Wayland selectmen extend COVID emergency, move to postpone town meeting and election

WAYLAND -- March 20, 2016, Wayland selectmen extend COVID-19 emergency indefinitely and move to postpone town meeting and election. The Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 on each of four roll-call motions Friday morning, with Selectman Doug Levine participating by phone, to extend the local state of emergency until further notice, declare intent to postpone the annual town meeting and town election, authorize Town Administrator Louise Miller to deficit-spend within the general fund, and adopt a written declaration of emergency empowering Miller and Health Director Julia Junghans to act jointly. Chair Cherry Karlson said meeting every five days under the original declaration was not "the best use of staff time." Miller said two Wayland businesses had closed after positive tests, town buildings were locked and "fogged," and the first round of state emergency funds appeared not to cover staff overtime already being logged. Meals on Wheels continues with Council on Aging staff and police replacing volunteer drivers.