New Look, New Roster For Reading Selectmen

For the record, in Vanessa Alvarado's first vote she channeled her inner Lorax and spoke for the trees.

The newest member of the Board of Selectmen debuted Thursday night, becoming the eighth woman to take a seat on the board and the first since Marcie West in 2016. Alvarado's night began by repeating her swearing in ceremony of Friday, this time in front of residents in attendance and watching on RCTV. She did so with her two children and husband Justin by placing her hand on the town bible, an impressive book donated to the town in 1886 by the family of William Harvey.

Then it was business, starting with the trees. By a 4-0 vote (John Halsey was absent), the selectmen proclaimed Friday, April 27, Arbor Day in Reading.

Before that selectmen looked back on the April 3 town elections and thanked voters for passing the override along with thanking former board chair John Arena for his service. It started with Barry Berman, the former vice-chair who moved to chairman Thursday following Alvarado's defeat of Arena. Berman said the board will miss Arena's skill set, but Alvarado brings a different skill set and, "I'm confident you're going to make us better."

In one of the shortest meetings this year, the board also heard more concerns about the Reading Village construction across from the depot, heard about plans for Reading's Earth Day at Parker Middle School April 21, and got updates from Town Manager Bob LeLacheur and Town Accountant Sharon Angstrom. LeLacheur announced that the town will hold a School Security Summit on May 23 at 6 p.m. at the RMHS library and that residents were invited to come and hear a brief presentation about town plans and ask questions. Selectman Dan Ensminger also brought the board up to date on continuing budget discussions with the Reading Municipal Light Department.

One thing didn't change Thursday and that was Bill Brown continuing to hold town official's feet to the fire over the wording of the override and the limit it imposes on Town Meeting. Brown's objections have been passed along to the town's attorney.

Photo by Bob Holmes