Selectmen Out, Select Board In At Town Meeting

Good-bye Board of Selectmen. Hello Select Board.

Reading joined approximately 90 other Massachusetts towns Monday night and changed the name of the Board of Selectmen to the gender neutral title Select Board. It was most debated topic on the first night of a relatively brief Reading Town meeting. The meeting lasted less than two hours and any member interested in the NHL playoffs got home in plenty of time to watch the Bruins lose to Toronto.

Eight of the 18 articles were tabled along with Barry Berman's State of the Town. Until Article 14 and the name change discussion, most of the emotion in the room was limited to applause for Moderator Alan Foulds, working his 22nd year as Moderator and celebrating his 66th birthday. The Operating Budget was amended (with $300,000 extra needed for snow removal), the Capital Improvement Program was amended, approval was given to sell a town-owned 2005 Ford Taurus along with other property, and town meeting members approved the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Article 14 was the name change and took up most of the time. The initial thought was to change the name to Executive Board. But a motion to change the proposal to Select Board passed easily. Many in the room referenced the historical aspect of various town residents being "selected" to serve. Others didn't like the sound or implication of "executive." While neighboring Wakefield residents will vote Tuesday to change the name of their board to Town Council, Reading overwhelming approved Select Board.

Town meeting continues Thursday.

Photo by Bob Holmes