MassVoter.com← Reading Select BoardReading Select Board · 2026–2027 Board · Regular meeting
May 12, 2026
7 recorded votes, 7 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose-Gillis, Karen Gately Herrick, Sal Bramante, Chris Haley
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Melissa Murphy took part remotely.
- Karen Gately Herrick took part remotely.
- Melissa Murphy left the meeting before it ended.
Every vote, in order
Close the hearing regarding Traffic Amendments 2026- 1 and 2026- 2
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to close the hearing regarding Traffic Amendments 2026- 1 and 2026- 2. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes
Yes: Bramante, Herrick, Murphy, Rose-GillisThe roll call does not list Chris Haley, who was at the meeting, so that member is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to close the hearing regarding Traffic Amendments 2026- 1 and 2026- 2. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Herrick)
Approve Amendment 2026- 1 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve Amendment 2026- 1 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes
Yes: Bramante, Herrick, Murphy, Rose-GillisThe roll call does not list Chris Haley, who was at the meeting, so that member is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve Amendment 2026- 1 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Bramante)
Approve Amendment 2026- 2 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve Amendment 2026- 2 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4. 0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes
Yes: Bramante, Herrick, Murphy, Rose-GillisThe roll call lists Melissa Murphy, Karen Gately Herrick, Sal Bramante and Karen Rose-Gillis, all yes (Ms. Rose-Gillis’s “Yes” is printed after a heading in the posted text); Chris Haley is not listed and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Karen Rose -Gillis moved to approve Amendment 2026- 2 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4. 0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes.” (Motion: Rose-Gillis, second: Bramante)
Approve the Liaison Assignments as amended
Karen Gately Herrick moved that the Board approve the Liaison Assignments as amended. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5- 0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herick -Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley- Yes, Karen Rose - Gillis - Yes
Roll call: all five members yes (“Karen Gately Herick” in the posted text).
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved that the Board approve the Liaison Assignments as amended. The motion was seconded by Melissa Murphy and approved by a vote of 5- 0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Karen Gately Herick -Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley- Yes, Karen Rose - Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Murphy)
Issue the resolution in honor of National Public Works Week in the Town of Reading
Chris Haley moved that the Board issue the resolution in honor of National Public Works Week in the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4. 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Chris Haley -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes Discuss and Vote on Letter to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission XCCI Regarding Cannabis Reform Law Town Manager Jayne Wellman stated that in 2017, Section 5. 6.4 of the Town's Zoning Bylaw was adopted following a spring Town Meeting vote.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, Rose-GillisMelissa Murphy left, before this vote, so Melissa Murphy is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved that the Board issue the resolution in honor of National Public Works Week in the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 4. 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Chris Haley -Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes Discuss and Vote on Letter to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission XCCI Regarding Cannabis Reform Law Town Manager Jayne Wellman stated that in 2017, Section 5. 6.4 of the Town's Zoning Bylaw was adopted following a spring Town Meeting vote..” (Motion: Haley, second: Bramante)
Approve the meeting minutes of April 6, 2026, and April 14, 2026, as presented
Chris Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes of April 6, 2026, and April 14, 2026, as presented. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bremante - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, Rose-GillisMelissa Murphy left, before this vote, so Melissa Murphy is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved to approve the meeting minutes of April 6, 2026, and April 14, 2026, as presented. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bremante - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Enter Executive Session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 7) to comply with Section 22 of the Open Meeting Law for the purpose of reviewing and approving release for minutes of the...
Chris Haley moved to enter Executive Session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 7) to comply with Section 22 of the Open Meeting Law for the purpose of reviewing and approving release for minutes of the March 24 and April 6, 2026, Executive Session minutes, and to adjourn from executive session. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Henick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, Rose-GillisMelissa Murphy left, before this vote, so Melissa Murphy is not shown voting.
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved to enter Executive Session under General Law Chapter 30A Section 21( a)( 7) to comply with Section 22 of the Open Meeting Law for the purpose of reviewing and approving release for minutes of the March 24 and April 6, 2026, Executive Session minutes, and to adjourn from executive session. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 4- 0. Roll Call Vote: Karen Gately Henick -Yes, Sal Bramante -Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis -Yes.” (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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →