Reading Youth Commission needs members

Reading’s Youth Commission is facing challenges as members age out and vacancies are unfilled, the commission chair said.

Chair Melanie Taverez presented the commission’s annual report at a recent City Council meeting.

Taverez said 2024 was a transition year for the commission after several key members aged out.

The commission was formed by ordinance in 2017 to advise the mayor, council and city managers on issues pertaining to Reading youths and young adults. It also facilitates youth participation in local government.

The 15-member commission has two members from each council district who are appointed by council and three at-large members appointed by the mayor.

Members range in age from 16 to 24 and are appointed for terms of three years.

“We’ve had some really quality folks in here that have aged out,” Council President Donna Reed said. “and they were real leaders. So we need to have that succession of people, you know, who are in their late teens, early 20s to keep it moving.”

Reed suggested those on the commission could start mentoring other youths as a way to perpetuate the line of succession.

Taverez said there are nine openings: two each in Districts 1 and 6, one each in Districts 2, 4 and 5, and two mayoral appointees.

Per city ordinance, the commission must meet at least four times a year.

Monthly meetings were scheduled last year, Taverez said, but the many openings made reaching a quorum difficult. No action could be taken at six meetings due to the lack of a quorum and two meetings were cancelled due to lack of attendance, she said, asking council for help in filling the vacancies.

Councilwoman Vanessa Campos said she will work with the Reading School District to recruit potential members.

Council also discussed the possibility of reducing the number of commission members. Such action would require an amendment of the ordinance.

Reed said council can consider downsizing the commission, but she is hesitant to dissuade interested young people from participating and concerned such action might unseat a current member.

“We have so many wonderful folks here between our colleges, Reading High, Berks Catholic, homeschoolers and folks in the trades,” she said. “I just think Youth Commission is so important, and it’s so important for us to support it, because they are going to segue into leadership in a variety fields.”

Despite its skeleton crew, Taverez said, the commission participated in several community events, including the city’s Earth Day celebration in City Park, Riverzilla festival in Riverfront Park and the Cinco de Mayo celebration, Glow Run and Halloween on Penn Street trick-or-treat event downtown.

Taverez said the commission came up with the idea for Halloween event downtown and has continued to help run the event.

The commission members also heard two presentations by Sgt. Melville Fegley, community response coordinator for the Reading Police Department, Taverez said. Fegley described the ways the police department engages the public, and youth specifically, in positive interactions and invited the commission’s input.

Taverez said the commission was also asked by Bike Works of Reading to assist in a survey to assess the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in the city and to help identify road and sidewalk deterioration and deficiencies that can impede or be a danger to walkers and cyclists.

The commission members also volunteered for the city’s Adopt-a-Block program, she said, and agreed to maintain the small grassy triangle across from the street from Reading High School’s Geigle Sports Complex. Members take turns cleaning the area weekly.

Youth from 16 to 24 interested in serving can complete an application form on the city’s website at readingpa.gov/city-of-reading-youth-commission-application-form-bnc.

Source: Berkshire mont