Reading Center for Active Living Committee (RECALC)

Reading Center for Active Living – UMass Gerontology Institute Final Report (PDF)

Community Engagement and Planning: Reading Center for Active Living (PDF)

Select Board ad hoc Committee: Reading Center for Active Living Committee (RECALC)

There is hereby established a volunteer ad hoc committee reporting to the Select Board known as the Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc). The charge of ReCalc is to explore the current and future needs of the Community, and initiate planning for a potential new Senior/Community Center in town that will focus on residents aged 60+ and possibly other members of the Community.  

At the Annual Town Meeting, $40,000 was appropriated in FY’22 capital funds for the purpose of Senior/Community Center planning. A consultant will be hired with these funds to provide technical assistance and expertise in Community Resource Planning and Community Engagement.  The Town Manager may also require Town Staff to work with ReCalc.

-ReCalc will collect data and information from communities that have successfully navigated the Senior/Community Center planning process.

-ReCalc will articulate a vision of a Community Center and conduct extensive Community Engagement to determine if residents desire a 60+ Center for Active Living or a multigenerational center. 

- Through regular meetings and community outreach, ReCalc will gather, analyze, and organize information for future planning decisions related to the proposed center. 

Specific goals:  Progress report to the Select Board before Annual Town Meeting 2022.

The Committee shall be made up of 7 voting members, all of whom must be Reading residents, all appointed by the Select Board and comprised of the following:

Mark Dockser to represent the Select Board

1 member of the Council on Aging (COA), designated by the COA

1 member of the Recreation Committee, designated by the Recreation Committee Chair

4 at-large members from the community, preferably with background in architecture, design, planning, project management and community engagement, and/or who represent a variety of key stakeholder groups such as seniors who participate in our Council on Aging programs, eldercare professionals, families with age 60+ members who use our recreation programs, and those aged 60+ who don’t currently use the COA programs to be recommended by VASC.

ReCalc shall provide regular updates to the Select Board during the process. ReCalc shall sunset on or before November 30, 2022.  If needed, this date can be extended by vote of the Select Board. 

Open Meeting Law:  ReCalc is a committee under the Select Board and is therefore subject to the requirements of the Open Meeting Law (e.g., advance notice of meetings, agendas, minutes, production of documents when requested, etc.).  Further, any formal subcommittees of ReCalc, charged with carrying out specific tasks are also subject to the Open Meeting.

There is hereby established a volunteer ad hoc committee reporting to the Select Board known as the Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc). The charge of ReCalc is to explore the current and future needs of the Community, and initiate planning for a potential new Senior/Community Center in town that will focus on residents aged 60+ and possibly other members of the Community.  

At the Annual Town Meeting, $40,000 was appropriated in FY’22 capital funds for the purpose of Senior/Community Center planning. A consultant will be hired with these funds to provide technical assistance and expertise in Community Resource Planning and Community Engagement.  The Town Manager may also require Town Staff to work with ReCalc.

-ReCalc will collect data and information from communities that have successfully navigated the Senior/Community Center planning process.

-ReCalc will articulate a vision of a Community Center and conduct extensive Community Engagement to determine if residents desire a 60+ Center for Active Living or a multigenerational center. 

- Through regular meetings and community outreach, ReCalc will gather, analyze, and organize information for future planning decisions related to the proposed center. 

Specific goals:  Progress report to the Select Board before Annual Town Meeting 2022.

The Committee shall be made up of 7 voting members, all of whom must be Reading residents, all appointed by the Select Board and comprised of the following:

Mark Dockser to represent the Select Board

1 member of the Council on Aging (COA), designated by the COA

1 member of the Recreation Committee, designated by the Recreation Committee Chair

4 at-large members from the community, preferably with background in architecture, design, planning, project management and community engagement, and/or who represent a variety of key stakeholder groups such as seniors who participate in our Council on Aging programs, eldercare professionals, families with age 60+ members who use our recreation programs, and those aged 60+ who don’t currently use the COA programs to be recommended by VASC.

ReCalc shall provide regular updates to the Select Board during the process. ReCalc shall sunset on or before November 30, 2022.  If needed, this date can be extended by vote of the Select Board. 

Open Meeting Law:  ReCalc is a committee under the Select Board and is therefore subject to the requirements of the Open Meeting Law (e.g., advance notice of meetings, agendas, minutes, production of documents when requested, etc.).  Further, any formal subcommittees of ReCalc, charged with carrying out specific tasks are also subject to the Open Meeting.