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Home My WebLink About2026-08-04 Select Board Packet Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda 2018-07-16LAG Board -Committee -Commission -Council: Select Board Date: 2026-08-04Time: 7:00PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell StreetAgenda: Purpose:General Business Meeting Called By:Madeleine Baptiste on Behalf of Chair Melissa Murphy Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will notbe accepted. Topics of Discussion: Zoom Option:PAGE # Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83265888120 Meeting γD: 832 6588 8120 Dial by your location 7:00 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting 7:05 Public Comment 7:15 Town Manager Report 7:20 Community Spotlight 7:25 Vote on Overdose Awareness Proclamation Consent Agenda 7:30 1.Draft Meeting Minutes (2026-06-23 and 2026-07-14) Public Hearing: Discuss and Vote on Traffic Amendment 2026-3: 7:35 Placement of an Isolated Stop Sign on Sylvan Road This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 1 Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda 7:45 Override Discussion 8:15 Discuss Select Board Goals 8:35 Discuss Town Manager Goals 8:55 Liaison Reports 9:05 Future Agendas Executive Session Purpose 2 & Purpose 3: To Conduct Strategy 9:10 Discussions with Respect to Collective Bargaining and Collective Bargaining with the Department of Public Works Union This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Legal Notice Town of Reading To the Inhabitants of the Town of Reading: Please take notice that the Select Boardof the Town of Reading will hold apublic hearing on Tuesday, August 4, 2026,at 7:00PM in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA or also available remotely on Zoom to act on proposed changes to the following Traffic and Parking Regulations: Amendment Number 2026 -3 ; Official placement of an isolated stop signon Sylvan Road heading westbound on Sylvan Road at the intersection with Pine Ridge Road. A copy of the proposed documentsregarding this topic will be in the Select Board packet on the website at www.readingma.gov All interested parties are invited to attend the hearingin person or remotely via Zoom; or may submit their comments in writing or by email prior to 6:00 p.m. on August 4, 2026to townmanager@readingma.gov. By order of Jayne Wellman Town Manager 23 ____ Amendment Number: 2026-03 Date Filed:July 22, 2026 Filed By: Traffic and Safety Officer Michael S. Scouten On Behalf of: Parking Traffic Transportation Task Force Section 1: Purpose of Amendment – Improve traffic and pedestrian safety at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Sylvan Road. Section 2: Proposed Amendment: Official placement of an isolated stop sign on Sylvan Road. Location on Street:Heading Westbound on Sylvan Road at the intersection with Pine Ridge Road. Regulation: Obedience to Isolated Stop Sign. Pursuant to Article: 6.12. Section 3: Effective Date: Upon approval of the Select Board. This act shall take effect upon its passage and the provisions above shall not expire. Select Board: Date Signed: 24 Certification of Amendment: The Town Clerk certifies that Amendment Number ____________ above was ____________ by the Select Board of the Town of Reading through an official vote occurring during a public hearing held on ____________. The Amendment was ____________ through a vote of ____________ in favor and ____________ opposed. Town Clerk Town Corporate Seal 25 26 27 $56.65 $679.82$736.47 $566.52$169.95$736.47 Est. Tax Impact Estimated Tax Impact years $6.5 million over 2 years Yr 1 $6.0 millionYr 2 $ .5 millionTotal Impact $6.5 million over 2 Year 1 $5.0 millionYear 2 $1.5 millionTotal Impact $509.86$226.61$736.47$623.17$113.30$736.47 One Year Est. Tax Est. Tax ImpactImpact $6.5 million $6.5 million over 2 yearsover 2 years Impact Spread Over More Than Yr 1 $ 4.5 millionYr 2 $ 2.0 millionTotal ImpactYr 1 $5.5 millionYr 2 $1.0 millionTotal Impact 28 29 30 31 32 From:Haley, Christopher To:Baptiste, Madeleine Cc:Wellman, Jayne; LaVerde, Jacquelyn Subject:Re: Select Board Goals Date:Wednesday, July 29, 2026 10:27:47 PM Hi Maddie, My two previously identified goals have not changed: 1.Continue developing a mobile app for the Town, which is already in progress. 2.Explore the installation of an LED community information board on the Town Common in a way that the Historical Commission and other stakeholders can support. I would also like to add a third goal: exploring the feasibility of creating what could be one of the first dedicated municipal AI and Digital Services positions of its kind in Massachusetts. This individual could oversee the day-to-day management, organization, and improvement of public-facing content on the Town’s website, while also supporting the records management systems and internal programs used behind the scenes. The position could help ensure that information is accurate, current, accessible, searchable, and presented consistently across Town departments. The role could also evaluate how artificial intelligence and automation might responsibly improve municipal operations. Potential areas could include streamlining website updates, organizing public records, improving document search capabilities, assisting with meeting and agenda materials, identifying outdated or duplicated content, supporting accessibility and translation, and reducing repetitive administrative work. Any use of AI would need to include appropriate safeguards related to privacy, cybersecurity, records retention, public records law, accuracy, transparency, and human oversight. The goal would not be to replace Town employees or decision-making, but to provide departments with better tools and improve how information and services are delivered to residents. I would only support creating this position if a financial analysis demonstrates that it could be self-sustaining. Ideally, the position would be funded through the reduction or elimination of monthly and annual expenses currently paid to third-party vendors, consultants, software providers, or outsourced content and records-management services. The first step could be an inventory of the Town’s existing vendor contracts and technology- related expenses to identify services that could potentially be consolidated, brought in-house, or replaced. From there, we could determine whether the projected savings and operational benefits would justify establishing the position. Thank you, Christopher Haley Member - Reading Select Board Office: 781.604.2539 | Cell: 781.604.2539 Christopher.Haley@ci.reading.ma.us Please remember when writing or responding that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined 33 RECAL/Killam CPA and Operational Override Education and Community Feedback loop Updated Fiscal policies for 1) Free Cash 2) Stabilization Fund 3) Capital Spending 4) OPEB Funding Green Communities Annual Application process policy Centralized grant application and reporting process (Feedback loop to SB/TM and Community) 34 35 36 September 1, 2026State Primary Election September 8, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Discuss and Vote on Naming Policy Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes September 22, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Proclamation for Italian Heritage Month Preview Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes October 6, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Vote to Close November 9, 2026 Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes October 20, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Public Hearing: Fiscal Year 2027 Tax Public Hearing Classification Vote to Close Warrant for November 3, 2026 State Election Review 2027 Meeting Schedule 37 Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes November 3, 2026State Election November 9, 2026Town Meeting November 12, 2026Town Meeting November 16, 2026Town Meeting November 17, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes November 19, 2026Town Meeting December 1, 2026 Pledge of Allegiance Overview of Meeting Public Comment Town Manager Report Community Spotlight Approve Annual Liquor Licenses Select Board Liaison Reports Future Agendas Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes December 2, 2026Budget Presentations Department Budget Presentations Night One Police Department Fire Department Health Department Technology Public Works & Enterprise Funds December 8, 2026Budget Presentations Department Budget Presentations Night Two Library Facilities Public Services/Administrative Services Finance 38 Shared Costs Budget Summary Possible Regular Business Meeting (If needed) December 15, 2026 38