North Reading Select Board Rejects All Senior Center Lease Proposals, Plans Budget Workshop

NORTH READING — March 16, 2026 — North Reading Select Board rejected all three senior center lease proposals and scheduled a budget-balancing workshop as the town faces a projected $758,000 municipal deficit. Lil Hartman, Director of Public Services, told the board on March 16 that the top-scoring of three submitted proposals — from Aldersgate Church, All People's Church, and a Wilmington property — reached only 50 percent of the possible 21 evaluation points, falling short on space, parking, and programmatic fit. The Council on Aging endorsed a revised elder services budget that drops a proposed $800,000 lease request by more than $700,000 and instead continues two days per week at Aldersgate with a new part-time program assistant. Town Administrator Michael Gillberto reported the overall municipal deficit grew to roughly $798,000 by meeting's end, compounded by a snow and ice deficit approaching $400,000. The board voted to hold a hybrid budget workshop on March 23 at 6 p.m., the last practical date before a potential override ballot question would need to be filed with the town clerk.