ELVIS Committee approves remote-participation requirements in 7-0 vote

WAYLAND — May 9, 2024 — Wayland's ELVIS Committee unanimously approved revised requirements for remote town-meeting voting despite a stalled state bill. The 7-0 vote ratified changes including a renamed "audit code," moderator-designated auditors, running yes/no/abstain totals in the audit table, and a still-image check-in process replacing facial recognition. Chair Dave reported that Rep. Carmine Gentile's home-rule petition, H.3025, will not advance from the Municipal and Regional Government Committee; aide Robbie Simon suggested it may have been seen as an "experimental home rule petition." Town Clerk Trudy estimated temporary staff at $15 an hour could check in 1,000 remote voters for about $150. The town has ordered 800 handsets for the May 13 meeting, where Moderator Miranda warned the MBTA Communities zoning article will be "the most contentious."