A Moment of Pause in a Town’s Tradition of Unity
In a move that surprised many, the Reading Select Board’s vote to proclaim October as Italian Heritage Month passed with a 4-0-1 vote—marking it potentially the first time by the primary governing body of the town (we went back 5+ years) that a proclamation did not receive unanimous support.
The proclamation, introduced by Select Board member Carlo Bacci, aimed to honor the rich cultural, historical, and civic contributions of Italian-Americans to Reading and the nation. Bacci, himself of Italian heritage, expressed pride in bringing the measure forward, noting that his uncle had been honored at the State House’s Italian Heritage Month celebration two years ago.
I wish I did this last year as chair,” Bacci said. “But I didn’t. So I requested it this year.”
The proclamation aligns with a 1999 Massachusetts law recognizing October as Italian-American Heritage Month and was intended to be a recurring annual recognition, similar to other proclamations the board has supported in the past, such as DPW Week and Pride Month.
A Break from Consensus
Despite the celebratory tone and widespread public support, Select Board member Karen Herrick chose to abstain from the vote, citing concerns about the precedent it might set and when the flag would go up. Herrick questioned whether approving the proclamation could limit the board’s ability to recognize other groups in the same month, even raising a hypothetical scenario involving an “Atheist American Month.”
I’m not sure I’m sold on this,” Herrick said. “We have to be very careful about how we do this and not run afoul of not being able to say no when, let’s say, the atheists want us to declare December as Atheist American Month.”
Her comments drew criticism from fellow board members and residents, who viewed the abstention as a departure from the board’s longstanding tradition of unanimous support for proclamations. Co-Chair Chris Haley clarified that proclamations proposed by board members are not subject to the same restrictions as the Town Common flag, and no flag was being flown as part of this proclamation.
Community Pride Overshadowed
The public response was overwhelmingly positive. Guy Manganiello delivered a stirring tribute to Italian contributions throughout history, while Giuseppe Fodera passionately spoke of the enduring values of faith, family, and culture within the Italian-American community.
The board ultimately approved the proclamation with a friendly amendment to remove the year “2025,” allowing the recognition to be made annually. Yet the lone abstention cast a shadow over what was meant to be a unifying moment of cultural pride.
A Missed Opportunity for Solidarity
For a board that has consistently voted 5-0 in favor of proclamations for as far back as we could research, Herrick’s abstention stood out—not just for its rarity, but for the message it sent. In a town that prides itself on inclusivity and community spirit, the lack of full support for Italian Heritage Month left some residents questioning whether all cultures are being equally celebrated.
Following the vote to approve the Italian Heritage Month proclamation, the document was circulated for signatures among the Select Board. All members signed the proclamation, with the exception of Herrick, whose signature is absent from the finalized copy as referenced in the photograph for this article.
