3.4.25 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 4, 2025. Below is a brief summary of the discussions, with more details on each topic further down. Watch the full meeting here.
Discuss/vote to authorize debt from MWRA local financial assistance program
Pickleball design and cost update/discussion
ReCAL discussion and vote of support
Vote to close the Town Meeting warrant
Retreat discussion
Vote on Inter-Municipal Agreement for animal control
Master Plan pre-discussion/logistics
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
Pickleball courts are expected to cost approximately $1,894,000, including project costs and contingencies. The Board discussed potential cost-saving measures, such as reducing the number of courts or delaying the installation of lighting.
Select Board voted to close the Town Meeting Warrant for Annual Town Meeting. This finalizes the list of warrant articles that Town Meeting members will discuss and vote on in the upcoming session.
Select Board is preparing to create a new Master Plan for the town, as the last one was completed in 2005. Board members acknowledged the need to outline a long-term vision for the community and will work with the Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC) to move forward.
Pickleball courts (0:31)
The Select Board received an update on the proposed pickleball courts near Burbank Ice Arena. The project is estimated to cost $1,894,000, covering design, construction, lighting, and contingencies. The courts will be built on town-owned land an share parking with the future Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL). The project includes seven courts, with one fully accessible court. The courts will be built using post-tension concrete to ensure long-term durability.
Board members expressed concern over the higher-than-expected costs, which are largely due to necessary site preparation, including removing unsuitable soil. Alternative options, such as using asphalt instead of concrete or reducing the number of courts, were discussed to lower the costs. There was also discussion about phasing in the lighting installation to reduce initial expenses. The Board will continue to evaluate options before moving forward.
Select Board authorizes debt from MWRA local financial assistance program (0:25)
The Select Board approved a financial assistance award from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) totaling $1,040,000. Of this amount, $780,000 will be provided as a grant, while $260,000 will be an interest-free loan to be repaid over ten years in equal payments of $26,000 beginning in 2026. This funding will support local water infrastructure improvements. The Board voted 5-0 to authorize the debt and accept the financial assistance.
Select Board approved inter-municipal agreement for animal control (2:01)
The Select Board approved a renewed inter-municipal agreement with Wakefield for shared animal control services. The agreement allows Reading to continue utilizing Wakefield’s animal control officer for enforcement of local bylaws. Board members discussed concerns about limited enforcement options for off-leash dogs and a lack of public awareness about reporting incidents. Suggestions were made to increase visibility of enforcement and improve response mechanisms, such as integrating reports through the See.Click.Fix system. The agreement was approved with a unanimous 5-0 vote.
