Wayland ELVIS panel approves FY24 report, sets meeting with Sen. Eldridge

WAYLAND — September 18, 2024 — Wayland's electronic voting subcommittee lines up a Senate meeting to revive its remote-participation bill. The Electronic Voting Implementation Subcommittee, known as ELVIS, voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve its FY24 annual report and confirmed a Sept. 27 sit-down with state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, arranged through Select Board member Doug Levine and to include Town Manager Tom Fay. The chair said prior presentations to Eldridge produced no movement and that statewide legislation is "ill-advised at this point" — Wayland is pursuing a home-rule petition only. Town Moderator Miranda agreed to raise the issue at the Massachusetts Moderators Association's Nov. 16 annual meeting with incoming MMA President Mark DeSalvo of North Andover. The committee also flagged a transition risk as Facilities Director Ben Keefe retires and new manager Michael Faya takes over town-meeting logistics ahead of the April 7, 2025 annual town meeting.