Personnel Board approves HR assistant hire despite budget omission

WAYLAND — July 25, 2023 — Wayland Personnel Board approves HR assistant hire despite the position being left out of the fiscal 2024 budget. The board voted 4-0-1 Tuesday to authorize HR Director Kate Bryan to fill the long-vacant role at Grade N3, Step 7 — $52,123 a year for 32 hours weekly. Finance Director John told members "the mistake is 100% my fault," saying the position should have been carried over during his first budget cycle. Town Manager Michael said roughly half the salary is already covered by an existing partial allocation and pledged to find the rest within his department, citing "succession planning" concerns and pressure to retain staff. Newly sworn-in member Paul Morenberg, an employment attorney, moved to approve without a funding qualifier; Mary Ellen Castagno abstained. Chair Maryanne Peabody said the episode underscores the need to clarify the board's role under the town manager act as it rewrites Chapter 43.