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
As Select Board Chair, Karen led the effort to hire Reading’s 3rd Town Manager. Along with former Vice-Chair Anne Landry, Karen specified the Request For Proposal that led to Community Paradigm, and was a member of the screening committee which led to a unanimous Select Board decision to hire Mr. Maltez. Additionally, the Board designated Karen to finalize the contract negotiations. Since then, Karen worked hard as Select Board Chair and Vice-Chair to ensure a smooth on-boarding process for Mr. Maltez, a former city Department of Public Works Commissioner.
Schools
Within weeks of Superintendent Milaschewski assuming his new role in Reading Schools (RPS), Karen met with Milaschewski to discuss opportunities for meaningful collaboration between Town Hall and RPS. She has played an active role in the Massachussetts School Building Authority application process and the Killam School Building Committee. She also worked to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for an innovative reading program and the YMCA adaptive swim initiative. She also continues to volunteer for RMHS Drama musicals.
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.