MassVoter.com← Reading Select BoardReading Select Board · 2026–2027 Board · Regular meeting
August 4, 2026
6 recorded votes, 0 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 arrived after the meeting began (7:02pm).
Every vote, in order
August 31, 2026, be recognized as Overdose Awareness Day in the Town of Reading
Karen Gately Herrick moved that August 31, 2026, be recognized as Overdose Awareness Day in the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approve by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved that August 31, 2026, be recognized as Overdose Awareness Day in the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approve by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Dispense with the reading of the Public Hearing Notice
Sal Bramante moved to dispense with the reading of the Public Hearing Notice. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Sal Bramante moved to dispense with the reading of the Public Hearing Notice. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Bramante, second: Herrick)
Close the Public Hearing regarding Traffic Amendment 2026-3
Karen Gately Herrick moved to close the Public Hearing regarding Traffic Amendment 2026-3. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to close the Public Hearing regarding Traffic Amendment 2026-3. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Approve Amendment 2026-3 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve Amendment 2026-3 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve Amendment 2026-3 to the Traffic and Parking Regulations as presented. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Approve the draft meeting minutes from June 23, 2026, and July 14, 2026, as amended
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the draft meeting minutes from June 23, 2026, and July 14, 2026, as amended. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the draft meeting minutes from June 23, 2026, and July 14, 2026, as amended. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Enter into executive session under Purpose 2 and Purpose 3 to conduct a strategy session with respect to collective bargaining and collective bargaining with the Department of Public Works Union,...
Karen Gately Herrick moved to enter into executive session under Purpose 2 and Purpose 3 to conduct a strategy session with respect to collective bargaining and collective bargaining with the Department of Public Works Union, as an open meeting will have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Select Board, as declared by the Chair, to invite Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Human Resources Director Sean Donahue, Assistant Human Resources Director Anabela Batista, Public Works Director Chris Cole, and Executive Assistant Maddie Baptiste into the executive session and to adjourn from executive session and not return to open session. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to enter into executive session under Purpose 2 and Purpose 3 to conduct a strategy session with respect to collective bargaining and collective bargaining with the Department of Public Works Union, as an open meeting will have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Select Board, as declared by the Chair, to invite Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Human Resources Director Sean Donahue, Assistant Human Resources Director Anabela Batista, Public Works Director Chris Cole, and Executive Assistant Maddie Baptiste into the executive session and to adjourn from executive session and not return to open session. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and approved by a vote of 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Melissa Murphy - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes.” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
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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