO district,” Longbottom exclaimed. [Read More]
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To help inform Reading residents about the upcoming 2023 local election on April 4, RCTV Studios will host Candidates’ Forums for contested town-wide offices. Candidates for Select Board, School Committee, Library Board of Trustees, and Municipal Light Board are invited on Tuesday, March 14, starting at 7 pm. Town Moderator Alan Foulds will moderate the program and feature questions posed to the candidates by local media representatives. The forum will air live on RCTV’s public access channel, Comcast channel 9, 2131 HD, and Verizon channel 31, and will be replayed numerous times before the local election on April 4.
Candidates seeking office for uncontested seats are invited to appear on “Community Connections” for a casual one-on-one interview with RCTV member Sherri VandenAkker. VandenAkker has hosted the program since 2019 and previously served on the School Committee and Library Board of Trustees. Check rctv.org for showtimes. [Read More]
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Local Election is Tuesday April 4, 2023
Nomination papers for the following elected positions are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Candidates for elected offices must obtain at least fifty (50) certified signatures to qualify for placement on the April 4th ballot. Town Meeting candidates must obtain at least ten (10) certified signatures within their own precinct. Nomination papers are available until 5:00 PM on Monday, February 13, 2023.
Nomination papers must be submitted to the Town Clerk for certification no later than Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
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10 Years Ago – 2013
- Reading Rotary to host “Taste of Metro North” event at RMHS featuring local restaurants. 1/22/13
- Selectmen Incumbents Steve Goldy and Rick Schubert will not seek re-election. Dan Ensminger, Mark Jackson, and Marsie West have pulled nomination papers for two seats for Selectmen. 1/24/13
- A Special Town Meeting on Monday, January 25, 2013, will discuss the library building renovation project estimated to cost $14.5 million. 1/25/13
15 Years Ago – 2008
- CPDC approves site plan and signage for the relocation of Comically Speaking to the Reading VFW Hall. 1/21/08
- Reading School Committee received a gift of a 45-star American Flag from the town’s Veteran’s Officer Frank Driscoll. The flag originally belonged to the class of 1904. 1/22/08
- Danis Properties announces that Market Basket grocery store is set to open in spring of 2008 at its 128 retail center on Walkers Brook Drive. 1/23/08
- Reading Recreation announces that local skating rinks at public parks are now open.1/23/08
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Last year’s Winterfest was so fun the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce decided to do it again! Join them on Thursday, March 9 from 5 – 8 PM in Reading Square for this outdoor festival.
This year there will be fire tables and s’mores on the common, a beer garden featuring Hopothecary Ales and Small Change Brewing, lit ice sculptures, and photos with Olaf. Come stroll downtown, pop into stores and restaurants, and make memories in Reading Square. The event is free to attend. [Read More]
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Town of Reading was awarded the Municipal Website of the Year for communities over 25,000 at the Annual Municipal Management Association (MMA). Congratulations to all the project staff who worked so hard with our employees, board members, the community, and our vendor CivicPlus. [Read More]
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Catherine Barton Rossetti (left) is the new 2023 Chamber President and receives the official gavel from Jenniffer Rogers, Chamber 2022 President, at a recent event.
The Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce has been a pioneer in the economic life of our community since it was established in 1989. Since that time, the Chamber’s goal has been to be an advocate and resource for local businesses, a community partner focused on business development, and an advocate for supporting and promoting buying locally. On January 1st 2000, The Reading Chamber of Commerce merged with the North Reading Business Association to form the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce, creating a stronger voice in the development of both towns on issues concerning the business community. [Read More]
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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