MassVoter.com← Reading Select BoardReading Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
April 14, 2025
11 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Attendance
Present: Carlo Bacci, Karen Gately Herrick, Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Gillis
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Choose Melissa Murphy as Chair
Karen Gately Herrick moved to close nominations for Chair. Roll call vote for Melissa Murphy as Chair: Melissa Murphy - No, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - No, Chris Haley - Roll call vote for Chris Haley as Chair: No.
Yes: Herrick, Rose-GillisNo: Bacci, Haley, MurphyKaren Gately Herrick nominated Melissa Murphy (seconded by Karen Rose-Gillis). Roll call: “Melissa Murphy - No, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - No, Chris Haley - ” with Chris Haley’s “No” printed after the next heading in the posted text. The motion to close nominations has no recorded vote of its own.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to close nominations for Chair. Roll call vote for Melissa Murphy as Chair: Melissa Murphy - No, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - No, Chris Haley - Roll call vote for Chris Haley as Chair: No..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Rose-Gillis)
Choose Chris Haley as Chair
Melissa Murphy -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis- No, Karen Gately Herrick - No, Cado Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes. By a vote of 3- 2, Chris Haley was voted the new Chair.
Yes: Bacci, Haley, MurphyNo: Herrick, Rose-GillisMelissa Murphy nominated Chris Haley (seconded by Carlo Bacci). Roll call: “Melissa Murphy -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis- No, Karen Gately Herrick - No, Cado Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes. By a vote of 3- 2, Chris Haley was voted the new Chair.”
From the minutes
“Melissa Murphy -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis- No, Karen Gately Herrick - No, Cado Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes. By a vote of 3- 2, Chris Haley was voted the new Chair..” (Motion: Murphy, second: Bacci)
Choose Melissa Murphy as Vice Chair
Carlo Bacci nominated Melissa Murphy for Vice Chair, which was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. With no further nominations, the Board voted by roll call: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Rose - Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
From the minutes
“Carlo Bacci nominated Melissa Murphy for Vice Chair, which was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. With no further nominations, the Board voted by roll call: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Rose - Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes..” (Motion: Bacci, second: Herrick)
Choose Karen Rose-Gillis as Secretary
Cado Bawl nominated Karen Rose -Gillis for Secretary, which was seconded by Karen Herrick. With no further nominations, the Board voted by roll call: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
“Cado Bawl” (Carlo Bacci) nominated Karen Rose-Gillis; the roll call lists all five members yes. The posted text gives the count as “M” (unreadable).
From the minutes
“Cado Bawl nominated Karen Rose -Gillis for Secretary, which was seconded by Karen Herrick. With no further nominations, the Board voted by roll call: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes..” (Motion: Bacci, second: Herrick)
Ratify the Town Manager' s appointment of Richard Nelson as Fire Chief
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to ratify the Town Manager' s appointment of Richard Nelson as Fire Chief. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to ratify the Town Manager' s appointment of Richard Nelson as Fire Chief. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Herrick)
Hold In -Person Early Voting for the May 13, 2025 Special Election on the following dates and times: Saturday - May 3 - 9: 00 AM to 6: 00 PM, Monday - May 5 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, Tuesday - May 6...
Karen Rose - Gillis moved to hold In -Person Early Voting for the May 13, 2025 Special Election on the following dates and times: Saturday - May 3 - 9: 00 AM to 6: 00 PM, Monday - May 5 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, Tuesday - May 6 - 7: 30 AM to 7: 00 PM, Wednesday - May 7 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, and Thursday - May 8 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose - Gillis moved to hold In -Person Early Voting for the May 13, 2025 Special Election on the following dates and times: Saturday - May 3 - 9: 00 AM to 6: 00 PM, Monday - May 5 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, Tuesday - May 6 - 7: 30 AM to 7: 00 PM, Wednesday - May 7 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM, and Thursday - May 8 - 7: 30 AM to 5: 30 PM. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Approve the updated Town Forest Rules and Regulations, recommended by the Town Forest Committee, as presented
Karen Rose - Gillis moved to approve the updated Town Forest Rules and Regulations, recommended by the Town Forest Committee, as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose - Gillis moved to approve the updated Town Forest Rules and Regulations, recommended by the Town Forest Committee, as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Approve the renovations to 52 Sanborn Street as presented
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve the renovations to 52 Sanborn Street as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve the renovations to 52 Sanborn Street as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5-0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Authorize the Town Manager to execute the Renewable Energy Trust Fund Membership Agreement
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the Renewable Energy Trust Fund Membership Agreement The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the Renewable Energy Trust Fund Membership Agreement The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Approve the meeting minutes of April 1, 2025 as presented
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve the meeting minutes of April 1, 2025 as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of ".
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve the meeting minutes of April 1, 2025 as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of "..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Adjourn
Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn at 8: 48 pm. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn at 8: 48 pm. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved unanimously by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Bacci, second: Murphy)
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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