By Dave Watkins
dave.watkins@waylandpost.org
Thinking about running for office in Wayland in 2026?
Here’s what’s on the ballot, what the jobs actually involve, and what the time commitment can look like.
Nomination papers for Wayland’s 2026 Annual Town Election will be available from the Town Clerk’s Office starting Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The election itself is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2026. See story on page 11 about the League of Women Voters series on ghow ti run for office.
For many residents, the biggest hurdle isn’t politics, it’s uncertainty: What do these roles do, and how much time do they realistically take? Wayland’s elected boards are volunteer positions, but the workload varies widely depending on the board’s legal responsibilities, the town’s active projects, and the season (budget season is its own reality).
Getting on the ballot: the basics
Candidates typically start by picking up official nomination papers from the Town Clerk. When papers are issued, the Clerk’s Office also provides an election calendar and campaign finance information. Wayland’s Clerk guidance for the 2026 town election notes candidates need 50 certified signatures and recommends collecting extra to account for signatures that don’t certify. (Signature requirements and process are also summarized by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s “How to Run for Office” guidance.)
Offices on the 2026 ballot
Wayland’s “Running for Elected Office” web page lists these positions for the 2026 Annual Town Election: Moderator, Select Board (two seats), School Committee (two seats), Board of Assessors (two seats), Library Trustees (two seats), Board of Health (two seats), Planning Board (one seat), Board of Public Works (one seat), Recreation Commission (one seat), and Trust Fund Commission (one seat).
What follows is a practical look at what each role generally does, and what the public meeting record suggests about the rhythm of the work.
Moderator — runs Town Meeting
The moderator presides over Town Meeting and is authorized to regulate proceedings and decide questions of order under state law and local rules and helps to pick Finance Committee Members. In Wayland, the Moderator’s Rules and Regulations describe the role as the presiding officer for Town Meeting and outline how debate, motions, and voting are managed.
Time commitment reality: The work spikes around Annual Town Meeting and any Special Town Meetings. Outside those periods, it includes meetings when there are vacancies on the Finance Committee and it can include preparation with town counsel and staff, reviewing warrant structure, and updating/maintaining procedural rules.
Select Board — the town’s chief executive and policymaking body
Under Wayland’s current governing framework, the Select Board is described in state session law as the town’s chief executive officer and chief policymaking body. That’s the broadest job description in town government: appointments, licensing, strategic direction, oversight through the Town Manager structure, and agenda-setting that shapes everything from bylaws to budgets.
Time commitment reality: Select Board workload tends to be heavy. Wayland’s posted agendas show meetings occurring regularly (often about every two weeks, with additional meetings as needed). The public meeting is only part of it; the rest is reading packets, constituent issues, liaison work, and budget season.
School Committee — policy, budget, and district oversight
The School Committee governs district policy and oversees the superintendent, with much of the work occurring in public session and subcommittees. Wayland Public Schools’ agenda/minutes listing for 2025 shows a steady cadence with meetings held frequently during the school year.
Time commitment reality: Often biweekly during the academic year, plus subcommittees (finance, policy, evaluation, etc.) and major cycles like the superintendent evaluation and the annual budget.
Planning Board — development review and long-range planning
Wayland’s Planning Department describes the Planning Board’s core charge as reviewing land division and specific development proposals, with duties grounded in Massachusetts General Laws. Public agendas in 2025 show a rhythm that can be frequent including evening meetings and occasional site walks.
Time commitment reality: This can be one of the most time-intensive boards because hearings can run long, packets can be technical, and project continuity matters. The posted agenda history shows multiple meetings in many months.
Board of Public Works — DPW policy, rates, and capital planning
Wayland’s Board of Public Works page describes an elected five-member board responsible for DPW policymaking, capital and operating budgets, and setting rates (water, cemetery, transfer station), among other responsibilities. The agenda record shows regular evening meetings, plus occasional additional meetings.
Time commitment reality: Typically monthly public meetings (sometimes more), but the reading and decision load can be substantial when rates, capital projects, or water-related issues are active.
Board of Health — local public health governance
The Board of Health sits at the intersection of regulations, communicable disease guidance, local health code enforcement, and regional collaboration. Wayland’s meeting agendas show a recurring meeting schedule (commonly one meeting per month in many stretches).
Time commitment reality: Often monthly, with additional work during periods of heightened public health demand or policy updates.
Board of Assessors — property valuation and the tax base
Wayland describes its Board of Assessors as a five-member elected board responsible for estimating the fair market value of all real property in town, a foundational function for the property tax system.
Time commitment reality: Less visible to most residents day-to-day, but critical and technical. Work can intensify around valuation cycles, exemptions/abatements, and tax rate-setting periods.
Library Trustees — policy direction and oversight for the library
Trustees oversee library governance and strategic direction. Wayland’s posted agendas for 2025 show morning meetings on a regular monthly cycle.
Time commitment reality: Often monthly meetings, plus planning and evaluation work depending on major initiatives.
Recreation Commission — programs, priorities, and town recreation direction
Wayland’s Recreation Commission page describes an elected body charged with developing and maintaining recreation programs and opportunities for residents. Agendas show recurring daytime meetings.
Time commitment reality: Often monthly, with workload expanding when major facilities or program expansions are under consideration.
Trust Fund Commission — stewardship of the town’s trust funds
Wayland’s Trust Fund Commission page describes responsibilities including governance practices and the option to engage expert investment management. Massachusetts law also establishes the basic authority and purpose of a board of commissioners of trust funds in towns.
Time commitment reality: Meeting frequency can be lower than some boards (periodic rather than biweekly), but the responsibility is high: fiduciary oversight, investment review, and long-term stewardship.
Serving without running
If you’re interested in town service but not an elected campaign, Wayland also maintains a pathway for appointed boards and committee vacancies through the Select Board’s volunteer/appointments process.
What it means for Wayland
In practical terms, the 2026 ballot offers residents a chance to shape: townwide policy (Select Board), school direction and spending (School Committee), land use and housing outcomes (Planning Board), core infrastructure and rates (Board of Public Works), public health governance (Board of Health), tax-base fundamentals (Assessors), community services (Library Trustees and Recreation), and long-term stewardship of restricted funds (Trust Fund Commission).
For candidates, the best early test isn’t whether you can win a race. It’s whether you’re ready to do the weekly (or monthly) work when nobody’s watching: reading the packet, showing up prepared, and making decisions in public that affect neighbors.
