Below is a summarized version of the Select Board meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
- 📋 Summary
- 📑 Agenda Overview
- 🗣️ Public Comment
- 🏢 Administrator / Manager Report
- 🌟 Community Spotlight
- 📢 Public Hearing & Vote
- 🗳 Discussion & Vote – Liaison Assignments
- 🗳 Discussion & Vote – National Public Works Week Resolution
- 🗳 Discussion – Cannabis Control Commission Letter
- 🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights
- 🗓 Future Agenda Items
- ✅ Meeting Minutes Approved
- 🗳 Discussion & Vote – Executive Session Entry
- 🔑 Key Summary
📅 May 12, 2026 Select Board Meeting
🕒 Meeting Start: 00:03:44
⏰ Meeting End: 01:36:06
💻 Format: Hybrid (In-person with Zoom participation)
👤 Chair: Melissa Murphy
👥 Attendees: Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Gillis, Karen Gately Herrick, Sal Bramante, Christopher Haley, Jayne Wellman, Madeleine Baptiste
🚫 Absent: None noted
📋 Summary
The Select Board received public comment, heard a comprehensive Town Manager report, recognized community members and Town staff, and acted on several policy and administrative matters. Key actions included approval of parking regulation amendments on Woburn Street following a public hearing, adoption of updated liaison assignments, and approval of a resolution recognizing National Public Works Week.
Later in the meeting, Board members provided extensive liaison reports covering capital projects, historic preservation efforts, school construction updates, and community events. The Board discussed future agenda items including potential digital-only legal notices and parking enforcement issues, approved prior meeting minutes, and voted unanimously to enter executive session to review and release past executive session minutes.
📑 Agenda Overview
| ⏰ Start Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:03:44 | Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance |
| 00:05:54 | Public Comment |
| 00:15:22 | Town Manager Report |
| 00:26:06 | Community Spotlight |
| 00:29:31 | Public Hearing – Woburn Street Parking |
| 00:40:38 | Liaison Assignments |
| 00:49:08 | National Public Works Week Resolution |
| 00:54:39 | Cannabis Control Commission Letter Discussion |
| 01:10:45 | Liaison Reports |
| 01:26:45 | Future Agenda Items |
| 01:34:07 | Approval of Meeting Minutes |
| 01:35:12 | Executive Session |
🗣️ Public Comment
⏰ 00:05:54 – 00:15:22
👤 Presenter(s): Kendra Cooper, Ron Powell, Deidre Morales, Nick Rocco
Key Themes:
- Concerns about residents without internet access being excluded from civic information and meetings.
- Alleged Open Meeting Law compliance issues related to Board of Health wildlife feeding regulations.
- Introduction of Deidre Morales as new Executive Director of Reading Community Television.
- Concerns from a downtown business owner regarding selective enforcement of overnight parking bylaws.
🏢 Administrator / Manager Report
⏰ 00:15:22 – 00:26:06
👤 Presenter(s): Jayne Wellman, Town Manager
💼 Economic / Financial Updates
- Overview of a newly negotiated three-year health insurance agreement with the Public Employee Committee.
- Transition to deductible-based plans, addition of a lower-cost HMO option, dental subsidy, and vision coverage.
- Projected savings of approximately $3.9 million over three years.
- Agreement unanimously approved by the Select Board on April 14, 2026.
🚆 Transportation / Infrastructure
- MBTA plans to replace two rail culverts near Mallets Morgan and Willow Street.
- Work is unrelated to the Turnback Track project.
- Anticipated overnight work; Town will seek advance notice to inform residents.
- Conservation Commission site visit scheduled for May 25, with a meeting on May 27.
🌟 Community Spotlight
⏰ 00:26:06 – 00:29:31
👤 Presenter(s): Jayne Wellman
- Recognition of Reading Police Department members for service milestones:
- Lt. Kevin Brown and Officer Keith Hurley – 25 years.
- Deputy Chief Christine Amandola and Sgt. Corey Santasky – 20 years.
- Acknowledgment of Shirley Schicker’s 100th birthday and her community contributions.
📢 Public Hearing & Vote
⏰ 00:29:31 – 00:40:12
👤 Presenter(s): Town Staff, Select Board
Applicant / Proposal:
- Amendments to Woburn Street parking regulations removing four parking spaces near Brande Court to address safety concerns.
Key Points:
- Documented traffic pinch point with accidents and emergency vehicle access issues.
