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. |
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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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On Monday the Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) engaged in a discussion regarding the direction it might take with possible future zoning bylaw amendments. Community Development Director Julie Mercier provided a list of concerns that may need to be addressed in the coming year including the floodplain overlay district, the MBTA communities guidelines, updates to the table of uses, and revised setbacks for residential corner lots.
Mercier reminded CPDC that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to provide new floodplain-related maps in 2023 and that guidance from the state on the MBTA communities requirements is still forthcoming. She advised that until that information is clear, discussions on those issues would likely be premature.
Mercier continued, suggesting possible changes to the table of uses f including donation boxes, breweries, retail firearms sales, and short-term rentals, such as the type offered by Airbnb. She also suggested that zoning for lab-based life sciences industries should be reviewed. Reading is currently rated as a “silver” community for life sciences developments. [Read More]
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This year, Reading Public Library (RPL)’s summer reading program for adults has a special purpose. Participants aged 18 and up are invited to log their minutes read (or listened), and when we collectively hit a target number of minutes, a donation to a local charity is activated. When we work, read, or listen together, we can achieve so much good. As of this week, you all reached the first level with 2,500 minutes read. For reaching our first target, a generous donation was made to the Reading Food Pantry.
Don’t stop now! Our next goal, 5,000 minutes unlocks a donation to Plant a Tree (for the front of the library), and the final goal of 10,000 minutes will grant a donation to a local summer camp for kids. And remember, when we say reading, that means books, e-books, magazines, graphic novels, AND listening to audiobooks and e-audio!
All participants in the adult summer reading program will be entered into our Grand Prize Drawing: a National Parks Annual Pass which grants free access to more than 2,000 US National Parks and Recreation Areas for one year. Read more than 100 minutes a week for an automatic additional entry.
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Reading’s Tim Kelley takes on District Leadership Role |
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On June 30, Rotary District 7930 of Eastern Massachusetts & Salem New Hampshire held its Annual District Installation of New Officers. The event, held at the Danversport Yacht Club, was attended by more than a dozen Reading Rotarians.
Among those being honored was Reading’s Sheila Clarke, owner of M & H Interiors. Ms. Clarke has assumed the role of Reading Rotary Club Co-President along with John Douglass, owner of Douglass, Edgerly, Besson Funeral Home on Sanborn Street. Also being honored was Reading’s Tim Kelley, Attorney at Law. Mr. Kelley will take on the role of one of 13 Assistant Governors for Rotary District 7930, which includes 45 Rotary Clubs across the region.
Ms. Clarke is excited for the year ahead. “The past two years with Covid have been so hard for our community,” she says. “Individuals, families, and local businesses were all impacted. We’re hoping the upcoming year sees a return to normalcy and some of the fun events we love like the Reading Fall Street Faire.” [Read More]
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Chief David Clark is pleased to announce that Benjamin Woodward will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Sgt. Woodward joined the department in 2017 as a Patrol Officer upon completion of the Reading Police Academy. He has obtained a number of advanced certifications, including Crisis Intervention Team, Field Training Officer, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Proactive Terrorism Recognition, Interdiction and Observation Tactics (PATRIOT). He is also a member of the department’s Honor Guard Unit.
During his time as a Patrol Officer, Woodward distinguished himself through his contributions as a field training officer — supporting new members of the department in their development as officers. Additionally, Woodward’s excellent performance on the written exam, assessment center and interviews conducted as part of the promotion process helped contribute to him earning his new rank.
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Assistant Fire Chief Tony DelSignore reports that the Reading Fire Department extinguished a fire at a house on Colonial Drive Tuesday evening.
On Tuesday, July 5, at approximately 9 p.m., Reading firefighters were dispatched to 35 Colonial Drive for a report of a fire on a porch of a residence.
Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire consuming the deck and porch of the residence which had extended into both floors of the home and the attic. Captain Scott Myette immediately struck a second alarm due to the severity of the conditions
The fire quickly spread to propane tanks located on the property, which caused an explosion that fueled the fire, necessitating a third alarm for additional manpower. The electrical service drop, which extended from the utility pole to the residence, also caught fire. [Read More]
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If passed, the projects would result in an investment of over $16 million to support important initiatives across the Sixth District |
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Maillet, Sommes, Morgan Stormwater System
Recipient: Town of Reading
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee Amount: $1,500,000
The Town of Reading will construct the Maillet, Sommes, and Morgan Stormwater System to restore wetlands on town conservation land, which will provide significant new stormwater storage capacity, protect habitat for native species, and create walking trails.
Today, Representative Seth Moulton announced that fourteen projects in the Sixth District totaling over 16 million dollars in funding have been included in FY 2023 Appropriations Subcommittee bills.
These bills serve as the primary mechanism for funding federal programs each year. If funded, these projects will help local communities protect the environment, improve public safety, and increase access to healthcare, housing, and public transportation.
“I was pleased to see so many high-impact projects across my district selected for funding this year. These initiatives will improve health care, housing, education, and infrastructure in many of the communities I represent,” Congressman Moulton said. “I’m thrilled that the projects I submitted have cleared the first hurdle in securing funding through the appropriations process. I hope that my colleagues in Congress can work together to pass the FY 2023 appropriations bills in a timely manner so that our communities can receive these critical investments.” [Read More]
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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