Council on Aging Elects Powell, Flags Budget Gaps

Council on Aging · Meeting of August 10, 2026

Reading's Council on Aging elected Ron Powell as secretary and heard that its own budget working group could not determine whether a proposed elder-services budget for the new RecCal building was adequate. Vice Chair Kathleen Harrington said inconsistent spending categories made the figures hard to evaluate, while member John Parsons noted the town's budget document lists four spending categories but its expenditure report lists ten, calling it "somewhat difficult" to track money. Elder Human Services Administrator Kerry Valle reported 564 senior center visits in July, down from 697 in June, and described testing a five-dollar fee for a fall program.

Associate member Pat Casaletto, drawing on his doctoral research, warned a draft resident survey risked "survey fatigue." The council tabled a trust-fund request and postponed a vote on a $1,000, 36-session Tufts University Osher Lifelong Learning proposal from member Jean Prato until September, and approved June and February minutes by unanimous 10-0 roll calls.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,722 words

Source: the Council on Aging meeting of August 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.