A new assistant city manager has been appointed in Reading

READING, MA — Jayne Wellman has been promoted to assistant city manager, according to a release from the city of Reading. Wellman previously served as the city’s chief operating officer, where he oversaw city procurement, risk management and communications.

Wellman’s new position will include serving as the city’s ombudsman and leading the joint Department of Administration and Public Services. She will also maintain a centralized management role for the city’s procurement and communications, including oversight of the city’s website and CodeRED communications platform.

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Her appointment follows “a robust search process that yielded many highly qualified candidates,” according to the city’s statement.

“I have worked with Jayne for the past eight years and have gotten to know her well,” City Manager Matthew Kraunelis said in a statement. “Her strong relationships with city staff and volunteers, sharp intelligence, dedication and knowledge of all things. The municipal government makes her an excellent choice for this important role. She has worked on many major projects and different initiatives in Reading during her tenure, from the website redesign to the city budget to managing procurement for our biggest spenders, and I know she will continue to move Reading forward in this new role .”

Wellman received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tufts University and a graduate certificate in business from the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Manning School of Business. Earlier this month, she completed her master’s in public administration program at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy. As Procurement Manager in Reading, she holds the Massachusetts Certified Public Procurement Official designation from 2017 to 2026.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Reading’s next deputy city manager, combining my passions for local government and service to move this vibrant community forward,” Wellman said in a statement. “I am delighted to come to work every day with such dedicated staff, engaged residents and thriving businesses, all working together for Reading’s best future. I am proud of what we have already achieved here and look forward to the many new initiatives we have ahead of us.”

Wellman previously served as Reading’s business administrator from 2016 to 2023, which evolved into her most recent position for the city. Before coming to Reading, Wellman spent a decade as a news editor and reporter for the Tewksbury and Wilmington Town Crier newspapers. She has also held roles in technology and business consulting, content creation and client relations.

A dedicated civic volunteer, Wellman is active in government and philanthropy in Tewksbury. She has served on the School Committee, as the first woman elected in the town of Moderator, and since 2019 on the Board of Selectmen, where she is currently serving her second term.

She also serves as chair of the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, which focuses on collaborative planning among cities and towns in the Greater Lowell region. In 2021, Wellman co-founded 100 People Who Care Tewksbury, a philanthropic organization that hosts quarterly community impact giving events to benefit local nonprofits. It has raised more than $115,000 since its inception, according to the statement.

Wellman has lived in Tewksbury for 23 years, where she lives with her two children, a goldendoodle named Gryffin and cat Annabel.