Select Board recap: May 12, 2026
(3-4 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, May 12, 2026.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review the full Select Board packet.
Key takeaways
The Board approved updates to parking on Woburn Street, removing four spaces near a pitch that had contributed to numerous accidents over the past five years.
The Board confirmed its liaison appointments, with one change from the April 14 meeting.
The Board discussed the Cannabis Reform Law delivery opt-out but took no action, opting to gather more information before making a decision.
Update to parking on Woburn Street [0:29:28]
The Board approved two amendments to parking on Woburn Street, removing four spaces from a stretch near Bancroft Road where parking on both sides creates a dangerous pinch point, particularly in winter. The area has seen 11 accidents over the past five years, including incidents involving Reading Fire Department apparatus. The proposal came through the Parking, Traffic, and Transportation Task Force (PTTTF), a monthly public safety committee.
Member Chris Haley recused himself from the discussion because he owns property on Haven Street that uses the Brande Court lot adjacent to the area in question. The Board voted 4-0 to approve both parking amendments.
Liaison assignments [0:40:40]
The Board voted 5-0 to confirm the liaison assignments discussed at the April 14, 2026, meeting, with one update: Karen Herrick will serve as liaison to the Audit Committee, following Chris Haley’s appointment as liaison to the Burbank Ice Arena.
National Public Works Week Resolution [0:49:05]
The Board passed a resolution recognizing National Public Works Week, honoring the work of Reading’s Department of Public Works staff. DPW Director Chris Cole thanked the Board, and members, in turn, recognized the department’s efforts during a particularly difficult winter season. Board member Melissa Murphy departed the meeting shortly before the vote.
Discussion on cannabis law reform opt-out [0:54:30]
Town Manager Jayne Wellman briefed the Board on a recent change in state law: under a new comprehensive cannabis reform bill, all municipalities must now permit cannabis delivery unless they actively opt out. Reading’s Town Meeting voted in 2017 to ban cannabis retail sales, but that vote did not address home delivery, which is not a separate question.
Wellman noted that cannabis delivery, including medical, is currently permitted in Reading, and the Board would need to formally request a waiver from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) to opt out of recreational delivery. There is no deadline for that request, and the CCC has not yet finalized its opt-out process.
Board members raised a range of considerations; several members noted that the 2017 vote reflected a different climate and that the stigma around cannabis has shifted considerably. Members also flagged the revenue question: under current law, cannabis delivery tax revenue goes to the municipality where the retailer is located, not where the customer lives, meaning Reading collects nothing from deliveries made here. Some members expressed interest in revisiting the policy, particularly in light of the town’s ongoing financial pressures, while others wanted more information before taking any action.
The Board took no vote. Wellman will return with additional data, including revenue figures from comparable towns, before the matter is placed back on the agenda.
Image of the May 12, 2026 Select Board meeting from the RCTV Youtube page. Pictured (left to right): Board members Sal Bramante, Karen Rose-Gillis, Chris Haley, and Town Manager Jayne Wellman. Members Karen Herrick and Melissa Murphy attended via Zoom.
