MassVoter.com← ReadingMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Board
Reading Select Board
How the Reading Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. Sal Bramante joined the board after the April 2026 town election (Carlo Bacci’s last meeting was April 6, 2026). On April 14, 2026 the board chose Melissa Murphy as Chair (3 votes to 2 for Karen Rose-Gillis, then 5-0 by acclamation), Karen Rose-Gillis as Vice Chair (5-0) and Karen Gately Herrick as Secretary (5-0). Minutes after September 8, 2026 are not posted yet. The end date (April 2027) is a placeholder. Covers 11 meetings so far, April 14 to September 8, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetVote Transparency Score
Reading Select Board: 8 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Reading makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 10, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for nearly every meeting more than three months old.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the members who vote no, but do not list how each member voted on every vote.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes are posted for every meeting more than a month old.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineSelect Board minutes going back to 1980 are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are text you can search and copy, though the newest files are images.Full points: 1/1
- Member photosThe town’s website lists the members’ names but no photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Board years
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Reading’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
ChairMelissa MurphyChair · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Vice-ChairKaren Rose-GillisVice Chair · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetings
Sal BramanteMember · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Chris HaleyMember · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Karen Gately HerrickSecretary · At-large · at 11 of 11 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Attendance
20 full-board meetings so far this year, through September 8. Ties share a rank.
1Chris Haley20 of 20 meetings Every meeting100%1Karen Gately Herrick20 of 20 meetings Every meeting100%1Melissa Murphy20 of 20 meetings Every meeting100%1Karen Rose-Gillis20 of 20 meetings Every meeting100%1Sal Bramante11 of 11 meetings · served from Apr Every meeting100%6Carlo Bacci8 of 9 meetings · served until Apr89%28 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Carlo Bacci28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Chris Haley28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Karen Rose-Gillis21 of 21 meetings · served from Apr Every meeting100%1Mark Dockser7 of 7 meetings · served until Apr Every meeting100%5Karen Gately Herrick26 of 28 meetings93%6Melissa Murphy25 of 28 meetings89%23 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Carlo Bacci23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark Dockser23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Chris Haley23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Karen Gately Herrick23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Melissa Murphy13 of 13 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Jackie McCarthy5 of 5 meetings · served until Feb Every meeting100%22 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Carlo Bacci22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark Dockser22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Chris Haley22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Karen Gately Herrick22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Jackie McCarthy17 of 17 meetings · served from Apr Every meeting100%1Anne Landry5 of 5 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%28 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Karen Gately Herrick28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Chris Haley22 of 22 meetings · served from Apr Every meeting100%1Vanessa Alvarado6 of 6 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%4Mark Dockser27 of 28 meetings96%5Anne Landry26 of 28 meetings93%6Carlo Bacci25 of 28 meetings89%34 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Vanessa Alvarado34 of 34 meetings Every meeting100%1Carlo Bacci29 of 29 meetings · served from Mar Every meeting100%1Karen Gately Herrick29 of 29 meetings · served from Mar Every meeting100%1Andrew Friedmann5 of 5 meetings · served until Feb Every meeting100%1John Halsey5 of 5 meetings · served until Feb Every meeting100%6Mark Dockser33 of 34 meetings97%7Anne Landry32 of 34 meetings94%23 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Andrew Friedmann23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Anne Landry17 of 17 meetings · served from Apr Every meeting100%1Barry Berman6 of 6 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%4Vanessa Alvarado21 of 23 meetings91%5Mark Dockser15 of 17 meetings · served from Apr88%6Dan Ensminger5 of 6 meetings · served until Mar83%7John Halsey19 of 23 meetings83%23 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Barry Berman23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Dan Ensminger23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1John Arena6 of 6 meetings · served until Mar Every meeting100%4Vanessa Alvarado16 of 17 meetings · served from Apr94%5Andrew Friedmann21 of 23 meetings91%5John Halsey21 of 23 meetings91%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent. Not shown: 2023, because too many of that year’s meetings are missing from the posted minutes.