Reading Board of Health hears CHIP update; microtransit grant, screenings and ReCAL progress highlighted
June 12, 2026 | Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
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Public health staff presented an update on Reading's Community Health Improvement Plan at the Board of Health meeting on June 11, 2026, outlining progress on preventive screenings, mental-health access, healthy environments and plans to expand transportation to appointments.
Liv, the public health presenter, said the department has conducted two hearing screenings so far in 2026 — one at the fire department that screened 18 fire personnel and another public screening that saw 15 residents — and hosted mobile vision and mammography vans (19 seen by the vision van and 11 by the Dana-Farber mammography van). The department continues to hold three monthly blood-pressure clinics at different town locations and offers some home screening visits.
The presentation said transportation is a key barrier to care. Planning staff secured a Massachusetts Department of Transportation grant to pilot a fare-free microtransit service in Reading that will include wheelchair-accessible vehicles, first/last-mile connections and on-demand booking. Liv said bids have come in and the service is expected to start in July; during Q&A she told the board the service is going to be for the whole community, not seniors only. When asked about the grant amount, a presenter said it was almost a million dollars.
On mental-health services, the Reading Coalition was noted as a major provider: the coalition reached 3,500 residents last year. Between March 1 and April 28, a public-safety clinician delivered 108 services and a part-time child and adolescent clinician delivered 27 services, the presenter said. The town's partnership with William James College (the interface program) helps connect residents to clinicians; the board was told 225 Reading Public Schools students received Mental Health First Aid training in 2025.
Work on healthy environments and accessibility was also highlighted. The board heard that the Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) held a groundbreaking on April 16 and that Birch Meadow playground and two new lit basketball courts opened May 22 with ADA-accessible paths to the high school. Staff said ReCAL's timeline is slightly behind but that evening and weekend hours are planned to improve access.
On food security and healthy eating, staff described SNAP/EBT outreach, a large surge in donations to the Reading Food Pantry during a recent SNAP freeze, and use of Reading school kitchens for community meals and events. Future programming planned for ReCAL includes cooking classes; staff noted ongoing efforts to identify local leadership for a farmers market and acknowledged that the Select Board will need to approve any market proposal.
Board members praised the collaborative work and asked follow-up questions about grant scope and local leadership for markets. The presenter said the PowerPoint for the update will be emailed to the board after the meeting.
The board did not take a formal vote on the CHIP material; the presentation was received for discussion and follow-up.
Liv, the public health presenter, said the department has conducted two hearing screenings so far in 2026 — one at the fire department that screened 18 fire personnel and another public screening that saw 15 residents — and hosted mobile vision and mammography vans (19 seen by the vision van and 11 by the Dana-Farber mammography van). The department continues to hold three monthly blood-pressure clinics at different town locations and offers some home screening visits.
The presentation said transportation is a key barrier to care. Planning staff secured a Massachusetts Department of Transportation grant to pilot a fare-free microtransit service in Reading that will include wheelchair-accessible vehicles, first/last-mile connections and on-demand booking. Liv said bids have come in and the service is expected to start in July; during Q&A she told the board the service is going to be for the whole community, not seniors only. When asked about the grant amount, a presenter said it was almost a million dollars.
On mental-health services, the Reading Coalition was noted as a major provider: the coalition reached 3,500 residents last year. Between March 1 and April 28, a public-safety clinician delivered 108 services and a part-time child and adolescent clinician delivered 27 services, the presenter said. The town's partnership with William James College (the interface program) helps connect residents to clinicians; the board was told 225 Reading Public Schools students received Mental Health First Aid training in 2025.
Work on healthy environments and accessibility was also highlighted. The board heard that the Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) held a groundbreaking on April 16 and that Birch Meadow playground and two new lit basketball courts opened May 22 with ADA-accessible paths to the high school. Staff said ReCAL's timeline is slightly behind but that evening and weekend hours are planned to improve access.
On food security and healthy eating, staff described SNAP/EBT outreach, a large surge in donations to the Reading Food Pantry during a recent SNAP freeze, and use of Reading school kitchens for community meals and events. Future programming planned for ReCAL includes cooking classes; staff noted ongoing efforts to identify local leadership for a farmers market and acknowledged that the Select Board will need to approve any market proposal.
Board members praised the collaborative work and asked follow-up questions about grant scope and local leadership for markets. The presenter said the PowerPoint for the update will be emailed to the board after the meeting.
The board did not take a formal vote on the CHIP material; the presentation was received for discussion and follow-up.
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