North Reading Select Board previews town meeting warrant in nearly four-hour public hearing

NORTH READING — May 20, 2026 — North Reading Select Board clashes over firefighter staffing and a $8.8 million property acquisition at a marathon warrant hearing. The board held a nearly four-hour informational session Wednesday ahead of the June 1 annual town meeting, with Town Administrator Michael Gilberto warning that hiring four additional firefighters at mid-year — costing roughly $200,000 in the current budget and $400,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2028 — will require cutting other municipal positions to sustain. The Finance Committee has countered with a proposal to redirect those salary dollars to its reserve fund, with member Abby Horovitz framing the dispute as "not the Finance Committee questioning public safety — the question is how do you pay for it." Articles 24 through 27 on the warrant center on the former Stop & Shop site at 97 Main Street, where Select Board Chair Richard Wallner presented slides arguing that retrofitting the existing building could save more than $20 million compared with new construction on town-owned land. Gilberto confirmed free cash heading into town meeting stands at $3,963,548 and the Pulte-Berry capital fund balance is just under $16.8 million.