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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. Jackie McCarthy joined the board after the April 2022 town election (Anne Landry’s last posted meeting was March 1, 2022). On April 19, 2022 the board chose Mark Dockser as Chair (5-0), Karen Herrick as Vice Chair (3-2, after Chris Haley failed 2-3) and Chris Haley as Secretary (5-0). Covers 24 meetings, April 19 to April 18, 2023.
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 budgetBoard years
Coming up
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Members
Vice-ChairKaren Gately HerrickVice Chair · At-large · at 24 of 24 meetings
Chris HaleySecretary · At-large · at 24 of 24 meetingsJackie McCarthyMember · At-large · at 24 of 24 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.
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.
Apr 18Delay the board reorganization until their next meeting, May…Motion: Bacci moved to delay the board reorganization until their next meeting,…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Herrick
April 18, 2023: Delay the board reorganization until their next meeting, May 9t^, after the recount is certified
Bacci moved to delay the board reorganization until their next meeting, May 9t^, after the recount is certified. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 4-1 vote with Herrick abstaining.
Yes: Bacci, Dockser, Haley, McCarthyAbstained: HerrickThe minutes write the count as 4-1; the member named abstained, so the second number is the abstention, not a no vote.
From the minutes
“Bacci moved to delay the board reorganization until their next meeting, May 9t^, after the recount is certified. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 4-1 vote with Herrick abstaining..” (Motion: Bacci, second: McCarthy)
Feb 21Conduct In Person Early Voting for the April 4th…Motion: Haley moved to conduct In Person Early Voting for the April…Failed 0–5 · No: Bacci, Dockser, Haley, Herrick, McCarthy
February 21, 2023: Conduct In Person Early Voting for the April 4th Town Election on March 25th at Town Hall 9: 00 AM to 5:00 PM if approved by the Board of Registrars
Haley moved to conduct In Person Early Voting for the April 4th Town Election on March 25th at Town Hall 9: 00 AM to 5:00 PM if approved by the Board of Registrars. The motion was seconded by Herrick and failed with a 0- 5 vote.
No: Bacci, Dockser, Haley, Herrick, McCarthyThe minutes give the count as 0-5 with 5 members present, so every member present voted no.
From the minutes
“Haley moved to conduct In Person Early Voting for the April 4th Town Election on March 25th at Town Hall 9: 00 AM to 5:00 PM if approved by the Board of Registrars. The motion was seconded by Herrick and failed with a 0- 5 vote..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Dec 6Approve the motion whose full reading was suspended (debt-sale…Motion: Herrick seconded the original motion, and it was approved with a…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: McCarthy
December 6, 2022: Approve the motion whose full reading was suspended (debt-sale vote certified by the Town Clerk)
Herrick seconded the original motion, and it was approved with a 4- 0- 1 vote with McCarthy abstaining.
Yes: Bacci, Dockser, Haley, HerrickAbstained: McCarthyThe minutes say “Herrick seconded the original motion, and it was approved with a 4- 0- 1 vote with McCarthy abstaining.”
From the minutes
“Herrick seconded the original motion, and it was approved with a 4- 0- 1 vote with McCarthy abstaining..” (second: Herrick)
Nov 21Direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah and…Motion: Haley moved to direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah…Passed 3–2 · No: Bacci, Haley
November 21, 2022: Direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah and a Christmas Tree to be placed on the Town Common to demonstrate the Select Board and the Town of Reading' s…
Haley moved to direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah and a Christmas Tree to be placed on the Town Common to demonstrate the Select Board and the Town of Reading' s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the community; and to place a sign near these items stating that these symbols are here to reflect the Town' s strong commitment to these purposes. The motion was seconded by Herrick. The motion passed with the following roll call vote: Herrick -yes; McCarthy -yes; Baal -no; Haley -no; Dockser- yes.
Yes: Dockser, Herrick, McCarthyNo: Bacci, Haley
From the minutes
“Haley moved to direct the Town Manager to cause a Menorah and a Christmas Tree to be placed on the Town Common to demonstrate the Select Board and the Town of Reading' s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the community; and to place a sign near these items stating that these symbols are here to reflect the Town' s strong commitment to these purposes. The motion was seconded by Herrick. The motion passed with the following roll call vote: Herrick -yes; McCarthy -yes; Baal -no; Haley -no; Dockser- yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Nov 15Adopt a residential factor of .996452 for Fiscal Year…Motion: Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of…Passed 4–1 · No: Haley
November 15, 2022: Adopt a residential factor of .996452 for Fiscal Year 2023
Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of .996452 for Fiscal Year 2023. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with the following roll call vote: Haley - no; McCarthy - yes; Dockser - yes; Bacci - yes; Herrick - yes.
