Decision follows complaints from local businesses about decreased foot traffic and kiosk rollout issues
Reading, MA — The Select Board, by a vote of 3-2, chose to discontinue the use of the parking kiosks in the Upper Haven municipal lot, commonly referred to as the “CVS lot,” for an indefinite amount of time. Select Board members Mark Docker and Karen Herrick were the dissenting votes. The kiosks were approved by Town Meeting in April 2022, were installed last summer, and launched in the fall. Local businesses complained that the poor rollout of the kiosks caused a lack of foot traffic in their businesses that could severely impact end of the year sales, which are vital to their success. The board voted 5-0 to suspend the use of the kiosks at the Upper Haven lot through the holiday season on October 15 and voted 4-0 to do the same in the Brande Court lot on the same night.
Select Board member Christopher Haley had to recuse himself for a similar vote regarding the Brande Court parking lot. As a result of a 2-2 vote, the kiosks will return to use in that lot.
Dockser agreed that the rollout performance of the kiosk vendor was “horrible” but added that the addition of kiosks in downtown areas had been accomplished effectively in other towns and that kiosks should help ensure the flow of traffic into and out of the lots. He also noted that there are plenty of free spots available to accommodate new businesses in town.
“We spent a pile of money on these things,” Dockser added.
Herrick explained her vote, stating her unwillingness to overrule a Town Meeting vote. “I’m very concerned that the Select Board cannot refuse to implement what Town Meeting chose to spend money on,” Herrick shared. “We spent [the money], we installed them, we need to use them.”
Select Board member Melissa Murphy argued that parking data and conditions have changed since the PARC committee gave its recommendations to install the kiosks and shared her belief that the kiosks the town installed were not designed to do what the town is asking them to do. Haley also mentioned the changing data while suggesting 15-minute spots be created directly adjacent to CVS for those just running to get prescriptions filled. He also floated the idea of senior parking passes. “We heard loud and clear that nobody liked [the kiosks],” Haley stated.
Chair Carlo Bacci shared anecdotal evidence that there always seems to be spaces available when he goes to the Upper Haven lot. He then stated that he could not support any paid parking downtown, reminding the board that he voted against their initial installation.
No timeframe was given for the return of the kiosks in the Brande Court parking lot.
Reading Center for Active Living (ReCal) Design Update
Pat Thompkins, chair of the Permanent Building Committee, along with Owner’s Project manager Brian Hromadkn provided an update to the board on the design process for the proposed Reading Center for Active Living to be located on Symonds Way, near the Burbank Ice Arena. Hromadkn shared that the team has been involved in more than 50 meetings on the project, with 15 of them open to the public for comment. Compared to what other communities have spent on similar projects, Hromadkn expects the project to cost between $26.8 million and $34.4 million.
Reading-Center-for-Active-Livingsm-25.02.04Architect Joel Bartman presented basic designs for a 25,000-square-foot building focused on senior spaces, with community space that could be available to the broader community in the evenings. Included spaces in the design are a gymnasium, a large multipurpose space, program and game rooms, lounges, outdoor patios and decks, and office space for town staff. It was noted that new centers often see a 70% to 110% increase in participation in programs and other activities.
Hromadkn continued to note a report from the U.S. Surgeon General confirming that there is $6.7 billion spent annually in excess Medicare payments partially due to the isolation and lack of socialization for seniors. The report added that isolation is “as dangerous as heavy drinking, heavy smoking, and obesity.”
Haley shared that he was surprised by the possibility of a $34 million price tag on the project, stating that he believes that the best chance the project has of passing is if the projected cost is under $30 million. Hromadkn stated that he is confident that projected costs can be kept under that $30 million threshold. “The entire group is committed to keeping [the project] as affordable as possible,” Hromadkn declared.
Murphy suggested that a key to success will be providing clear operational costs for the new center., At the same time, Herrick stressed the need to continue to educate Town Meeting members, noting that the amount of reimbursement the town could receive for the Killam Elementary School project exceeds the entire cost for this project.
It is expected that there will be a special Town Meeting within the April Town Meeting to present the plans with a town-wide vote on the project slated for later in May.
Parking and Traffic Regulations
The board voted 5-0 to accept three amendments to the traffic regulation dealing with restricting parking on one side of Arcadia Avenue and one side of Green Street. Arcadia Avenue residents have been frustrated with overflow parking by Austin Preparatory School students on the street.
