Reading City Council Struggles to Fill Charter Board

The Reading City Council is facing challenges in reviving its Charter Board, which currently has no members. During a meeting on Monday (August 11), the Council discussed potential solutions, such as merging the Charter Board with the Ethics Board or removing a restriction that prevents members from serving on both boards. According to Council solicitor Michael Gombar, finding qualified candidates for the Charter Board has been difficult. He mentioned that the Council is trying to think creatively to reinstate the board, but the process is not straightforward.

Any changes to the board structure would require a voter referendum, which could not occur until 2026. The absence of members on the Charter Board is unprecedented in the past 23 years. The Council is actively seeking ways to address this issue to ensure the board's effective operation in the future.