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It must be the kickoff to the election cycle, given Ms. Williams’ LTE.
I heard crickets from Ms. William regarding my Dec 2025 and again Feb 2026 statements to the Reading Select Board against Article 14 . Article 14 is a funding mechanism for Unified Sports being considered for the Spring Town Meeting. So her LTE was a bit of a surprise. Let’s give this issue some sunlight. I don’t believe the issue at hand has anything to do with the merits of the Unified Sports program. Everyone agrees it is a great program, so let’s stop with the clutching of the pearls.
This is about process and lack of honesty and transparency regarding Article 14.
According to the Reading School Superindendent and Reading School Board they no longer want to fund the sucessful Unified Sports under the school budget yet want to retain full control of the program. I cannot think of any program with that type of interesting funding carve out.
An Instructional Motion was made at last year’s Town Meeting to explore funding options for Unified Sports from both the town and school. So far despite requests, no other funding options or the rationale on why they would be rejected in favor of Article 14 have been put forward by either the schools or town. I doubt this is solely Ms. Herrick’s responsibility.
The Burbank Board of Directors has decided to circumvert one of the basic core function of Town Meeting and tell
all 192 Town Meeting members how to use taxpayer money, “or else”. Elected Town Meeting members decide how to spend taxpayers money not the Burbank Board of Directors. The Burbank Board wants to withhold their rent, what little, if any, is actually return to the town, and instead dictate to Reading residents how they will spend their money. The “or else” is tied into a parking issue at the Burbank, and now new location of both the new RECAL center and pickleball courts, both resident supported projects.
In the numerous public forums, updates to Town Meeting, and elected boards and committees, there was never a public mention of any potential parking conflict with the two new projects, even when citizens raised the question. So now suddenly with a new Burbank contract, both projects potentally are in jeopardy unless Town Meeting capitulates to the Burbank Board of Directors.
No one seems to want to reveal exactly who was in the room when Article 14 was hatched. I believe the only option forward is for Town Meeting to table Article 14. Go back to the orginial Intructional Motion, bring forward all the options from both town and schools and let’s have an honest and open discussion about how to use taxpayer money.
Ms. William is being unjust in her statements regarding Ms. Herrick. It is clear that a legitimate exploration of funding options for Unified Sports has not been undertaken.
Nancy Docktor
Pearl St
Precinct One Town Meeting member
