Wayland Wastewater Commission sets 9.75% rate increase for fiscal 2026

WAYLAND — June 9, 2025 — Wayland Wastewater Commission unanimously sets 9.75% sewer rate increase for fiscal 2026. Chair Michael Gitten and member Darrin Bock backed the midpoint option presented by consultant Matt Abrahams of the Abrahams Group, after planned borrowing for new rotary drum screens was trimmed from $526,000 to $473,000, cutting annual debt service by about $5,000 starting in fiscal 2027. The new base charge is $8.77, with tier one at $6.90 and tier two at $20.72 — roughly $29 more per quarter for a typical customer. Operations Manager Jared Cotton said the new screens should be running by July 1: "Fingers crossed, it's going to be amazing." The commission also terminated a 13-year-old state administrative consent order and flagged new restaurant connections at the Whole Foods plaza and former Bank of America building.