Wayland board backs remote town meeting pilot bid

In this report: Key decisions · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Select Board voted 4-0 to support legislation for a five-town pilot program allowing remote participation at open town meetings, with Wayland as one participating town. In a joint meeting with the Board of Public Works, the board did not vote on transfer station subsidy levels but referred the matter to the town manager and finance director for further review. The board also appointed committee members and voted to reallocate American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Key decisions

• 💰 Transfer station subsidy and departmental charges. Board referred transfer station funding and departmental cost allocation to Town Manager Michael McCall and Finance Director Brian Keveny for further review without voting. Chair Carol B. Martin stated the correct departmental charge figure should be closer to $75,000 rather than the requested $61,500 and asked staff to review. Read case details
• 📜 Support five-town open town meeting remote participation. Board voted 4-0 to support the Electronic Voting Implementation Subcommittee chair and town moderator's effort to pursue five-town pilot legislation and other related legislation on remote participation at open town meetings. Wayland's home rule petition was sent to study, effectively ending it for this session, but the board backed state legislation for a five-town pilot program to be overseen by the Attorney General's office. (Vote 4-0). Read case details
• 💰 Transfer ARPA funds to MWRA engineering project. Board voted 4-0 to transfer $83,714 in remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Snake Brook Dam project to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority engineering project, amending the board's October 5 vote. (Vote 4-0). Read case details
• 📜 Amend outdoor dining policy for alcohol signage. Board continued the matter to a future meeting and asked for draft language requiring signage marking where alcohol consumption is permitted, to be prepared and brought back for a vote. Acting Police Chief Mark Hebert said signage would make enforcement easier. Read case details
• ● Approve October 19 consent calendar. Board voted 4-0 to approve consent calendar including task order with Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. not to exceed $123,000 for Dudley Pond watershed assessment and water quality improvements; extension of Chapter 90 road maintenance contract with MassDOT to 2037; approval of wine sampling and off-site sales application for Aaronap Cellars at the November 22 Thanksgiving Market; and acceptance of $7,800 MassDEP Recycling Dividend Program grant. (Vote 4-0). Read case details
• 👤 Appoint members to Broadband and Cable Committee. Board voted 4-0 to appoint Doug Stotz, a 33-year Wayland resident, to the Broadband and Cable Advisory Committee for a term running until project completion. Board voted unanimously to appoint Select Board member Doug Levine as the board's representative to the committee. (Vote 4-0 for Stotz; unanimous for Levine). Read case details
• 👤 Appoint Stephen Chung to ZBA associate position. Board voted unanimously to appoint Stephen Chung, an architect with nearly 30 years of professional experience and Wayland resident since 2003, to an associate position on the Zoning Board of Appeals with term ending June 30, 2029. (Vote unanimous). Read case details
• ● Enter executive session. Board voted 4-0 by roll call to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3) to discuss litigation strategy on Gibbons v. Town of Wayland and 124 Lakeshore Drive, and collective bargaining with Wayland Police Officers Union, New England Police Benevolent Association Local 176, and AFSCME Local 690-1 and 2, and under Section 21(a)(7) to review executive session minutes of October 5, 2026, with intent to withhold. (Vote 4-0). Read case details

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