Town Meeting Night 2 recap: November 17, 2025
(7-9 minute read)
For residents looking to stay up to date on key town matters, this recap highlights the major takeaways from Town Meeting Night 2 held on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Watch the full meeting here on RCTV’s Youtube page.
Review our guide to Subsequent Town Meeting to understand the articles under consideration.
Key takeaways
All four Special Warrant Articles passed, including the renewal of the Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption, creation of a Commission on Disability, and reallocation of project funds.
Deliberations on Articles 8 & 9, proposed changes to Reading’s Home Rule Charter, continued, with further discussion planned for Night 3.
Debate focused heavily on the definition of the majority vote, committee membership, recall procedures, and the distinction between articles requiring state approval and those that do not.
Approved Special Warrant Articles
Article 2: Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption
Town Manager Matt Kraunelis explained that this article authorizes the Select Board to petition the legislature to renew the existing Senior Tax Exemption program, originally adopted in 2016. No changes were proposed, and the exemption remains tied to the state’s Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Exemption.
Town Assessor Victor Santaniello emphasized that the program is intentionally targeted to support seniors and must be reauthorized every three years.
Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved Article 2.
Article 3: Commission on Disability
Article 3 adopts M.G.L. c.40, §8J, establishing a Commission on Disability with 5-13 members who would:
Advise the Town on disability-related issues
Apply for grants
Support the development of an ADA transition plan
Several Town Meeting Members (TMMs) spoke in support, sharing personal stories about the importance of disability advocacy in the community.
Article 3 passed overwhelmingly.
Article 4: Reallocation for town projects
This Special Warrant article replaced Article 5 from the Subsequent Warrant. The Finance Committee recommended reallocating all eligible leftover funds to one project, rather than splitting them between the Killam School and Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) projects.
Sources of surplus funds include:
Parker Roof Improvements
RMHS Turf/Track and Turf II renovations
Birch Meadow Lighting Design
Library Renovations
Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom noted that funds can only be reallocated to projects with similar borrowing terms and that, in practice, large projects rarely close with a perfect zero balance.
Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved Article 4.
Discussion on Article 8 continues
Deliberations resumed on Article 8, which includes updates that do not require state legislative approval.
Sections 3 & 4
The changes aimed to simplify and modernize language, including:
Updating outdated terms such as “Board of Selectmen” to “Select Board” and using gender-neutral language
Establishing formal membership counts for the Historical Commission and Town Forest Committee, which previously had no designated numbers
Sections 5 & 6
Discussion grew more complicated as TMMs debated the boundaries between Articles 8 and 9, leading to confusion about which article certain changes belonged under. After extended debate, members voted to table Article 8 and proceed to Article 9.
Key distinction:
Article 8 includes Charter updates that do not require legislative approval
Article 9 includes substantive structural changes that the Attorney General must approve before appearing on the ballot.
Discussion on Article 9 begins
Town Meeting then turned to Article 9, which encompasses more significant Charter amendments.
Definition of “Majority Vote”
The proposed change defines a majority vote as the majority of members present, rather than the current definition: a majority of all seats prescribed by the Charter.
A motion to restore the current Charter definition did not pass
Many TMMs expressed support for the proposed change, noting delays on boards and committees when seats are vacant or members are absent.
Town Manager & Acting Town Manager language
Members reviewed clarifying language regarding the appointment and authority of an Acting Town Manager in the event of a long-term absence.
Section 7
Contained general housekeeping updates for consistency and clarity.
Section 8.11.2: Recall Petition Requirements
TMMs spent significant time debating proposed changes to the recall process, including:
Increasing the required affidavit signatures from 250 signatures to 2% of registered voters
Increasing the number of signatures needed for the petition from 10% to 20% of voters
Reducing the maximum signatures allowed from a single precinct from 25% to 20%
Extending the signature-gathering window from 21 days to 30 days
TMM viewpoints varied:
Some argued the changes made recalls too difficult, raising the bar excessively
Others felt recalls should be reserved for serious misconduct, not policy disagreements
Charter Review and Bylaw Committee members reminded TMMs that Reading’s only recall attempt in 2020 cost the town approximately $30,000 and ultimately failed to remove the elected official.
Town Meeting will continue deliberations on Articles 8 & 9 on Night 3 on Monday, November 17, at 7:30 pm in the Performing Arts Center at RMHS.
November 13, 2025 - Town Meeting Night 2 in the Performing Arts Center at Reading Memorial High School. Photo from the RCTV Youtube page.