- Reviewed by Town traffic safety staff and committees.
- Christopher Haley recused due to abutter status.
Vote:
✅ Approved
Vote Count: 4–0–0 (one recusal)
🗳 Discussion & Vote – Liaison Assignments
⏰ 00:40:38 – 00:49:00
👤 Presenter(s): Select Board
Overview:
- Review and adjustment of Select Board liaison assignments.
- Agreement to swap Burbank and Audit Committee assignments for one year.
Vote:
✅ Approved as amended
Vote Count: 5–0–0
🗳 Discussion & Vote – National Public Works Week Resolution
⏰ 00:49:08 – 00:54:36
👤 Presenter(s): Christopher Haley
Overview:
- Resolution declaring May 17–23, 2026 as National Public Works Week in Reading.
- Recognition of Department of Public Works staff contributions.
Vote:
✅ Approved
Vote Count: 4–0–0
🗳 Discussion – Cannabis Control Commission Letter
⏰ 00:54:39 – 01:10:45
👤 Presenter(s): Jayne Wellman, Select Board
Overview:
- Discussion on whether to submit a two-year opt-out waiver prohibiting cannabis delivery in Reading.
- Review of the Town’s 2017 vote banning retail cannabis.
- No immediate deadline; delivery currently permitted under new state law.
Outcome:
🔄 Continued
- Board agreed to gather additional information and revisit the topic at a future meeting.
- No vote taken.
🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights
⏰ 01:10:45 – 01:26:20
👤 Presenter(s): Karen Gately Herrick, Karen Rose-Gillis, Christopher Haley, Jayne Wellman
- Permanent Building Committee / Council on Aging: Updates on Pleasant Street Center planning, including accessibility, space dividers, kitchen design, and building systems; noted Zoom security issues at a recent meeting.
- Historic Preservation: Reading Historical Commission assisted church property owners with a partial restoration plan for a protected tower.
- Capital & Facilities: Discussion of prioritizing an aging municipal building for capital replacement due to safety, air quality, and leasing constraints.
- Killam School Project: HVAC scope required rebidding but will not delay the project; groundbreaking to be scheduled once the contractor is on site.
- Community Events:
- Shirley Schicker’s 100th birthday celebration.
- Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) groundbreaking and AprilFest.
- Arbor Day planting of approximately 500 native trees in the Town Forest.
- Grand opening of Oasis restaurant.
- Boards & Committees: Updates from the Affordable Housing Trust, Commission on Disabilities inaugural meeting, and Housing Authority capital projects and Porchfest participation.
- Professional Development & Community Services: MMA webinar participation and food pantry program updates.
🗓 Future Agenda Items
⏰ 01:26:45 – 01:34:07
👤 Presenter(s): Christopher Haley, Karen Rose-Gillis, Jayne Wellman
- Potential home rule petition to allow digital-only legal notices, modeled after Arlington.
- Request for multi-year cost data related to newspaper legal notices.
- Discussion of paperless communication balanced with access for residents without internet service.
- Future review of parking enforcement and valet operations on Haven Street during construction.
✅ Meeting Minutes Approved
⏰ 01:34:07 – 01:35:12
👤 Presenter(s): Karen Rose-Gillis
- April 6, 2026 Minutes: Approved as presented.
- April 14, 2026 Minutes: Approved as presented.
- Vote: Unanimous by roll call.
🗳 Discussion & Vote – Executive Session Entry
⏰ 01:35:12 – 01:36:06
👤 Presenter(s): Karen Rose-Gillis
Purpose:
- Review, approve, and authorize release of executive session minutes from March 24, 2026 and April 6, 2026 in accordance with MGL c.30A §22.
Vote:
✅ Approved
Vote Count: Unanimous (roll call)
Action included adjournment from executive session.
🔑 Key Summary
- Approved removal of four Woburn Street parking spaces following a public hearing to address safety concerns.
- Adopted updated Select Board liaison assignments and a resolution recognizing National Public Works Week.
- Received a Town Manager report highlighting a new health insurance agreement projected to save approximately $3.9 million over three years.
- Discussed but deferred action on opting out of cannabis delivery under new state law.
- Liaison reports covered capital projects, historic preservation, school construction, and multiple community events.
- Approved April 6 and April 14, 2026 meeting minutes unanimously.
- Voted unanimously to enter executive session to review and release prior executive session minutes.
