HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-03 Select Board MinutesTown of Reading
yi Meeting Minutes
e+Iv�p ✓ o: i i
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Select Board
Date: 2026-03-03 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chris Haley, Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose -Gillis, Carlo Bacci, Karen Gately
Herrick (Remote)
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Acting Town Manager Jayne Wellman, Director of Operations Katie Gabriello,
Human Resources Director Sean Donahue, Senior Planner Kevin McCarthy,
RCN Studios (Remote), Town Counsel Ivria Fried (Remote), Taylor Gregory
(Remote), Karen Janowski (Remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Madeleine Baptiste
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and Remotely Via Zoom.
Melissa Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and provided a brief overview of the evening's agenda.
Karen Gately Herrick joined the meeting remotely via Zoom at 7:01.
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to enter into executive session under Purpose 2, to conduct a strategy
session in preparation for contact negotiations with Jayne Wellman to some as the Town's Acting
Town Manager, a nonunion position, to invite Ivria Fried, Town Counsel, into the Executive Session,
and to realm to open session after the conclusion of the executive session to continue on with the
meeting. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0.
Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis —Yes, Chris Haley —Yes, Cado Bacci —Yes, Karen Gately Herrick —Yes,
Melissa Murphy — Yes
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to execute a contract with Jayne Wellman to serve as the Town's Acting Town
Manager, as presented on the screen. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a
vote of 5-0.
Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis —Yes, Chris Haley —Yes, Carlo Bacci —Yes, Karen Gately Herrick —Yes,
Melissa Murphy —Yes
Town Counsel Ivria Fried noted that she will reach out to Jayne for her to also sign the agreement and it will be
effective March 4", 2026,
Discuss and Potential Vote on a Town Manaaer Appoint Process. Inclusive of Hiring an Outside
Consultant Firm to Assist with the Search and/or Creatma an Ad Hoc Town Manama, Screenina
Committee
Town Counsel Iona Fried opened the discussion with what a standard appointment process would look like and
outlined various options. She noted that communities typically conduct these seamhes through either an
internal search, conducting an external search themselves and using a subcommittee, or hiring a consultant to
facilitate the process.
Director of Operations Katie Gabnello stated that in the last search process in 2023, the Town used a
consultant firm, and it cost $10,900. She further shared the expected cost for conducting a search using a
consultant today to be around $13,000 to $15,000 range.
Page 1 1
Some Board Members expressed that they feel it would be best to appoint Acting Town Manager Jayne
Wellman to the Town Manager position due to her many years of experience in Reading, her knowledge and
involvement in the large projects in process, and her unique experience as both a municipal leader and a past
elected official. Other Board Members expressed wanting to conduct an external search as it has been done in
the past to allow the public to feel as though the Board explored all its potential options.
Human Resources Director Sean Donahue stated that the last hiring process that was conducted by a
Community Paradigm took a couple months and consisted of listing the job, holding an applicant submission
period, a review of applications by the subcommittee, then followed by interviews. He noted that there were 19
applications, 11 viable applications, six initial interviews, and four public interviews in the last search process.
Town Counsel Ivria Fried suggested that the Board authorize a member to have a conversation with Ms.
Wellman to gauge her interest in the full-time position. The Board decided to authorize Chair Chris Haley to
have this conversation with Ms. Wellman. Ms. Fried also noted that, depending on Ms. Wellman s interest, the
Board could then choose to appoint her to the position and negotiate that contract in executive session.
Angela Binds of Orchard Park Drive encouraged the Board to do a larger search process in hiring the next
Town Manager and said her interactions with Ms. Wellman have all been positive.
Karen Janowski of Azalea Circle expressed her thoughts that Ms. Wellman is an impressive candidate for the
job. She further stated that she feels Ms. Wellman's input in Town projects is beneficial. Ms. Janowski
concluded by stating that Ms. Wellman is an excellent asset to the Town and urged the Board to carefully
consider doing external search.
Karen Rose -Gillis moved to authorize Chris Haley to discuss with Jayne Wellman her interest in
applying or becoming the Town Manager. The motion was seconded by Carlo Bacci and approved by a
vote of 5-0.
Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis — Yes, Chris Haley —Yes, Cado Bacci —Yes, Karen Gately Herrick —Yes,
Melissa Murphy —Yes
Carlo Bacci moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Chris Haley and approved by a vote of 5-0.
Roll Call Vote: Karen Rose -Gillis — Yes, Chris Haley — Yes, Carlo Bacci—Yes, Karen Gately Herrick — Yes,
Melissa Murphy —Yes
The meeting adjourned at 8:24 pm.
Page 1 2