Select Board Recap: June 9, 2026
(6-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 Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review the full Select Board packet.
Key takeaways
The Board approved opening a second Dunkin’ location earlier, after delivery timing issues were addressed.
The Board approved new water and sewer rates for FY27.
The Board reviewed and discussed the Town Manager's goals developed at the May retreat.
Juneteenth Resolution [0:29:18]
The Select Board read and unanimously approved the Juneteenth Resolution.
Dunkin’ location early opening approved [0:32:25]
Business owner Vipin Khera returned to the Select Board with updated information on delivery and trash pickup timing at the 273 Salem Street location, and thanked the Board for bringing the issue to his attention. Trash deliveries have been occurring around 11:00 am, and two instances of donut deliveries after midnight will be addressed through monitoring. A separate delivery, in which the driver arrived at 5:45 am and left the engine running, will be addressed with the distribution center, which confirmed that 6:00 am is the earliest allowable arrival time. Board members thanked Khera for the follow-up and approved the early opening 5-0.
Water and sewer rates approved [0:39:39]
The Board continued discussion from its May 26 meeting regarding water and sewer rates. Vice Chair Karen Rose-Gillis thanked the working group for its recommendations and proposed a broader conversation about maintaining rate consistency for residents over the next several years while working toward a 30% reserve target. Other members supported the working group’s recommendations, which called for a 2% water rate increase and a 5% sewer rate decrease in FY27, to avoid sharp year-to-year swings.
Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom noted that the Stormwater Enterprise Fund, created in 2006, has long been subsidized by the General Fund. To move toward self-sufficiency, the Board agreed to raise the stormwater fee from $60 to $80 in two steps, adding $10 in FY27 and $10 in FY28.
Approved water rates:
$11.26 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 0 and 1,000 cu ft
$12.26 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 1001 and 2501
$12.57 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 2501 and 4000
$13.10 per 100 cu. ft. with usage above 4001
Minimum quarterly bill of $22.52, effective December 2026 billing
Approved sewer rates:
$9.88 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 0 and 1,000 cu ft
$10.80 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 1001 and 2501
$11.14 per 100 cu. ft. with usage between 2501 and 4000
$11.63 per 100 cu. ft. with usage above 4001
Minimum quarterly bill of $19.76, effective December 2026 billing
The Board also approved an FY27 stormwater rate of $70 per unit per year, billed quarterly. Chair Melissa Murphy recused herself from the discussion on the second water meter rate because she has a second water meter. That rate was set at $12.30, an average of the four water rate tiers.
Well maintenance in the Town Forest [1:26:02]
Department of Public Works Director Chris Cole told the Board that the Town Forest contains nine wells, three of which are maintained to preserve the Town’s water registration at a cost of about $20,000 per year. While the wells are currently maintained for state compliance, Cole said the Town will eventually need to decide their future, since allowing them to become unmaintainable could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to remedy.
Town Manager Jayne Wellman added context from past Town Meeting records, explaining that the Town was long ago urged to move off the Ipswich River, a stressed water basin, and join the MWRA instead of building its own treatment plant. As part of that agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Town has maintained its registration and remaining capacity within the Ipswich River basin, which downstream towns are not permitted to use. Cole noted that regular use of the wells would require a permit the Town is unlikely to obtain, and Wellman cautioned that drawing water from the system could void the Town’s agreement with the MWRA.
Board members offered mixed views. Murphy said the $20,000 annual cost to preserve the Town’s water rights is minimal, while Chris Haley questioned spending money to maintain wells for an emergency that may never happen. Rose-Gillis countered that the decision isn’t about the present, but what future generations may need a century from now. The Board took no action, and Wellman said she would return with more information at a future meeting.
Boards and Committee budget requests [1:42:05]
The Select Board reviewed funding requests totaling $23,950 from five town boards and committees, with up to $20,000 available to distribute while requests totaled $23,950 (page 43 of the packet):
Climate Advisory Committee: $500 for materials
Conservation Commission: totaling $6,950 for habitat restoration at Bare Meadow, educational materials, water line installation at Grove Street, bench replacement at Maillet, Sommes, and Morgan (MMS), and volunteer project support
Historical Commission: $1,500 to continue digitizing town records
Town Forest Committee: $10,000 to update the Forest Management Plant
Trails Committee: $5,000 for equipment and materials
Conservation Commission Chair Brian Bowe explained that the Bare Meadow work builds on an earlier Mass Audubon wildlife restoration study, while the Grove Street project would install a water line to support future plantings. He also noted that benches at MMS have become a safety concern due to heavy use, prompting a proposal to replace one with a steel bench on a concrete pad. Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone clarified that all of the Town’s polywood benches have become unusable due to sun exposure and heavy use, and that the contractor’s warranty covered only one year.
Tirone also presented on behalf of the Trails Committee, noting that its volunteers use their own vehicles and tools for projects and that the requested funds would go toward boardwalk replacement and maintenance.
Historical Commission member Samantha Couture requested funding for an archivist to continue work previously supported by ARPA funds, which had gone toward digitizing large photographs and maps, hiring temporary archival help, and upgrading the Town’s collection management software to CatalogueIT, improving the searchability of the Town’s historic records and artifacts.
Town Forest Committee Derek Puff explained the request for a consultant-led forest management plan, citing the need for detailed mapping and species accounting across the Town Forest’s 300 acres. He noted that some state grants require an active management plan, and the Town’s last plan is more than 15 years old.
Wellman said she believes she may be able to identify the additional $3,950 needed to fully fund all five requests.
Town Manager Goals [2:29:34]
Wellman presented a set of goals developed from the Select Board’s retreat held on May 2, 2026, organized around eight priority areas:
Strengthen long-range financial sustainability through multi-year planning and improved public understanding of budget drivers
Invest in workforce excellence, including staff attraction and retention, modernized HR processes, and expanded cybersecurity protections
Deliver on major capital projects, including the Killam and ReCAL projects and roadway improvements on Main Street, Salem Street, and Walkers Brook Drive
Enhance transportation safety and mobility, including a one-year micro-transit pilot and continued Safe Routes to School coordination near the Birch Meadow and Killam neighborhoods
Support economic development and strategic planning in Downtown Reading, the Walkers Brook corridor, and the Eastern Gateway
Advance environmental sustainability, including MS4 stormwater compliance and renewable energy opportunities on municipal land
Improve public engagement and transparency, including a planned Citizens’ Academy launching in summer or fall 2027
Expand technology and digital services, including upgraded permitting systems and improved ADA-compliant accessibility across town platforms by April 2028
Watch the May 26, 2026 Select Board meeting on the RCTV Youtube page. Seated (left to right): town staff Maddie Baptiste, Board members Karen Herrick, Karen Rose-Gillis, Melissa Murphy, Chris Haley, Sal Bramante, and Town Manager Jayne Wellman.
