Select Board weighs special act to overhaul Wayland government structure

WAYLAND -- March 6, 2018, Wayland Select Board weighs special act consolidating financial authority under a strengthened town administrator. Michael Ward of the UMass Boston Collins Center walked the board through a draft home-rule petition Tuesday that would make the administrator the town's chief financial officer, shift operating-budget preparation from the Finance Committee to staff, and potentially convert elected positions, most prominently the town clerk, to appointed roles. Town Administrator Nan Balmer announced she will leave in September, lending urgency to the timeline; members tentatively backed a four-vote supermajority for hiring or firing the administrator, with Balmer noting incumbents have historically been left "counting to three." Resident Stu Cartwright used public comment to press for a new library, citing a $10.1 million state grant and a cumulative 1,272-to-209 town-meeting vote margin: "Build a library for our kids and adults to compete in the 21st century." The consent calendar passed 5-0; one member pushed to ready the act for a November special town meeting, requiring an August warrant close.