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Reading Select Board minutes from January 9, 2018 through September 8, 2026: 219 meetings and 1,536 votes. The board was called the Board of Selectmen until spring 2018, when Town Meeting approved the new name; the minutes use “Select Board” from June 19, 2018, and the Town Manager reported on July 10, 2018 that the change was official. The town’s archive holds the board’s minutes back to 1980; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. The posted minutes are signed, stamped paper copies scanned with a computer-read text layer, so quoted words may keep small reading errors; the five newest sets (June 23 through September 8, 2026) were posted as images with no text layer, and MassVoter read them with text recognition. Joint meetings with other boards (Finance Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Library Trustees, Charter Review Committee and others) are included, but only the Select Board members’ votes are shown; votes the other board took on its own are left out. Not here: executive-session minutes; thirteen early-2018 notes saying the board attended another body’s meeting; meetings whose open-session minutes are not posted, including February 19, 2020, March 30 and September 28, 2021, March 22 and August 30, 2022, December 12, 2023, September 10 and September 24, 2024, and February 20, 2026 (all approved at later meetings), and the open session of July 31, 2018 and the packet-only dates October 5, 2023, March 26 and November 19, 2024, and July 22, 2026; and meetings after September 8, 2026 (the September 22 and October 6, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Reading’s minutes give the mover, the seconder and usually a count (“approved with a 5-0-0 vote”, “approved by a vote of 5-0”); a count that matches the members present with no one opposed is shown as every member present voting yes, and “approved with a unanimous roll call vote” the same way. When members voted no or abstained the minutes name them (“approved by a vote of 4-1, with Karen Gately Herrick opposed”), and remote meetings in 2020–2022 and many 2025–2026 votes have a roll call by name. When the count is short because a member recused, stepped out, did not vote, arrived late or left early, as the minutes say, the other members present are shown voting yes, with a note. Where the minutes give no count or the count cannot be read, we show the result only (20 votes); where a split count names no one, or a count does not match the members present, we show the count only, with a note (24 votes). Officer elections recorded by roll call are shown by name; choices made by a show of hands are shown as a result, with a note. Two members are named Karen (Karen Gately Herrick and Karen Rose-Gillis); the minutes use full names. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Sep 8Respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law…Motion: Chris Haley moved that the Select Board respond to the August…Passed 3–2 · No: Herrick, Rose-Gillis
September 8, 2026 (Joint meeting): Respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred
Chris Haley moved that the Select Board respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. Karen Gately Herrick stated that she would not be inclined to vote in support of the motion, as she believes the Board should recommit to operating within the Open Meeting Law and taking the training. Karen Rose-Gillis stated that the violation felt like a "gray area" and there is no harm in reviewing the Open Meeting Law Training. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, MurphyNo: Herrick, Rose-Gillis
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved that the Select Board respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. Karen Gately Herrick stated that she would not be inclined to vote in support of the motion, as she believes the Board should recommit to operating within the Open Meeting Law and taking the training. Karen Rose-Gillis stated that the violation felt like a "gray area" and there is no harm in reviewing the Open Meeting Law Training. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Sep 8Find that no Open Meeting Law violation occurred on…Motion: Chris Haley moved, in response to the August 31, 2026, complaint,…Passed 4–1 · No: Herrick
September 8, 2026 (Joint meeting): Find that no Open Meeting Law violation occurred on the August 31, 2026 complaint and authorize Town Counsel to respond
Chris Haley moved, in response to the August 31, 2026, complaint, that the Select Board finds that no violation occurred and authorizes Town Counsel to respond accordingly. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 4-1. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Murphy, Rose-GillisNo: Herrick
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved, in response to the August 31, 2026, complaint, that the Select Board finds that no violation occurred and authorizes Town Counsel to respond accordingly. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 4-1. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Bramante)
Jul 28Put an override request of $6.5 million on the…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to put an override request of $6.5…Passed 4–1 · No: Rose-Gillis
July 28, 2026: Put an override request of $6.5 million on the State Election Ballot in November 2026
Karen Gately Herrick moved to put an override request of $6.5 million on the State Election Ballot in November 2026. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-1, with Karen Rose-Gillis opposed, as she was in favor of a tiered ballot question. Roll Call Vote: Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, MurphyNo: Rose-Gillis
