Wayland Finance Committee awaits union petition that could force special town meeting

WAYLAND — September 27, 2023 — Wayland Finance Committee braces for fall special town meeting and a $30M spring water article. At its Sept. 27 meeting, the committee heard that the Wayland Teachers Association is preparing a petition that would force the Select Board to call a special town meeting within 45 days, at an estimated cost of $25,000 to $30,000. Town Manager Michael said he has alerted Moderator Miranda Jones and is negotiating with five other unions. Finance Director Brian Keveney called the looming MWRA water connection — projected at roughly $30 million — "the biggest thing the town is facing right now" and said modeling shows Wayland "clearly running into the override" by about fiscal 2027. The state retroactively credited the town with $400,000 in late FY23 new growth, lifting total FY24 new growth to about $1.3 million when combined with $700,000 from River's Edge. About $8 million in idle bond proceeds is parked in a CD maturing in January.