Priorities

📑 Priorities & Accomplishments

I have six key priorities as a Select Board Member:

Responsible Spending

MBTA Communities

Water Rate Inequality

Supporting Residents & Small Business Owners

Improved Services & Support

Open Communication

🪙 Responsible Spending

Reading residents will have the opportunity to vote on financing two large, essential projects this year: replacing Killam Elementary School and building a Center for Active Living on Symonds Way. Both projects will require significant debt exclusion overrides, likely totaling $150 million or more in new debt.

Even with support from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and the completion of two other projects (the high school and the library), Reading residents will still face hundreds of dollars a year in additional taxes due to these necessary projects. When finalizing these projects, it is important that we focus on fulfilling the needs of our residents rather than their wants and desires.

Both projects will benefit the entire community. However, given the current economic uncertainty and ongoing inflation, we want to avoid burdening residents with higher taxes, water, electric, and other expenses.

As a member of the Select Board, I will continue to advocate for a careful approach to the pace, scope, and timing of other initiatives and projects to ensure that residents can afford these necessary developments while meeting the town’s demands.

🚉 MBTA Communities

In August 2022, the state finalized community guidelines to comply with the MBTA Communities Law. This law requires that every MBTA community, including Reading, designates at least one zoning district where multi-family housing (with a minimum of three units on one property) is allowed by right and is located near a transit station.

As a Commuter Rail Community, Reading was mandated to zone for a minimum of 1,493 housing units, with at least half of these units situated within a ½ mile of the train depot. I expressed concerns about how this law could reshape Reading's landscape, particularly in the Precinct 5 neighborhood.

I advocated for a reasonable solution to comply with the MBTA Communities Law and believe that the Select Board's appointments over the summer were crucial in providing Town Meeting members with a choice between two compliance options at our annual Town Meeting in November. At the meeting on November 14th, Town Meeting members supported the minimal compliance option.

🚰 Water Rate Inequality

Resolutions for Water Rate and Outdoor Water Use Inequalities:

In June 2023, the Select Board approved a new five-tiered water rate system with a 3-2 vote, which took effect in December 2023. Under this system, owners of multifamily units, apartment complexes, and condominiums were charged at the highest rate, regardless of their actual water usage. However, during the Select Board meeting on October 29, 2024, we resolved this issue for these owners with the assistance of town staff.

On December 3, 2024, I supported a Select Board vote to approve a pilot program that will allow up to 500 households per year to install or activate second water meters in their homes. These second meters will be used exclusively to measure outdoor water usage. After receiving extensive input and conducting research with residents, it became clear that allowing second meters for outdoor use is a fair and equitable solution for those who use water outdoors. Previously, residents who utilized outdoor water were charged sewer fees for water that did not enter the sewer system. Now, residents will only pay for the water they use, both for consumption and sewer services.

Both of these issues reflected inequities for some residents, and I am pleased that as a board, we were able to address these inequities and come up with a viable solution.

🧾 Supporting Residents & Small Business Owners

Our downtown needs small businesses to thrive. These hardworking enterprises can only succeed with the support of the Town and community. Unfortunately, over the past few years, increased taxes and rising supply costs have hindered their success, leading several businesses to close. As a result, our town is left with underutilized buildings and extended real estate vacancies.

One recent misstep by the town was the installation and activation of parking kiosks in the CVS parking lot and the Brandt Street lot. While the town and the PARCC Committee had good intentions, their decisions were based on outdated data. After spending an entire day in the CVS lot talking with residents, consumers, and business owners, I am confident that these kiosks would have negatively impacted local small businesses. I supported the end of these kiosks. Improved communication and dialogue with our small business community is essential.

🤝 Improved Services & Support

We need to find ways to communicate better about town project details and changes that could significantly impact the ability of residents to do business downtown. For example, the downtown is replete with multiple water main projects, 40R developments, and other construction that limits access to streets, parking lots, and businesses. This is to be expected in any community, but we need a better strategy to clearly communicate to residents when road closures will take place and how long they will last. Many residents I talk to are simply frustrated and limiting their downtown shopping. I also have to believe that non-residents who find roads blocked with poorly marked or non-existent detours are less likely to want to do business in Reading. Select Board members are the Road Commissioners in Reading, and as a Select Board member, I would be proactive in helping establish better lines of communication with residents about road closures, detours, and parking changes.

Our senior community is the pillar of Reading. We need to do everything possible to ensure that seniors can afford to remain in their homes. Reading has a senior citizen property tax exemption, but that is not enough. Large debt exclusions are coming, and water and electric bills continue to rise by double-digit levels. Our Reading town government may not be able to control inflation, but we can at least control and improve the services we provide to our seniors. My priority will be to support seniors by ensuring they are getting the appropriate elder services, VA benefits, senior tax breaks, applying for appropriate programs to help with energy costs, and, of course, a new and/or improved Senior Center that is appropriately staffed to provide the programs and services our seniors need.

💬 Open Communication

Select Board members are elected officials who serve as the voice of our town. My goal has always been to bring people together. Over the past several years, I have observed a growing divide within our community. I believe that it is the responsibility of the Select Board to unite the town rather than create further divisions.

I have demonstrated my willingness to engage with all residents through open-minded and respectful communication. I am committed to dedicating my time and efforts to making Reading a community that everyone can love. My decision-making will always be guided by my desire to improve the lives of all residents.

I will continue to communicate openly with everyone and encourage you to reach out with any concerns. I hope to earn your support.