MassVoter.com← Reading Select BoardReading Select Board · 2025–2026 Board · Regular meeting
March 24, 2026
6 recorded votes, 4 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Gillis, Carlo Bacci, Karen Gately Herrick
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Appoint Jayne Wellman to the position of Town Manager subject to successful contract negotiations
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to appoint Jayne Wellman to the position of Town Manager subject to successful contract negotiations. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 6- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Melissa Murphy -Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes
The minutes give the count as 6-0, but the board has five members, so the count cannot be right.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to appoint Jayne Wellman to the position of Town Manager subject to successful contract negotiations. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 6- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Melissa Murphy -Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Enter into executive session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 2), for the purposes of conducting a strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with Jayne Wellman for...
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to enter into executive session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 2), for the purposes of conducting a strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with Jayne Wellman for the position of Town Manager, a nonunion position, and under Section 21( a)( 7) to comply with Section 22 of the Open Meeting Law for the purpose of reviewing and approving for release the minutes of the February 24 and March 3, 2026 executive session minutes, and to invite Town Counsel into the meeting and to adjourn from executive session and to return to open session to continue on with the meeting. The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved by a vote of 5- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Melissa Murphy -Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley -Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to enter into executive session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 2), for the purposes of conducting a strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with Jayne Wellman for the position of Town Manager, a nonunion position, and under Section 21( a)( 7) to comply with Section 22 of the Open Meeting Law for the purpose of reviewing and approving for release the minutes of the February 24 and March 3, 2026 executive session minutes, and to invite Town Counsel into the meeting and to adjourn from executive session and to return to open session to continue on with the meeting. The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved by a vote of 5- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Melissa Murphy -Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Chris Haley -Yes.” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Bacci)
Continue to have police presence at Select Board meetings until after reorganization, where a decision will be made be made by the new Chair
Karen Rose -Gillis moved that the Board continue to have police presence at Select Board meetings until after reorganization, where a decision will be made be made by the new Chair. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 4- 1, with Karen Gately Herrick opposed.
Yes: Bacci, Haley, Murphy, Rose-GillisNo: Herrick
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved that the Board continue to have police presence at Select Board meetings until after reorganization, where a decision will be made be made by the new Chair. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 4- 1, with Karen Gately Herrick opposed..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Appoint Sharon Angstrom as Town Accountant for a term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to appoint Sharon Angstrom as Town Accountant for a term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5- 0.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to appoint Sharon Angstrom as Town Accountant for a term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Approve the meeting minutes of November 1, 2026, as presented, February 20, 2026, as presented, and March V, 2026, as presented
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve the meeting minutes of November 1, 2026, as presented, February 20, 2026, as presented, and March V, 2026, as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy 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 Rose -Gillis moved to approve the meeting minutes of November 1, 2026, as presented, February 20, 2026, as presented, and March V, 2026, as presented. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 6- 0..” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Murphy)
Adjourn
Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy 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
“Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 6- 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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