North Reading, Massachusetts

North Reading is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The area was first settled in 1651, when the town of Reading received a special land grant north of the Ipswich River. It was officially incorporated as the separate town of North Reading in 1853. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.5 square miles, of which 13.2 square miles is land and 0.2 square miles is water.

North Reading is protected by the North Reading Fire Department and North Reading Police Department. The headquarters for both departments is located in the public safety building. NRFD is staffed by full-time members and supplemented by a smaller call member roster. The 152 Park Street station holds Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Engine 4, Ladder 1, Rescue 1 and Rescue 2. The Essex County Technical Rescue unit is stored in town as well.

The North Reading Board of Selectmen has five members who are elected to serve three-year overlapping terms. As specified in the Town Charter and the Massachusetts General Laws, they are the chief elected officers of the town. The board may enact rules and regulations in a variety of areas, as well as establish town policies and procedures on many issues, unless such issues are delegated by law or vote of the town meeting to another officer or board. The board appoints a Town Administrator who supervises and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of town government departments.