Select Board Recap: September 9, 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 Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.*
Review the full Select Board packet.
Key takeaways
Reading Food Pantry proposal - The Pantry presented its vision to relocate to the Pleasant Street Center (PSC), tying into broader town conversations about the future of the PSC property.
Charter review session - The first of two public information sessions highlighted proposed Charter updates, which will go to Town Meeting in November and then to voters in April 2026.
Preview of Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant - The Town Manager and Town Counsel previewed November’s warrant articles, including a potential new Snow Shoveling Bylaw.
Reading Food Pantry [0:01:34]
Reading Food Pantry Executive Director Simone Payment and Board President Sean Tesoro gave a presentation on the Pantry’s history, current challenges, and proposal to relocate operations to the Pleasant Street Center (PSC).
History & Growth: Founded in 1979 with a single cabinet for food, the Pantry now operates two days a week and serves more residents than ever due to rising costs. In 2024 alone, the Pantry supported 400+ neighbors per month, with over 100 active volunteers, distributing more than 15,000 bags of food.
Challenges: Their current location in Old South United Church is becoming too small, with limited accessibility, scattered storage across multiple rooms, and safety concerns for volunteers.
Why PSC?: Centrally located downtown, with available parking and stronger infrastructure, the PSC could support expanded hours, more efficient storage, and a by-appointment model where residents select their own food. A community kitchen could even support prepared food distribution. Renovations would focus on the basement and first floor, leaving upper floors available for other town uses.
Select Board feedback
Member Carlo Bacci asked about the Pantry’s financial arrangement with Old South United Church. Ms. Payment clarified that the current space is donated, but the Pantry is prepared to pay rent for PSC.
Chair Chris Haley asked whether the Pantry exclusively serves Reading families. Ms. Payment noted that while their primary mission is to serve Reading residents, they do not turn anyone away and direct non-residents to appropriate resources. She emphasized that hunger is often a “hidden problem” in the community.
Vice Chair Melissa Murphy and Member Karen Rose-Gillis both supported the idea of the Pantry using PSC in the future.
Charter Review session [0:04:56]
Chair Haley presented proposed updates from the Charter Review Committee. A memo outlining changes begins on Page 22 of the Select Board packet, with red-lined edits throughout the document.
Highlights of proposed changes
Replace gendered language (e.g. “Selectmen” to “Select Board”; “his/hers” to “theirs”)
Expanded definitions for “local news medium” and “majority vote”
Clarifications on Town Meeting Member removal, petition processes, and committee appointments
Establishing membership counts for the Historical Commission and Town Forest Committee
Updates to qualifications and removal processes for the Town Manager
Title change of Ombudsman to Constituent Services Officer
Adjustments to recall affidavit and signature requirements
Discussion points
Member Bacci raised the idea of stipends for elected officials, noting restrictions he faces due to conflict-of-interest laws. Member Karen Herrick supported exploring the idea, noting it is common practice in other towns and cities, while Member Rose-Gillis and Vice Chair Murphy opposed, citing timing and ongoing override discussions.
A second public information session will be held on Tuesday, September 16, during the next Select Board meeting.
Preview of Subsequent Town Meeting [0:11:23]
Town Counsel Ivria Fried advised that the Rule of Necessity may need to be invoked for Select Board members to participate in discussions on the proposed Snow Shoveling Bylaw, due to potential conflicts of interest as both residential and commercial property owners downtown.
Learn more about the Rule of Necessity.
Town Manager Matt Kraunelis outlined the warrant articles for November’s Subsequent Town Meeting:
Article 1: Reports (including Community Preservation Act Study Committee)
Article 2: Instructional Motions (typically deferred to final night)
Article 3: Amend the FY26-FY36 Capital Improvement Plan
Article 4: Amend the FY26 Budget
Article 5: Transfer $198,687.73 in funds from closed-out capital projects to the Killam School and Reading Center for Active Living
Article 6: Approve Payment for Prior Year’s Bills
Article 7: Adopt Ch. 60 Sec. 3F (establishing a municipal veterans assistance donation fund)
Article 8: Charter Amendments I (gender-neutral language)
Article 9: Charter Amendments II (Special Act adoption of additional Charter changes)
Article 10: $50,000 funding request for invasive species removal in the Town Forest
Article 11: Proposed Snow Shoveling Bylaw requiring property owners/managers to maintain sidewalks in the Downtown Smart Growth Overlay District.
A resident also requested the discussion of the Commission on Disability (CoD) before closing the warrant at the September 16 meeting. The Board decided to delay until the April 2026 Town Meeting.
Watch the forum of Proposed Charter Review Changes from August 29, 2024.
Image of the September 9, 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.
The RCTV Youtube livestream experienced issues during the meeting on September 9. A full recording of the meeting is available on the RCTV Youtube page.
