Wayland Personnel Board endorses revised bylaw article on split 3-1-1 vote

WAYLAND — April 2, 2024 — Wayland Personnel Board recommends advisory-role bylaw rewrite on 3-1-1 vote. The board on April 2 endorsed a revised warrant Article S rewriting Chapter 43 of the town code, sending it to the May 13 annual town meeting after the Select Board approved the same draft 4-1 the night before. Chair Maryanne Peabody, Jill Zukerman and Deb Cohen voted yes; Mary Ellen Castagno voted no; Paul Morenberg abstained. The revisions, negotiated with Town Manager Michael and HR Manager Kate, commit the board to an annual review of personnel policies and add the Select Board to those it advises. Castagno said she feared the language — "provide advice" rather than "shall provide" — leaves no guarantee the board will be consulted. Morenberg called his abstention a way to flag "some concerns" without blocking the article, while criticizing "pretty disrespectful comments" from the Select Board about the panel's motives.