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To the Editor:
I am writing with deep concern and disappointment regarding the Select Board’s continued decision to withhold the remaining equity from the forced sale of Peter Davenport and Mark Milley’s homes. The situation has already been judged in court, and yet the town has chosen to appeal rather than return what is rightfully—and morally—the homeowner’s.
What happened to this resident is not simply a legal misstep. It is a profoundly human injustice. A family’s home is often the result of a lifetime of sacrifice, savings, and stability. To take far more than what was owed in taxes is not just an error in policy—it is a harm that strikes at the core of trust between a community and its government.
The Town of Reading should not be in the business of profiting from someone’s hardship. When a homeowner faces financial struggle, the role of a town is to uphold fairness and compassion—not to strip away every dollar of equity they have built over the years. The courts have made their position clear, but even if they hadn’t, there is an undeniable truth here: keeping that equity is simply wrong.
Continuing to appeal this decision sends a painful message to every resident—that if they fall behind, if they face a crisis, if they stumble for even a moment, the town may take everything from them and then fight to keep it. That is not who we are. That is not what this community stands for.
Returning the surplus funds is more than a legal remedy; it is a moral obligation. You have an opportunity, right now, to correct this injustice and show that Reading chooses integrity and humanity over technicalities and profit. Every day the town continues this fight is another day that a homeowner is denied what is rightfully theirs and another day that public faith in local government is eroded.
I am asking the Select Board to choose the path that aligns with the town’s shared values. End the appeal. Return the homeowner’s equity. Show the people of Reading that their leaders are committed to justice, fairness, and doing what is undeniably right.
Respectfully,
Cheryl Moschella
County Road
Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member
