Town Government
Reading Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. The departments operate under the Town Manager, the office the town created for exactly this purpose when it reorganized its government in 1944.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit readingma.gov. Town Hall is at 16 Lowell Street, main line 781-942-9001.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Laura Gemme. 16 Lowell Street. 781-942-9050. |
|---|---|
| Elections | Voter registration, precincts, and early and absentee voting, run by the Town Clerk as the town’s Chief Election Official. 781-942-9050. |
| Police | Public safety. Chief David J. Clark. 15 Union Street. Non-emergency 781-944-1212. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response. Chief Richard Nelson. 757 Main Street. 781-944-3132. |
| Public Works | Streets, water, sewer, trash and recycling, parks, and snow plowing. Director Christopher Cole. 16 Lowell Street. 781-942-9077. |
| Health | Inspections, clinics, and health complaints. Public Health Director Adetokunbo Solarin. 16 Lowell Street. 781-942-9061. |
| Recreation | Youth sports, summer programs, and the town’s fields, under Community Services. Recreation Administrator James Sullivan. 781-942-9075. |
| Reading Public Library | Books, programs, and computers, plus a free card for every Massachusetts resident. 64 Middlesex Avenue. 781-944-0840. |
| Elder & Human Services | The Pleasant Street Center, outreach, and transportation for older residents. Administrator Chris Kowaleski. 781-942-6794. |
| Conservation | Wetlands, open space, and the Town Forest. Conservation Administrator Charles Tirone. 781-942-9016. |
| Finance | The town’s money: accounting, assessment, tax collection, and treasury. Chief Financial Officer Sharon Angstrom. 781-942-6604. |
Sources
Reading staff directory (readingma.gov). Department heads verified August 2026 against the town’s own directory, with press corroboration from The Reading Post where available.
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