Results for Reading
Energy
As Select Board Chair and Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) liaison, Karen led the installation of grant-financed public electric vehicle chargers and successfully advocated for increased electronic appliance and home heating rebates for homes and businesses. RMLD is a fully owned entity of the Town of Reading that provides electricity to four towns and is a significant source of revenue. Under the new 20-year agreement which she helped craft and approve, RMLD kilowatt sales have risen, as has the net annual operating contribution from RMLD.
Town Manager
Recognizing that many seniors and families are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, Karen has voted repeatedly to reduce the residential property taxes and approve the senior residential tax credit. She has voted for tiered water rates and to minimize water and sewer increases.
Schools
Karen had a hands on role in the the critical early years of the Killam project. As Select Board Chair she collaborated with the Town Manager and the Superintendent to make sure Reading understood the process and all grant options. She attended required workshops, researched the GREEN school program and was instrumental in creating the building committee. She served as Select Board designee for two years including as VIce-Chair and was known as a passionate and knowledgeable GREEN building advocate - meeting frequently with local leadership, community members, RMLD, Architects and the Owners Project Manager to insure that our school would be healthy, welcoming, climate resilient, and eligible for every possible grant and federal tax credit. She also successfully advocated with Senator Lewis and Reps Hageerty and Lewis for reimbursement rate increases which bumped Reading grant to $44M before any Federal Tax Credits.
Grants
In 2021 and 2022, Karen led the creation of the Reading ARPA Advisory Committee to solicit community input for the Select Board’s allocation of $7.6M of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Major recipients included Reading Public Schools, Birch Meadow Phase 1, and $900k for Elder and Senior services. Karen has also proudly created a Town Manager grant goal and supported staff and volunteer efforts that resulted in $7M in state and federal grant awards since late 2021.
State Advocacy
As a member of the Select Board, Karen has made it a priority to speak with Reading's two State Representatives Haggerty and Jones, and State Senator Lewis. These relationships and attention to detail earned the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars in state earmark funding for the Community Garden, the Food Pantry, and the purchase of the Town Forest parcel. Additionally, her advocacy led to key state legislation, signed by former Governor Baker, to allow Reading to join the Green Communities Division and access hundreds of thousands in grant funding toward energy-saving initiatives.
Seniors and Families
As a long-time Reading resident, Karen has seen the cost of housing and real estate taxes skyrocket, and has been an advocate for the newly-created Affordable Housing Trust. She has also prioritized the effort to define and create an appropriate senior center, and for continued adjustments to the split tax rate to increase affordability for residents of all ages.