Select Board votes to challenge MWRA sewer costs
The Reading Select Board voted 4-0 to send a letter challenging an MWRA sewer overflow plan that could raise the town's cost to $68.4 million.
Select Board · Meeting of October 20, 2026
READING — The Reading Select Board voted 4-0 to send a letter challenging an MWRA sewer overflow plan that could raise the town's cost to $68.4 million. Town Manager Jayne Wellman said the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's $1.3 billion plan targets zero combined sewer overflows by 2050, and asked "why does it have to be zero?" Board members, including Karen Gately Herrick, objected that new MWRA communities are avoiding buy-in fees Reading already paid, calling it "a huge disincentive to join." The letter goes to MWRA Board Chair Rebecca Tepper, the governor and the lieutenant governor. Separately, residents Jen Hillary and Ed Ross urged the board to publicly back the $6.5 million override on the November 3 ballot.
The board also voted 4-0 on two Haven Street parking amendments, 4-0 on a Town Hall lot redesign, and split 3-1 on adding Joe Rovita as a Zoning Board of Appeals associate member.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,551 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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