Wayland selectmen split March ballot into three debt-exclusion questions

WAYLAND -- February 12, 2018, Wayland Select Board splits March 27 debt-exclusion ballot into three separate questions. The board voted 5-0 to place the proposed new library, town building and Fire Station 2 renovations, and a package of three athletic field projects as three distinct Proposition 2½ questions rather than a single bundled vote. Member Louis Jurist's argument that "if you can't get 50 percent support, then the project doesn't deserve to go forward" helped move colleagues to Option C. The board also recommended approval of the roughly $29 million library article and rejected 0-5 a petitioner's $9.5 million alternative to renovate 5 Concord Road. Town Administrator Nan Balmer announced she will not extend her contract past Sept. 8, and the board accepted a settlement with 20 Wayland LLC giving the town 24 acres valued at about $2.5 million in exchange for forgoing $620,000 in remaining gift funds.