MassVoter.com← Reading Select BoardReading Select Board · 2026–2027 Board · Joint meeting
September 8, 2026
8 recorded votes, 3 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
Every vote, in order
Approve the consent agenda as presented
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Haley)
Confirm the Town Manager's appointment of Deputy Chief Christine Amendola as Police Chief for the Town of Reading
Karen Gately Herrick moved to confirm the Town Manager's appointment of Deputy Chief Christine Amendola as Police Chief for the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 5-0.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to confirm the Town Manager's appointment of Deputy Chief Christine Amendola as Police Chief for the Town of Reading. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 5-0..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Approve the Policy for the Naming of Town-Owned Facilities and Properties as amended
Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the Policy for the Naming of Town-Owned Facilities and Properties as amended. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to approve the Policy for the Naming of Town-Owned Facilities and Properties as amended. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Haley)
Go into Executive Session including staff members Jayne Wellman and Jackie LaVerde and Counsel Ivria Fried, pursuant to Executive Session Purpose 1, to discuss Open Meeting Law complaints filed...
Karen Gately Herrick moved to go into Executive Session including staff members Jayne Wellman and Jackie LaVerde and Counsel Ivria Fried, pursuant to Executive Session Purpose 1, to discuss Open Meeting Law complaints filed against the Select Board by Angela Binda on August 18, 2026, and August 31, 2026, and to not reconvene in Open Session after the executive session. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante. Board members discussed their preference to address Open Meeting complaints in Open Session. The motion failed by a vote of 0-5. Roll Call: Karen Gately Herrick -- No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - No, Chris Haley - No, Sal Bramante - No.
No: Bramante, Haley, Herrick, Murphy, Rose-Gillis
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to go into Executive Session including staff members Jayne Wellman and Jackie LaVerde and Counsel Ivria Fried, pursuant to Executive Session Purpose 1, to discuss Open Meeting Law complaints filed against the Select Board by Angela Binda on August 18, 2026, and August 31, 2026, and to not reconvene in Open Session after the executive session. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante. Board members discussed their preference to address Open Meeting complaints in Open Session. The motion failed by a vote of 0-5. Roll Call: Karen Gately Herrick -- No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - No, Chris Haley - No, Sal Bramante - No..” (Motion: Herrick, second: Bramante)
Respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred
Chris Haley moved that the Select Board respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. Karen Gately Herrick stated that she would not be inclined to vote in support of the motion, as she believes the Board should recommit to operating within the Open Meeting Law and taking the training. Karen Rose-Gillis stated that the violation felt like a "gray area" and there is no harm in reviewing the Open Meeting Law Training. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, MurphyNo: Herrick, Rose-Gillis
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved that the Select Board respond to the August 18, 2026, Open Meeting Law Complaint that there was no finding that an Open Meeting Law violation had occurred. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick. Karen Gately Herrick stated that she would not be inclined to vote in support of the motion, as she believes the Board should recommit to operating within the Open Meeting Law and taking the training. Karen Rose-Gillis stated that the violation felt like a "gray area" and there is no harm in reviewing the Open Meeting Law Training. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - No, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Direct Town Counsel to respond that there was no violation, and the Board is committed to compliance with the Open Meeting Law
Chris Haley moved to direct Town Counsel to respond that there was no violation, and the Board is committed to compliance with the Open Meeting Law. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and passed by a vote of 5-0. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes.
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved to direct Town Counsel to respond that there was no violation, and the Board is committed to compliance with the Open Meeting Law. The motion was seconded by Karen Gately Herrick and passed by a vote of 5-0. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - Yes, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Herrick)
Find that no Open Meeting Law violation occurred on the August 31, 2026 complaint and authorize Town Counsel to respond
Chris Haley moved, in response to the August 31, 2026, complaint, that the Select Board finds that no violation occurred and authorizes Town Counsel to respond accordingly. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 4-1. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes.
Yes: Bramante, Haley, Murphy, Rose-GillisNo: Herrick
From the minutes
“Chris Haley moved, in response to the August 31, 2026, complaint, that the Select Board finds that no violation occurred and authorizes Town Counsel to respond accordingly. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 4-1. Roll call vote: Karen Gately Herrick - No, Karen Rose-Gillis - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes, Sal Bramante - Yes, Melissa Murphy - Yes..” (Motion: Haley, second: Bramante)
Adjourn
Karen Gately Herrick moved to adjourn at 9:47 pm. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 5-0.
From the minutes
“Karen Gately Herrick moved to adjourn at 9:47 pm. The motion was seconded by Sal Bramante and passed by a vote of 5-0..” (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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