3.18.2025 Select Board meeting recap
For residents looking to stay up to date on key town matters, this recap highlights major takeaways from the Select Board meeting held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Below is a brief summary of the discussions, with more details on each topic further down. Watch the full meeting here.
Public Comment
Vote for in-person early voting on Saturday March 29, 2025, for April election
Vote to approve Re-World (formerly Covanta) waste disposal
Master plan & capital projects priorities discussion
Pleasant Street Center discussion
Vote to appoint Town Accountant to a term of July 2025 - June 2026
Members - Present:
Carlo Bacci, Mark Dockser, Chris Haley, Karen Herrick, Melissa Murphy
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Matt Kraunelis, Jayne Wellman
Three Things to Know
Vanessa Alvarado, Chair of the Reading Democratic Town Committee (RDTC), and Eric Bergstrom, Chair of the Reading Republican Town Committee (RRTC), spoke during Public Comment to announce the official candidate forum that will be streamed by RCTV. The forum will be held on Wednesday, March 26, with the Select Board candidates at 6:00 pm and School Committee candidates at 7:30 pm at the Reading Public Library.
The Select Board reviewed the process for updating the town’s Master Plan, which was last completed in 2005, and explored how to prioritize projects within the Capital Plan. The Board considered the structure of a Master Plan Advisory Committee, potential grant funding, and the timeline for completion, with an expected two-year process and a cost estimate of $150,000.
A new project calculator will be available on the town website to help residents estimate the tax impact of the Killam and Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) projects. The calculator is expected to be available next week and will allow homeowners to input their property valuation to estimate the increases from these capital projects.
Select Board approves extended waste disposal agreement with Re-World
The Select Board approved a six-year extension to the town’s waste disposal contract with Re-World aligning with the town’s next trash contract in 2031. The current contract expires on June 30, 2025, with a tipping fee of $101.31 per ton. Under the new agreement, the first-year tipping fee will be $98.35 per ton, a 3% reduction, with rates in Tears 2-6 ties to Consumer Price Index for trash collection, capped at 4.5% increase per year. Town staff, including the Town Accountant and Town Counsel, reviewed the contract and found it to be favorable to the town.
Select Board explores Master Plan updates and Capital Project prioritization
The Select Board discussed updating the town’s Master Plan, last completed in 2005, and outlined the process for forming a Master Plan Advisory Committee. The discussion focused on ensuring the plan reflects changing demographics, such as an aging population, and includes considerations for housing, economic development, transportation, and recreation. The Board also debated Capital Plan prioritization, highlighting the need for a structured process to determine which projects should move forward first. Some members emphasized the importance of public input, while others suggested forming a separate Capital Planning Committee to provide long-term project coordination.
Future of the Pleasant Street Center Under Review
Th Board discussed three potential options for the Pleasant Street Center once the new Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) is completed: keeping, leasing, or selling the building. While some members favored keeping the property for potential town use or leasing, others emphasized the importance of recovering funds through a sale. The Board agreed that an official property appraisal is necessary before Town Meeting in April, with a more formal discussion planned for November Town Meeting. The conversation also touched on the historical significance of the building, and the need to present clear options to voters before the upcoming Special Election in May.
