Select Board recap: March 10, 2026

Mar 24

(6-7 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, March 10, 2026.

Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.

Review the full Select Board packet.

Key takeaways

Burbank lease and parking agreements approved amid debate
The Board approved amendments to the Burbank Ice Arena lease and a parking agreement, but not without significant discussion over financial terms, governance, and the allocation of rent revenue.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant officially closed
The Board finalized the warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting, including key articles related to recreation funding and the pickleball project.
Town Manager search process moves forward with internal candidate
The Board voted to move ahead with interviewing Acting Town Manager Jayne Wellman, prompting discussion about whether to conduct a broader search.

Discussion surrounding lease amendments and parking agreements with Burbank Ice Arena [0:25:59]

Acting Town Manager Jayne Wellman presented proposed updates to the Master Lease Agreement with Burbank Ice Arena, along with a parking agreement tied to the pickleball project.

Key elements of the proposal included:

Increasing the contingency fund from $300,000 to $500,000 to reflect rising material costs
Maintaining restricted access to the rear lot, with coordination between Burbank and pickleball project leaders
Allocating 28 parking spaces (including one accessible spot) for pickleball use
Allowing shared overflow parking between Burbank and the Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL)

Board discussions focused heavily on the contingency increase and broader financial structure.

Carl McFadden, Select Board liaison to the Burbank Board, suggested phasing in the increase over four years to reduce impacts on rent payments
Some members raised concerns about the negotiation process and whether the Select Board had sufficient input before the agreement was presented
Others emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate reserves, given the high cost of rink equipment

Public comment included:

Students and residents advocating for Unified Sports programming
Concerns about whether Burbank rent should fund specific programs versus going into Free Cash
Questions about alternative funding approaches

After extended discussion, including input from Town Counsel, the Board:

Approved the lease amendment (5-0)
Approved the parking agreement (5-0)
Voted 3-2 to allocate 50%-100% of rent revenue to two proposed stabilization funds (Herrick and Rose-Gillis opposed)

Closing the warrant for April Town Meeting [1:50:41]

Wellman presented updates to the Annual Town Meeting warrant based on prior Board feedback.

Key updates included:

Article 11: Clarifies land dedication tied to the PARC grant for the pickleball project
Article 14: Establishes two stabilization funds, one for adaptive school sports and one for recreation programming, funded by Burbank rent

Town staff noted that returning a PARC grant would be difficult and could involve financial penalties.

The Board voted 5-0 to close the warrant, finalizing the articles that will be presented to Town Meeting.

Select Board letter regarding the Legislative Audit [2:15:24]

The Board voted 5-0 to send a revised letter to state legislative leaders expressing support for implementing Question 1 from the November 2024 ballot, which authorizes the State Auditor to audit the Massachusetts Legislature.

Discussions included:

The importance of following through on voter-approved initiatives
Ongoing legal and political considerations surrounding the audit’s implementation

VASC appointments confirmed [2:23:28]

The Board unanimously approved a slate of appointments recommended by the Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee (VASC).

Appointments included positions across several boards and committees, such as:

Climate Advisory Committee
Commission on Disabilities
Council on Aging
Recreation Committee
Town Forest Committee
Trails Committee

Board members also acknowledged the effort required to coordinate interviews, particularly following the recent blizzard.

Authorization for contracts over $500,000 [2:30:08]

The Board voted 4-0 (with Chair Chris Haley recusing) to authorize the Acting Town Manager to execute major contracts exceeding $500,000.

Projects include:

Downtown High Street improvements - $4,037,410.00
Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) - $19,357,000.00 (notably $2,590,967 under budget)

Funding sources for the downtown project include local stabilization funds, prior TIP funding, water infrastructure funds, and a federal earmark.

Board members emphasized the importance of:

Coordinating with local businesses during construction
Ensuring timely execution of contracts to avoid project delays

Discussion on amending the Acting Town Manager contract [3:06:25]

The Board debated whether to amend the Acting Town Manager’s contract to remove a limiting clause.

Supporters argued the change would allow Wellman to more efficiently execute contracts and manage ongoing projects
Opponents raised concerns about maintaining adherence to the Town Charter and limiting the authority of an interim position

The discussion also included:

Reference to guidance from Town Counsel on handling executive session information
Haley raised a disputed claim regarding the sharing of confidential information, which other members said they were unaware of

The Board voted 4-1 to approve the amendment, with Herrick opposed.