Select Board recap: Budget Night 1
(6-8 minute read)
For residents looking to stay up to date on key town matters, this recap highlights major takeaways from the Select Board meeting held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review the full Select Board packet.
Key takeaways
The first night of FY26 budget discussions covered five major departments: Police, Fire, Health, Technology, and Public Works. Each department outlined staffing needs, operational challenges, and budget impacts heading into the next fiscal year.
Across departments, salary and overtime pressure continue to be the primary drivers of budget increases. Officials cited contractual obligations, staffing shortages, and rising service demand as significant contributors.
Select Board members focused heavily on community impact, transparency, and long-term planning. Questions throughout the night centered on service levels, grants, fee structures, and opportunities for interdepartmental collaboration.
Police Department [0:02:09]
Deputy Police Chief Christine Amendola presented an overview of staffing, community outreach, call volume, and updates from the Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support (RCPS).
Community engagement continues to grow, with more Certified Car Seat clinics, R.A.D. Self-defense classes, Special Olympics support, and senior-center programming at Pleasant Street Center, Pearl Street, and Peter Sandborn Place.
As of Nov. 20, calls for service were slightly down from 2024. Domestic violence and motor vehicle stops increased, while mental health calls and car crashes declined.
Public Records Requests have risen sharply - up 45% from 2024 and 70% from 2023.
The department is requesting a 2.59% budget increase, covering salaries and operations across police officers, dispatch, and RCPS.
Cost-saving shifts include reallocating funds from discontinued services (such as Cell Monitors) and adjusting crossing-guard needs to offset overtime and training increases.
Board discussion
Board members asked about the rise in PRRs and whether collaboration with Town Hall could reduce workload, but Chief David Clark noted that most requests stem from state-law changes and motor-vehicle accident inquiries, with little overlap between departments. Members also praised increased outreach and requested that future presentations include grant and donation totals to highlight the full financial picture.
Fire Department [0:55:46]
Fire Chief Rick Nelson reviewed staffing needs, ambulance billing changes, and grant successes.
Reading Fire includes the Fire Department, EMS, fire prevention, and emergency management, all focused on life safety and environmental protection.
The department is requesting increases to salaries and overtime while keeping expenses level. Overtime is proposed to rise from $530,000 to $600,000, reflecting historical patterns where transfers were often needed.
Changes to ambulance billing practices have generated an additional $400,000 in revenue, plus an anticipated $250,000-$300,000 increase going forward.
FY25 grants included:
Safety & Equipment: $22,595
SAFE: $5,700
Senior SAFE: $2,400
EMPG: $6,500
AFG Federal Grant: $84,650
Chief Nelson noted uncertainty around future federal grant availability.
Board discussion
Members asked about the impact of increased permit fees tied to ambulance billing. Chief Nelson shared that revenue rose from ~$15,000 annually to ~$30,000, with proceeds returning to the General Fund.
Health Department [1:34:56]
Public Health Director Ade Solarin outlined department functions, community events, and staffing.
Monthly and seasonal programming includes blood pressure screenings, mammogram/vision/hearing exams, and vaccination clinics.
The department is requesting a 2.62% increase to cover salaries for four full-time staff members: Director, Admin, Nurse, and Health Inspector.
Board discussion
Questions focused on event attendance, proper disposal of medical supplies and medication, and the status of rodent mitigation program. Solarin reported strong engagement in community events, readily available disposal options at Town Hall, and a notable decrease in rodent complaints due to effective funding and mitigation work.
Technology Department [1:54:48]
Chief Information Officer Kevin Furilla detailed the department‘s town-wide support role and budget departments.
Priorities include cybersecurity, infrastructure reliability, and modernization across all municipal departments.
The Tech Department is requesting a 2.5% increase for salaries and most expenses.
A significant driver in the budget is a new $78,000 Public Safety Subscription, which raises total expenses from 1.9% to 12.17%. This subscription is essential for Police and Fire operations and is non-negotiable.
Furilla also noted expected increases in workload and future technology upgrades needed for the new Reading Center for Active Living.
Board discussion
The Board asked whether the Hospital Trust Fund might be used to support technology needs.
Public Works [2:41:18]
DPW Director Chris Cole presented on major projects, service levels, and FY26 budget requests.
DPW completed extensive work over the past year, including:
Rollout of new trash & recycling carts
Removal of 144 hazardous/dead trees; planting 115 trees; trimming of 578 hazardous limbs
Resurfacing of 4.7 miles of road, repairing 300 potholes, and replacing 4,300 ft of sidewalk
Servicing 200 town vehicles/equipment
Processing 2,244 SeeClickFix requests
A new 5-year trash & recycling contract begins July 5, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with an FY27 annual cost of $2,289,279.
DPW is requesting an overall 1.4% budget increase, with salaries down 0.3% and expenses up 6.8%.
Board discussion
Topics included the second water meter applications (currently paused through the winter for processing), overtime management, and streetlight maintenance. Cole clarified that streetlight costs are primarily electricity, as LED conversions were completed in prior years.
Image of the December 3, 2025, Select Board meeting from the RCTV Youtube page. Pictured (left to right): Board members Karen Rose-Gillis, Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, Carlo Bacci, and Town Manager Matt Kraunelis. Member Karen Herrick attended via Zoom.
