The following was sent to us by a reader –
To the Editor and Residents of Reading,
We hope you will join us in supporting Karen Rose-Gillis and Tony D’Arezzo for Select Board when you vote on or before April 8. We believe they each will bring their own talents, relevant background, and volunteer experiences to the Select Board to make it a more effective, well-rounded, and less divided board.
We have known Karen since our eldest son started in Boy Scouts in 2008. She was a valued member of the Troop 728 Adult Leadership Committee and held the important and thankless position of treasurer for many years, even after her sons aged out of scouting. THAT is the essence of volunteerism; doing the selfless work that no one else wants to do because it needs to get done, and wanting to contribute to the greater good. Karen is thoughtful, easy to work with, both analytical and compassionate, and will deliberate on issues with an open mind. She has lived in Reading for over 32 years. She recently served on the downtown Parking Advisory and Recommendation Committee (PARC), which made recommendations to the Select Board and Town Meeting, and she serves on the Eastern Gateway Priority Planning Steering Committee, which is exploring development in Market Basket/Walker’s Brook area. Karen is eager and ready to move to a leadership position and to serve on the Select Board.
Tony has impressed us by his close to 30 years as a Town Meeting member and his years of service on the Community Planning and Development Committee (CPDC). Tony has stated that his leadership goals are to protect the community, preserve the character of the Town, and to prepare for the future. He is experienced, knowledgeable, and capable of leading the Town through changes we will face in the future.
We are looking for a Select Board that understands our Town and represents a greater cross section of residents and businesses than the current board does. Karen Rose-Gillis and Tony D’Arezzo are the best people for the job right now. Mr. Christopher Cook just moved to Reading in September, 2024. He lacks the context, familiarity with, and knowledge of the Town needed to serve on the Select Board in 2025. We hope he volunteers on a board or committee and serves the Town in that capacity right now, as he learns about Reading and the needs and desires of the community.
Karen and Tony have seen many changes in Reading over the years that they have lived here, and they are best suited to balance the varied needs and desires of the community as we move into the next quarter-century. Please consider voting for them as you head to the polls.
Sincerely,
Angela F. Binda, Town Meeting member
Jeffrey B. Dietz, Town Meeting member
10 Orchard Park Drive
