Reading Center for Active Living Committee (RECALC)

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

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

Amended Charter June 6, 2023 

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.

Previously accomplished goals:

-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 delivered to the Select Board before Annual Town Meeting 2023.

ReCalc recommendations:

1. Define and execute an immediate facility solution for replacing and/or expanding the current Senior Center
2. Continue to enhance (invest in) the programming/services for Seniors including new offerings and better accessibility (e.g. address transportation, evening programming, etc.)
3. Develop communications strategies and community outreach regarding the needs for Seniors.
4. The desire for an all ages community center (with dedicated senior space) is real. However, it should not take precedence over first meeting program, service, and facility needs of Reading Seniors.

ReCalc shall continue to operate and add to its charter the following goals:

1. Information for Feasibility Study: Using information obtained and developed through review of best practices, visits to and discussions with other senior /community   centers around us, and survey results, provide a document and information to be used by the firm being hired to perform the feasibility study.  Goal of sharing this within 45-60 days.
2. Program focus: Using the above tools and new interviews, explorations and discussions, add programming review to help define what we may want to offer in terms of services for seniors. Focus on other similar communities, best practices, enticing new participants in the 60+ age bracket to attend programs at the center.
3. Operating Finance: Explore a variety of financing alternatives used by other senior/community centers for programming activities to include donations, grants, town support and potentially other alternatives.
4. Transportation: Explore transportation best practices for senior centers.

ReCalc shall report back to the Select Board quarterly with progress and to upcoming Town Meetings. It shall be the goal of ReCalc to make and report substantial progress on these goals before the end of 2023.  

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:

• 1 member of the Select Board, designated by 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 and an additional 1-2 associate members preferably with background and interest in financing options for programs at senior/community centers or other civic organizations, all to be recommended by VASC.

ReCalc shall provide regular updates to the Select Board during the process. ReCalc shall sunset on or before June 30, 2024. 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.