Wayland Select Board creates COVID-19 relief fund for resident food deliveries

WAYLAND -- April 10, 2020, Wayland Select Board establishes COVID-19 relief fund for emergency grocery deliveries. The board voted 5-0 Friday to authorize the treasurer to create a dedicated donation fund that will pay solely for food essentials delivered to residents who cannot shop themselves, with any leftover money split between the Wayland Community Fund and the Friends of the Wayland Council on Aging. Town Administrator Louise Miller said the program is limited to shelf-stable basics, "This is not an Instacart," Chair Cherry Karlson said, and recounted residents whose "level of concern and panic" was audible by phone. Member Doug Levine pushed for empowering police to issue written warnings or fines of up to $300 against repeat congregators; Karlson, Mary Antes and Lee favored sharper messaging through school listservs and a reverse-911 call first. The board also agreed to vote April 17 on extending the April 1 property-tax exemption deadline, likely to May 1, and approved a temporary six-foot leash order for all dogs on public property.