Select Board recap: December 18, 2025
(8-10 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 Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review the full Select Board packet.
Key takeaways
Select Board extends RCTV Grant Agreement
After reviewing revisions made since December 2, the Board approved a 3.5-year Grant Agreement that outlines expectations for broadcasting, fundraising, and event coverage.
ACE Committee given additional year
The Board extended the sunset date of the Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment (ACE) Committee to January 2027, allowing more time to continue community engagement and develop programming.
Board reviews draft agreement with Burbank Ice Arena
Members discussed early-stage updates to the Memorandum of Understanding and Master License Agreement related to parking and rent payment processes as part of the planning for the proposed Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL).
RCTV Grant Agreement approved [0:06:23]
The Board voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the updated Grant Agreement (GA) with RCTV, following weeks of negotiations and revisions.
Vice Chair Melissa Murphy summarized key changes since the December 2 meeting, including:
Extending the GA to 3.5 years instead of the short 1.5-year term with a 2-year renewal option, noting the long contract will support RCTV’s search to fill the Executive Director role formerly held by Phil Rushworth.
Ensuring that the Town will provide Zoom recordings to RCTV, which must post them to Youtube within five days.
Requiring RCTV to host four fundraisers per year, though the Board debated whether fundraising should be considered a Material Breach.
Formally requesting coverage of at least one candidate forum during the local election season.
Updating procedures in Exhibit C and clarifying a list of “Core Events” and “Core Meetings” to be covered.
Debate over fundraising as a Material Breach
Board members engaged in an extended discussion about whether failing to meet fundraising goals should constitute a Material Breach of the agreement.
Member Carlo Bacci argued in favor of keeping fundraising tied to a breach, stating accountability requires consequences.
RCTV Board of Directors President Kathi Crooks countered that fundraising primarily benefits RCTV, not the Town, and that stronger communication structures, including quarterly meetings with Town leadership, provide sufficient accountability.
Member Karen Rose-Gillis supported removing fundraising as a breach, emphasizing that accountability is embedded throughout the contract.
The Board ultimately removed fundraising as a Material Breach.
Clarifying Core Events and Candidate Forums
Both boards agreed to include Board of Library Trustees (BoLT) Zoom Meetings as Core Meetings and set expectations around local election programming:
If multiple contested races require separate forums, RCTV will cover them.
Select Board and School Committee forums typically occur in one night.
RCTV is not obligated to cover multiple forums hosted by different organizing entities.
ACE Committee extended through January 2027 [1:44:36]
Select Board liaison David Monihan requested that the Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment (ACE) Committee be extended an additional year so it may:
Continue developing recommendations for the Board
Deepend community engagement
Launch new programming
The Board voted 5-0 to approve the extension.
Discussions on Burbank Agreement [1:46:55]
The Board received an overview of two key documents:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining shared parking plans between the future Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) and Burbank Ice Arena.
A Master License Agreement (MLA) addressing rent payments and administrative obligations.
Town Counsel Ivria Fried was asked to provide a document comparing previous and proposed MLA versions.
Concerns around rent payments and accountability
Board member Karen Herrick highlighted several issues:
The MLA has not been substantially updated since the 1990s, despite renewals in 2011 and 2023.
Burbank Ice Arena, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, has not consistently submitted rent payments or required annual documentation, forcing Town staff to repeatedly follow up.
Funding for the Unified Sports program should not depend on inconsistent rent payments.
Herrick urged the Board to consider:
Adding fundraising expectations
Defining Material Breaches
Requiring a Capital Improvement Plan
Board member Karen Rose-Gillis echoed concerns about the stability of Unified Sports funding given the inconsistent rent payments.
Notable contrast with RCTV discussion
Observers noted a marked difference in member Bacci’s tone and engagement. After forcefully advocating for strict fundraising and Material Breach clauses in the RCTV discussion, Bacci was largely silent during the Burbank debate and did not push for similar accountability measures. Chair Haley did not address questions related to accountability measures within the Burbank contract, as he had done during the RCTV discussion. Instead, he shifted focus to unrelated topics, arguing that the community only elevates accessibility concerns when it benefits them, citing past debates involving the MBTA and the train depot. He further suggested that some Select Board members are unwilling to support Unified Sports when presented with the opportunity.
This framing overlooked the fact that both members Herrick and Rose-Gillis expressed clear support for maintaining stable funding for Unified Sports. Their stated position focused on ensuring consistency, not reducing or withholding support.
Town Counsel stated negotiations with Burbank leadership are in the early stages.
Town Manager 360-degree evaluation process [2:52:00]
The Board discussed which staff members would participate in the Town Manager’s upcoming performance review.
Per the Town Manager’s contract, two department heads are required:
Dr. Tom Milaschewski, Superintendent of Schools
Amy Lannon, Library Director
The Board also selected five additional staff:
Sharon Angstrom, CFO/Town Accountant
Jayne Wellman, Assistant Town Manager
Joe Huggins, Director of Facilities
Kevin Furilla, Chief Technology Officer
Rick Nelson, Fire Chief
After the meeting: resident confrontation and police response
Shortly after the meeting adjourned, tensions flared when a resident came to Town Hall seeking to give public comment.
The resident stated she attempted to speak earlier via Zoom - her hand was raised, but she was not recognized. She explained:
“I went to Town Hall to speak for public comment, as I was not recognized on Zoom. The meeting had just ended. I worked until 9, but [Chair] Haley always says that he allows public comment after each agenda item. My hand was raised on Zoom. They may not have seen it, but he should have recognized me as soon as he realized the mistake. He did not ask me to wait a minute or until after this item. He said that he had moved on.”
When she sought to speak in person, Chair Haley and Vice Chair Murphy raised their voices and exchanged heated words with her, escalating the situation. Reading Police were called to Town Hall.
Officers spoke with the resident outside the building. She reiterated her frustration that:
She had repeatedly followed proper channels with Town Staff and state offices since March regarding the behavior of members Haley and Bacci.
She has not seen any recourse, acknowledgement, or apologies.
The inconsistency of public comment rules contributes to resident distrust.
After speaking with the responding officers, the resident thanked them for listening and left without further incident.
A pattern of inconsistent public comment rules
The incident highlighted ongoing concerns about how public comment is managed under the current chair.
This meeting was held on a Thursday, rather than the Select Board’s typical Tuesday schedule - marking the second Thursday meeting in two months.
Residents have struggled to get consistent answers about when they are allowed to speak.
Under Chair Haley, the recent practice has been to allow public comment after each agenda item.
However, during the December 18 meeting, the Chair allowed comment on the Burbank item before discussion began. A second resident, who was in the meeting room, wished to speak about the subject, but needed to leave before the discussion would be over. While the Chair granted this resident the chance to comment, he did not clarify how that would impact comments after discussion, nor did he recognize the other resident’s hand on Zoom when she attempted to speak at what she thought was the appropriate time.
When the Board moved on to the Town Manager review without checking for online public comment, the resident briefly asked to speak, and the Chair replied they were “moving on.”
The lack of consistent enforcement and clarity remains a recurring concern for residents.
Image of the December 18, 2025, Select Board meeting from the RCTV Youtube page. Pictured (left to right): Board members Karen Rose-Gillis, Karen Herrick, Melissa Murphy, Chris Haley, Carlo Bacci, Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman, and Town Manager Matt Kraunelis.
