HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-26 Volunteer Appointment Committee Minutesa
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Volunteer Appointment Committee
Date: 2026-05-26 Time: 4:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Sal Bramante (remote), Karen Rose-Glllis
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Amelia Freedman, Jeffrey Lamson, Anna "Ace" Foulds, Sophia Jones,
Thomas Armstrong, Kerry Dunnell (remote)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in -person in the Town Hall Conference Room and remotely via Zoom.
The Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee was called to order at 4:30 pm.
Roll call: Sal Bramante, Karen Rose -Gillis.
Interview Incumbents and New Applicants for Volunteer Boards and Committees
Amelia Freeman is an incumbent member of the Historical Commission. She stated that things are going well
on the Commission. They are currently working to salvage a home up for demolition delay and trying to make
the materials in the Historical Archives more accessible. She noted that the Select Board could assist by
providing the Commission with more money and explained that thanks to ARPA funding, they were able to hire
a part-time archivist. However, that archivist has since gotten a full-time job, leaving the job unfinished. If
reappointed, Ms. Freeman would like to remain a full member.
Jeffrey Lamson is an incumbent member and the current Chair of the Town Forest Committee. He stated that
the Select Board could assist the Committee by providing more money to help with invasive species
management. The Town Forest is looking great, but invasives often seem to pop up overnight, though the
Committee is making great progress. On the second Saturday of every month, the Committee hosts volunteers
to help pull invasive species, and they are learning what they can do with volunteers versus professionals. He
also noted that for the past six years, as they have been with insufficient funding, they have been non-
compliant with the State's Town Forest Plan, and therefore ineligible for grants.
Anna "Ace" Foulds is an incumbent member of the Cultural Council. She stated that the biggest help the
Select Board could provide is more people to serve on the Council, and more money to support the Council's
grant funding. The Council receives $20,000 from the Mass Cultural Council, plus $1,000-$2,000 from the
Town, and receives approximately forty (40) requests for grants each year. The total amount requested is often
for twice as much money as they have to give, and they try to spread their funding out as much as they can.
Ms. Foulds stated that the Council gets a lot of requests from the Schools and the Senior Center, which she
feels should have their own budget.
Sophia Jones is a new applicant interested in the Conservation Commission, Town Forest Committee, and
Trails Committee. She graduated from Westfield State last year with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Environmental Science and Regional Planning with a concentration in Environmental Planning. She grew up in
Reading and was inspired to pursue her studies by the wetlands near where she lives. She had an internship
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with the City of West Springfield Conservation Commission where she was able to learn from the Commission
and the Natural Resources Manager. Her first choice is Conservation Commission, and she would be happy to
be appointed to either a full or associate seat.
Thomas Armstrong is an incumbent associate member of the Community Planning and Development
Commission seeking to fill a vacant full seat. He stated that things are going fine on the Board and noted that it
would be helpful if the Community Development Director could give clearer recommendations when he gives
his reviews of projects. He also noted that he believes the Town is overdue for a ten-year Planning review.
Kerry Dunnell is an incumbent member of the Board of Health. She is grateful to have a Board that is hard on
the problem, not the person. She stated that the Board could use a little more guidance from Town Counsel
when they try to update their regulations, and a little help from the Select Board to help with communication for
Public Hearings when they discuss updating regulations. She shared that the state recently included funding for
required Public Health training in the state budget.
On a motion by Karen Rose -Gillis, seconded by Sal Bramante, the Volunteer Appointment
Subcommittee voted 2-0 to adjourn at 5:37 pm.
Roll call vote: Sal Bramante—Yes, Karen Rose -Gillis — Yes.
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