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to put an override request of $6.5 million on the State Election Ballot in November 2026. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-1, with Karen Rose-Gillis opposed, as she was in favor of a tiered ballot question. Roll Call Vote: Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Jul 14Appoint Jason Clarke to the vacant seat on the…Motion: Melissa Murphy moved to appoint Jason Clarke to the vacant seat…Failed 2–3 · No: Haley, Murphy, Rose-Gillis
July 14, 2026 (Joint meeting): Appoint Jason Clarke to the vacant seat on the Board of Library Trustees
Melissa Murphy moved to appoint Jason Clarke to the vacant seat on the Board of Library Trustees. The motion failed by a vote of 2 - 3, with Karen Rose-Gillis, Chris Haley, and Melissa Murphy opposed. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Chris Haley - No, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - No
Yes: Bramante, HerrickNo: Haley, Murphy, Rose-GillisJoint meeting with the Board of Library Trustees; the Select Board voted separately. The minutes name the three members opposed; the other two Select Board members voted yes (roll call in the minutes).
From the minutes
“Melissa Murphy moved to appoint Jason Clarke to the vacant seat on the Board of Library Trustees. The motion failed by a vote of 2 - 3, with Karen Rose-Gillis, Chris Haley, and Melissa Murphy opposed. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Chris Haley - No, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - No.” (Motion: Murphy)
Jun 23Appoint Robert McSheffrey as a member of the Community…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Robert McSheffrey as a member…Passed 3–2 · No: Haley, Rose-Gillis
June 23, 2026: Appoint Robert McSheffrey as a member of the Community Planning and Development Commission term beginning immediately, and expiring June 30, 2028
Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Robert McSheffrey as a member of the Community Planning and Development Commission term beginning immediately, and expiring June 30, 2028. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 3-2, with Chris Haley and Karen Rose-Gillis opposed.
Yes: Bramante, Herrick, MurphyNo: Haley, Rose-Gillis
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Robert McSheffrey as a member of the Community Planning and Development Commission term beginning immediately, and expiring June 30, 2028. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 3-2, with Chris Haley and Karen Rose-Gillis opposed..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Jun 23Appoint Carl McFadden as the Select Board designee for…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Carl McFadden as the Select…Passed 4–1 · No: Herrick
June 23, 2026: Appoint Carl McFadden as the Select Board designee for the Reading Ice Arena Authority term beginning July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029
Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Carl McFadden as the Select Board designee for the Reading Ice Arena Authority term beginning July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 4-1, with Karen Gately Herrick opposed.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Murphy, Rose-GillisNo: Herrick
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to appoint Carl McFadden as the Select Board designee for the Reading Ice Arena Authority term beginning July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 4-1, with Karen Gately Herrick opposed..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Haley)
Jun 9Set the FY27 second water meter rate at $…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to set the FY27 second water meter…Passed 4–0 · see note
June 9, 2026: Set the FY27 second water meter rate at $ 12. 30
Karen Gately Herrick moved to set the FY27 second water meter rate at $ 12. 30. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-0.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, Rose-GillisThe minutes say: “Melissa Murphy recused herself from the vote on second water meter rates as she has a second water meter.” Melissa Murphy is not shown voting; the count (4-0) matches the other members present, who are shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to set the FY27 second water meter rate at $ 12. 30. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-0..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
May 26Approve a license to operate a retail business between…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve a license to operate a…Passed · see note
May 26, 2026: Approve a license to operate a retail business between the hours of midnight and 6:00 am pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Reading General Bylaws and further pursuant to Section…
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve a license to operate a retail business between the hours of midnight and 6:00 am pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Reading General Bylaws and further pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Select Board Policies to Dunkin Donuts at 110 Main Street. This license is for approval to open for business, lobby service only, not earlier than 5: 00 am. In granting this license the Board finds: 1. In accordance with Section 7.7. 4. 1 of the General Bylaws that the operation of the establishment will not cause unreasonable disruption or disturbance to, or otherwise adversely affect, the customary character of any adjacent or nearby residential neighborhood; and 2. In accordance with Section 7. 7. 4.2 of the General Bylaws that the operation of the establishment is reasonably necessary to serve the public health, safety, and welfare, serves a public need and provides a public convenience which outweighs any increase in the impacts on the adjacent or nearby residential. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 6. 0.
