The Select Board considered a draft proposal to revise the Affordable Housing Trust on Tuesday night. Town Counsel Ivria Fried explained that the town’s current trust was created by a special act and requires Town Meeting action to use any funds. Fried continued to share that under the proposed change, the bylaws would create a board to oversee the trust and empower it to act. “Right now, if a property becomes available, Town Meeting must appropriate [the funds],” Fried explained. “[The proposed changes] allows the town to act quickly when affordable housing opportunities arise,” Consultant Keith Bergman continued. Bergman has aided in similar efforts in Concord and Littleton. The conversation regarding the trust emerged as a result of a Town Meeting instructional motion asking for the board to investigate changes to the current trust. |
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“The key change is a proactive stance to affordable housing.” Select Board chair Mark Dockser opined. Under the proposal, any action dealing with the acquisition, disposition, or mortgage of real property would require Select Board action. Select Board member Chris Haley suggested that an amount of expenditure be set that would require Select Board action, possibly a percentage of available funds. The current trust has just above $400,000 available. The trust has remained dormant since the development of the 30 Haven building in 2012.
Select Board member Karen Herrick asked if the trust would be able to develop a program to aid first-time homebuyers in town. Fried indicated that this type of program could be an option. Select Board member Jackie McCarthy will work with Fried to develop language regarding trust membership, and the Select Board will continue its conversation at its August 9 meeting. [Read More]
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Superintendent of Schools Thomas Milaschewski shared a plan with the School Committee on Thursday night to partner Reading Public Schools with the Center for Educational Leadership at Salem State University. This partnership will provide instructional leadership support to the district’s principals and other educational leaders through monthly instructional leadership teams, individualized and small group leadership support, and one-on-one coaching for principals.
“It is difficult to envision an investment in K-12 education with a higher ceiling on its potential return than improving school leadership,” Milaschewski shared, quoting research from the Wallace Foundation. The effort is in concert with Milaschewski’s goal to promote instructional leadership in schools. The partnership will cost $75,000 and will be paid for with Fiscal Year 2022 end-of-year savings. [Read More]
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In conjunction with the Select Board, Town Manager Fidel Maltez hosted a community meeting in the Performing Arts Center of the Reading Memorial High School on Wednesday at 6:00 pm to discuss the use of the town-owned land on Oakland Road across from Reading Memorial High School. Maltez shared that the purpose of the meeting was to propose an idea for the use of the land and to “receive feedback on this concept.” Maltez also quickly pointed out that this was the beginning of the process, and no decisions had yet been made. “This is the first meeting of many,” Maltez explained.
Maltez opened with a brief history of the property, obtained by the town in the 1930s, and has been considered for many projects, including a police station, a teen center, and an early learning center. He continued, sharing that other towns such as Milton and Lynnfield have partnered with outside organizations to create housing. Executive Director of the Reading Housing Authority, Katie Gallant, spoke, sharing the need for housing in Reading for senior citizens and young families. “Most of my day is spent hearing from families that can no longer afford to live in Reading,” Gallant shared.
Jen Hockman, an architect from SV Design, then shared a concept plan for the site. A 35-unit senior living facility is proposed on the site’s southern portion, toward Hillside Road. This three-story building would be built slightly into the hill, giving the impression of a two-story building on the residential sides, with a three-story presentation on the Oakland Road side. A 31-space parking lot is also proposed. [Read More]
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Money will fund new ladder truck, Memorial Park wall repairs and RMHS robotics team |
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House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), and State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) have secured $100,000 in funding earmarks for the Town of Reading as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) state budget.
The final budget, which was released from conference committee on July 17 and enacted by the House and the Senate the following day, includes $50,000 to assist the Reading Fire Department with the purchase of a new ladder truck and related equipment. It also contains $25,000 to facilitate repairs of the rock walls at Memorial Park, and another $25,000 to support the Robockets, Reading Memorial High School’s Robotics Team.
“The FY23 state budget addresses several of the town’s priorities with respect to public safety and education,” said Representative Jones. “I am pleased that the collective efforts of the Reading legislative delegation were successful in ensuring that this funding was retained in the final budget.” [Read More]
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Money will cover design costs for replacement of Track Road 2 (East) bridge |
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House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Representative Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn), Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), and Town Manager Fidel A. Maltez are pleased to announce that Reading has been awarded $100,000 in state funding assistance through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Municipal Small Bridge Program.
Reading was one of 53 communities to receive funding in the most recent round of awards. The town will use the money to pay for design costs associated with the planned replacement of the bridge at Track Road 2 (East) over Walkers Brook, one of three bridges located in the Track Road and Harvest Road neighborhood, which is bisected by the Quannapowitt Drainage Canal.
In the early 1990’s two of the three bridges in this area were closed due to severe deficiencies, while the Track Road (West) bridge remained open even as it continued to deteriorate. In 2020, Reading was awarded a Small Bridge Grant to replace the failing Track Road (West) bridge, and construction was completed in early 2021. [Read More]
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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