Select Board Retreat recap: May 2, 2026
(10-12 minute read)
For residents looking to stay up to date on key town matters, this recap highlights major takeaways from the Select Board retreat held on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review the Select Board agenda.
Key takeaways
The Select Board discussed creating a small subcommittee to review and modernize board policies, including ethics, protocols, communication practices, and meeting procedures.
Town officials outline growing financial concerns heading into FY28, including declining reserves, structural budget deficits, and the increasing likelihood of a future override vote.
Board members and Town staff discussed ways to improve community engagement, public communication, and trust in local government ahead of difficult financial conversations expected later this year.
Board roles, responsibilities, and working relationships [0:40:57]
After an icebreaker activity, the discussion turned to Select Board dynamics, governance responsibilities, and how members can work together more effectively moving forward.
Facilitator Jeff Nutting led a discussion on the Board’s most important responsibilities. Topics raised included:
Hiring and evaluating the Town Manager
Setting long-term policy direction
Resolving issues that cannot be handled elsewhere in government
Building trust and maintaining respectful communication among Board members
Several Board members acknowledged challenges created by disagreements, public criticism, and social media tensions, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and respect during meetings.
Members discussed:
Avoiding personal conflicts during meetings
Supporting one another publicly, even when disagreements exist
Improving communication before meetings
Maintaining public trust and confidence in the Board
Town Manager Jayne Wellman described efforts to meet individually with Board members ahead of meetings to help work through issues before public discussion, which several members said has improved the meeting atmosphere and collaboration.
The conversation also included a discussion about balancing healthy disagreement with the need for the Board to function cohesively as a governing body.
Select Board policies and procedures [1:14:55]
The Board also discussed updating several internal policies and protocols.
Topics included:
Ethics and Board protocol updates
Social media expectations
Chair responsibilities
Public comment procedures
Chain-of-command and communication guidance for residents and Board members
Officials discussed forming a subcommittee to review policies and bring recommendations back to the full Board.
Several members also discussed the Chair's role in managing meetings, keeping discussions on track, and ensuring respectful conduct among members and the public.
Town officials noted that some current procedures may need modernization or clarification, particularly regarding communication practices and expectations for Board operations.
Financial outlook and potential override discussion [1:28:32]
A significant portion of the meeting focused on Reading’s long-term financial outlook and the growing likelihood of an override discussion heading into FY28.
Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom reviewed reserve balances, Free Cash trends, debt planning, and structural budget concerns.
According to the presentation:
The Town’s reserves are declining below recommended levels
Free Cash is being depleted faster than it can currently regenerate
Rising costs continue to outpace Proposition 2 ½ revenue growth
Inflation, retirement obligations, and special education costs are driving significant increases
Officials explained that bond rating agencies generally prefer reserve levels between 20-30%, while Reading is projected to fall well below that threshold without additional revenue measures.
Town officials also discussed:
The possibility of a November override vote
Structuring override options at different funding levels
Potential impacts on staffing and services if an override fails
Borrowing strategies for future capital projects
Angstrom noted that previous overrides occurred in 1993, 2003, and 2018, and suggested the Town likely waited too long to begin the current override discussion.
Officials emphasized that the financial challenges are not tied to a single issue but rather to a combination of inflationary pressures, rising operational costs, and structural limitations under Proposition 2 ½.
Board members also discussed the need to better educate residents about:
How municipal budgeting works
What services are funded through the budget
The consequences of failing to pass an override
The relationship between school funding, staffing, and community services
Community engagement and public communication [3:26:45]
Toward the end of the meeting, Board members and staff discussed concerns about declining civic participation and challenges reaching residents with important information.
Ideas discussed included:
Increasing community forums and informational sessions
Improving the Town website and meeting calendars
Expanding video and multimedia communication
Using water bills and other mailings to share information
Creating clearer public guides explaining Town finances and services
Members acknowledged that the override discussion will require significant public outreach and community education over the coming months.
Officials also discussed the importance of:
Appreciating volunteers and staff
Setting long-term Board goals
Increasing transparency and accountability
Encouraging more residents to participate in Town finances and services
Town staff noted that broader website redesign discussions are already underway and may help improve communication tools in the future.
Image of the May 2, 2026, Select Board retreat from the RCTV Youtube page. Pictured (left to right): Facilitator Jeff Nutting, Board members Chris Haley, Sal Bramante, Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Gillis, Karen Herrick, and Town Manager Jayne Wellman.