The minutes give the count as 6-0, but the board has five members, so the count cannot be right. No roll call is given. Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve a license to operate a retail business between the hours of midnight and 6:00 am pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Reading General Bylaws and further pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Select Board Policies to Dunkin Donuts at 110 Main Street. This license is for approval to open for business, lobby service only, not earlier than 5: 00 am. In granting this license the Board finds: 1. In accordance with Section 7.7. 4. 1 of the General Bylaws that the operation of the establishment will not cause unreasonable disruption or disturbance to, or otherwise adversely affect, the customary character of any adjacent or nearby residential neighborhood; and 2. In accordance with Section 7. 7. 4.2 of the General Bylaws that the operation of the establishment is reasonably necessary to serve the public health, safety, and welfare, serves a public need and provides a public convenience which outweighs any increase in the impacts on the adjacent or nearby residential. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 6. 0..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Haley)
May 26Approve the Annual All A- lcohol Restaurant Liquor License…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the Annual All A- lcohol…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 26, 2026: Approve the Annual All A- lcohol Restaurant Liquor License for Bean Bar&rel LLC, d/ b/a Bean & Bar el, located at 45 High Street
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the Annual All A- lcohol Restaurant Liquor License for Bean Bar&rel LLC, d/ b/a Bean & Bar el, located at 45 High Street. The motion was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis and approved by a vote of 4-0.Public learitagiL, Qiscuss and Vote on FY27 Non -Union Clas if cation and Compensation Plan Karen Gately Herrick read the Hearing Notice to open the Public Hearing.
Yes: Bramante, Herrick, Murphy, Rose-GillisThe minutes say: “Chris Haley recused himself from this vote as an abutter.” Chris Haley is not shown voting; the count (4-0) matches the other members present, who are shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the Annual All A- lcohol Restaurant Liquor License for Bean Bar&rel LLC, d/ b/a Bean & Bar el, located at 45 High Street. The motion was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis and approved by a vote of 4-0.Public learitagiL, Qiscuss and Vote on FY27 Non -Union Clas if cation and Compensation Plan Karen Gately Herrick read the Hearing Notice to open the Public Hearing..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Rose-Gillis)
May 26Implement consent agendas as discussed (the posted text of…Motion: Karen Gately Herrick moved to was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis…Passed · see note
May 26, 2026: Implement consent agendas as discussed (the posted text of the motion is garbled)
Karen Gately Herrick moved to was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis and approved by a vote of 5
The posted text is garbled here (“I ement consent agendas as i0cussed. The motion … Karen Gately Herrick moved to was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis and approved by a vote of 5”); the count cannot be read in full. Showing the result only. The minutes record the result but no count or names.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to was seconded by Karen Rose -Gillis and approved by a vote of 5.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Rose-Gillis)
From the Reading Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Public Records Archive (Minutes > Select Board). We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Reading Patch candidate profiles, courtesy of the candidates (Melissa Murphy, Karen Gately Herrick, Chris Haley), and The Reading Post candidacy announcements (Karen Rose-Gillis, Sal Bramante). The town’s website has no member photos.
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