Published July 2, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
KATHRYN MANUPELLI
Select Board Chairwoman
NORTH READING — Kathryn Manupelli was voted to continue to lead the Select Board as its chairwoman for the second year in a row at board’s re-organizational meeting last Wednesday night.
The meeting was held virtually following the June 23 annual Town Election. Ordinarily, this would have occurred the day after the annual election in May, but that election had been postponed to late in June due to concerns over COVID-19.
At one meeting per year, the gavel is passed to Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto to open the nomination process from the Select Board members to get their re-organization underway. Rich Wallner nominated Stephen O’Leary for the role and Liane Gonzalez nominated Manupelli to continue in the role. O’Leary then offered seconds on both nominations to enable the discussion to begin.
With no other nominations made, Gilleberto called for a roll call vote, starting with Manupelli, who voted for herself, as did Gonzalez. O’Leary voted for himself, as did Wallner.
This left the deciding vote to the board’s newest member, Vincenzo Stuto, who ran unopposed for the seat vacated by Andrew Schultz after he chose not to run. Prior to taking his first vote, Stuto asked if he could make a comment.
“I just want to let everyone know I met everyone on this board at the same time and I have no prior relationship with anyone. I just wanted that on the record. I know no one here. I don’t know their house, I don’t know their kids,” he said, before stating, “I vote for Miss Manupelli.”
Manupelli thanked the board members for being given the honor to serve in this role for another year.
After Gilleberto handed the virtual gavel back to Manupelli she called for nominations for vice chair. O’Leary, who has been serving as vice chairman this past year, nominated Wallner. Manupelli followed by nominating Gonzalez. Stuto offered a second for both nominations.
On the roll call vote, Gonzalez won by a 3-2 vote with Manupelli, Stuto and Gonzalez voting in favor.
The final nomination was for clerk, which typically goes to a junior member of the board, and last week would be no exception. O’Leary nominated Stuto, and Gonzalez happily added a second. She had been serving as clerk during her first year on the board. There were no other nominations offered. Stuto accepted his fate. “I get the hazing… I understand completely,” he quipped. “I appreciate it.”
O’Leary commented about the importance of the clerk’s role, stating, “It’s interesting because you get to see a lot more than you normally would. It’s a good experience. Liane survived it!”
“I did survive it,” Gonzalez said, adding, “at times it was close.”
After winning the role for clerk unanimously Stuto asked, “Am I ever going to be in a contested election?”
“I’m looking forward to working with all of you in the coming year,” Manupelli said. She then gave a “Happy Birthday” shout-out to her husband Anthony before calling for adjournment.
