What to know about Reading’s Charter changes on the April 7 ballot
(4-5 minute read)
As voters head to the polls for the April 7 Annual Town Election, they will notice a question on the back of the ballot asking whether to approve a series of proposed changes to Reading’s Home Rule Charter.
Here’s what you need to know before casting your vote.
Why is this question on the ballot?
Reading’s Home Rule Charter, the document that outlines how the town is governed, must be reviewed at least once every 10 years.
A Charter Review Committee was convened in the fall of 2023
Proposed changes were presented at the Subsequent Town Meeting on November 10, November 13, & November 17, 2025
Now, voters must weigh in on the portion of those changes that fall within local authority.
Some additional changes, those requiring state approval, are being sent to the Legislature as a Special Act, but they will only take effect if voters approve the ballot question.
What is the ballot question asking?
The ballot question asks voters whether they support adopting the approved Charter amendments.
A “Yes” vote would:
Approve the local changes
Allow related provisions requiring state approval to move forward
A “No” vote would:
Reject the proposed amendments
What are the proposed changes?
Most of the updates are technical, focusing on making the Charter clearer, more modern, and easier to use.
Simplifying and modernizing language
Updates outdated wording
Makes language gender-neutral
Clarifies definitions and procedures
Example:
“Majority vote” is redefined to clearly mean a majority of those present and voting
Improving transparency and access
Expands the definition of “local news medium” to include the Town website
Clarifies that meeting minutes and rules should be available online
These changes reflect how residents now access information.
Clarifying roles and processes
Several updates aim to make town operations more consistent and easier to understand:
Renames the Ombudsman to Constituent Services Officer
Clarifies appointment processes for key committee roles
Updates qualifications for certain administrative positions
Adjustments to boards and committees
Sets the Historical Commission membership at 5 members
Sets the Town Forest Committee membership at 5 members
These changes formalize existing structures.
Updates to recall and removal process
Some of the more substantive changes involve accountability processes:
Adjusts the number of signatures required for a recall
Expands timelines for filing recall petitions
Adds additional notice requirements
Clarifies procedures for removing appointed officials
Town Manager provisions
Updates to qualifications for the role
Removes automatic termination pay from the Charter
Any such provisions would instead be handled through a contract
What’s not on the ballot?
Some changes, those that go beyond local authority, are not directly voted on in this election.
Instead, they are:
Submitted to the State Legislature as a Special Act
Dependent on local voter approval to take effect
Why this matters
The Charter serves as the foundation of Reading’s local government, shaping:
How decisions are made
How officials are appointed or removed
How residents engage with our town government
While many of the proposed updates are administrative, some, particularly those related to recall and governance processes, affect how accountability works in practice.
Key takeaways
Voters on April 7 will be asked to decide whether to adopt a set of Charter updates largely aimed at modernizing language, clarifying procedures, and refining governance processes, with some changes also affecting accountability and board structures.
