Personnel Board approves advisory bylaw rewrite over town manager's objections

WAYLAND — March 22, 2024 — Wayland Personnel Board votes 5-0 to recommend advisory rewrite of Chapter 43 over town manager's objections. Meeting early Friday to fit member Jill Zukerman's schedule, the board approved its draft of Article S after deleting paragraph E and softening one "shall" to "may," then voted 5-0 to approve Article H updating the wage and classification plan; HR Director Kate Ryan said four of five bargaining units have ratified MOAs, with only the fire union pending. Town Manager Michael McCall, joining by phone, urged a stripped-down bylaw and warned that requiring him to consult the board would set "a precedent" for other committees. Member Paul Morenberg called the email "off base" and said he would resign if a gutted version were adopted; Deb Cohen countered that the rewrite is "relinquishing" powers, not adding them. Chair Maryanne Peabody said she would carry the board's case to the Select Board's 10:30 a.m. meeting.