Yes: Bacci, Dockser, Herrick, McCarthyNo: Haley
From the minutes
“Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of .996452 for Fiscal Year 2023. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with the following roll call vote: Haley - no; McCarthy - yes; Dockser - yes; Bacci - yes; Herrick - yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: McCarthy)
Oct 25Adopt a residential factor of .9965 for Fiscal Year…Motion: Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of…Passed 3–2 · No: Bacci, Haley
October 25, 2022: Adopt a residential factor of .9965 for Fiscal Year 2023
Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of .9965 for Fiscal Year 2023. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 3- 2 vote with Haley and Bacci opposing.
Yes: Dockser, Herrick, McCarthyNo: Bacci, Haley
From the minutes
“Haley moved that the Select Board adopt a residential factor of .9965 for Fiscal Year 2023. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 3- 2 vote with Haley and Bacci opposing..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Oct 25Extend the sunset date of the Reading Center For…Motion: Haley moved to extend the sunset date of the Reading Center…Passed 4–1 · No: Bacci
October 25, 2022: Extend the sunset date of the Reading Center For Active Living Committee (ReCalc) to June 30, 2023
Haley moved to extend the sunset date of the Reading Center For Active Living Committee (ReCalc) to June 30, 2023. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 4- 1 vote with Bacci opposed.
Yes: Dockser, Haley, Herrick, McCarthyNo: Bacci
From the minutes
“Haley moved to extend the sunset date of the Reading Center For Active Living Committee (ReCalc) to June 30, 2023. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 4- 1 vote with Bacci opposed..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Oct 25Approve $900,000 in ARPA funds for Premium Pay as…Motion: Haley moved to approve $900,000 in ARPA funds for Premium Pay…Passed 3–2 · No: Dockser, Herrick
October 25, 2022: Approve $900,000 in ARPA funds for Premium Pay as presented
Haley moved to approve $900,000 in ARPA funds for Premium Pay as presented. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 3-2 vote with Dockser and Herrick opposed.
Yes: Bacci, Haley, McCarthyNo: Dockser, Herrick
From the minutes
“Haley moved to approve $900,000 in ARPA funds for Premium Pay as presented. The motion was seconded by McCarthy and approved with a 3-2 vote with Dockser and Herrick opposed..” (Motion: Haley, second: McCarthy)
Sep 20Close the warrant with article 20 for Subsequent Town…Motion: Haley moved to close the warrant with article 20 for Subsequent…Passed 3–2 · No: Bacci, Haley
September 20, 2022: Close the warrant with article 20 for Subsequent Town Meeting to take place on November 14th, as presented
Haley moved to close the warrant with article 20 for Subsequent Town Meeting to take place on November 14th, as presented. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 3- 2 vote with Haley and Bacci opposing.
Yes: Dockser, Herrick, McCarthyNo: Bacci, Haley
From the minutes
“Haley moved to close the warrant with article 20 for Subsequent Town Meeting to take place on November 14th, as presented. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 3- 2 vote with Haley and Bacci opposing..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Sep 13Approve $ 91, 600 in ARPA funds for YMCA…Motion: Haley moved to approve $ 91, 600 in ARPA funds for…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: McCarthy
September 13, 2022: Approve $ 91, 600 in ARPA funds for YMCA Adaptive Swimming overseen by the Recreation Committee as presented
Haley moved to approve $ 91, 600 in ARPA funds for YMCA Adaptive Swimming overseen by the Recreation Committee as presented. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 4-0- 1 vote with McCarthy abstaining.
Yes: Bacci, Dockser, Haley, HerrickAbstained: McCarthy
From the minutes
“Haley moved to approve $ 91, 600 in ARPA funds for YMCA Adaptive Swimming overseen by the Recreation Committee as presented. The motion was seconded by Herrick and approved with a 4-0- 1 vote with McCarthy abstaining..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
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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