Wayland Select Board Reorganizes Carol Martin Elected Chair
Carol Martin was unanimously elected chair of the Select Board and Doug Levine as vice chair. Anne Brensley, who supported the appointments, departed the meeting at 7:08 p.m. The board postponed discussion of liaison assignments to its May 19 meeting to ensure full member participation.
Town Clerk Advocates for Continuing Consolidated Precinct Voting
Town Clerk Trudy Reid provided an analysis of the 2025 annual town election, the first since consolidating precincts two and three at the Town Building alongside precincts one and four. Reid reported that despite the change, voter turnout patterns remained consistent with prior years. In-person voting increased in 2025 compared to 2024, although overall turnout was slightly lower.
Comparing 2024 and 2025 elections, Reid emphasized that precincts two and three maintained strong Election Day turnout and that the Town Building layout and accessibility adjustments, such as additional handicapped parking and signage, successfully accommodated voters. Reid proposed extending the consolidation on a trial basis through the September 2026 state primary and November 2026 state election.
The board directed the town manager to coordinate correspondence to the Middle School principal and the public, confirming that the consolidated arrangement remains an ongoing trial. Reid assured the board that if necessary, by statute Wayland could legally return Precincts 2 and 3 to the Middle School for elections.
She also outlined strategies for mitigating congestion at future high-turnout elections, such as deploying additional check-in staff and using the large hearing room to expand voting space.
Board Plans Further Review of Town Meeting
Members briefly reflected on the two nights of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. Chair Martin noted that active deliberations totaled approximately six hours. The board plans a discussion with the Town Moderator on potential adjustments such as setting an earlier Town Meeting time, revisiting quorum requirements, and expanding use of the consent calendar to streamline proceedings. Board members agreed the consent calendar worked well for a first attempt.
Appointments
The board unanimously ratified the Library Trustees’ appointment of Tom White to the Permanent Municipal Building Committee for the Wayland Free Public Library rehabilitation project. They also reappointed Jim Grumbach to the Wayland Housing Partnership through June 30, 2027.
250th Celebration Funding Approved
The board debated and then authorized an itemized budget of up to $33,075 to support Wayland’s participation in the nationwide 250th Anniversary of American Independence celebrations. Tom Fay, liaison to the Wayland 250 Committee, emphasized that planned activities will unfold over the next 15 months, culminating in July 2026. The funding request outlines anticipated expenses but may be offset by grant awards, including one application recently submitted in collaboration with the Wayland Historical Society.
Town Declines to Exercise Option to Purchase Affordable Unit
The board reviewed a notice regarding 97 Stonebridge Road, an affordable housing unit owned by Habitat for Humanity under foreclosure. Town Manager Michael McCall and Town Counsel recommended that Wayland decline its right of first refusal, as the property’s deed rider ensures it will remain an affordable unit for future owners.
Board members requested that McCall consult with the Wayland Housing Partnership and Municipal Affordable Housing Trust for additional input before taking final action. No vote was taken; the matter will return for discussion ahead of the May 24 deadline.
Working Group to Explore Affordable Housing Use for 212 Cochituate Road
The board voted 4-0 to establish a nine-member working group to develop recommendations for the future of the approximately 4 acre parcel at 212 Cochituate Road, consistent with Article 30 as specified by Town Meeting amendments.
The new working group will include a Wayland resident parent or other family member of an adult with an intellectual and/or physical disability, two residents, one whom is an abutter within 1056 feet, representatives from the Housing Authority, Housing Authority Trust Fund, and Housing Partnership Committees and the Town Planner, a Town Manager office staff member and one Select Board member.
The working group’s charge is to review feasibility options that prioritize affordable congregate housing for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. The board discussed and deferred to the working group whether a nonprofit or a for-profit or a nonprofit in control of a for-profit organization would be permissible by the article language if affordable housing were provided. A report is due to the board by February 15, 2026.
Next Steps for 195 Main Street Cleanup Set in Motion
Members directed town staff to work with Licensed Site Professional (LSP) Ben Gould to prepare bid specifications for oil and hazardous material (OHM) soil remediation at 195 Main St., aiming to conduct work during summer 2025 in preparation for a MassDEP deadline of November 1, 2026. Since the up to $250,000 in funds appropriated at Town Meeting in Article 34 for environmental cleanup are not available until July 1, board members asked that procurement planning proceed immediately so a contractor can be selected as soon as the funds can be released.
LSP Gould is also gathering information and planning next steps concerning the extent of groundwater and soil PFAS contamination at the site. On April 10th Gould led the first Public Involvement Plan (PIP) meeting for residents on 195 Main St. which is classified as a Tier I hazardous waste site. Member Bill Whitney praised Gould’s accessible presentation of the technical subject matter to the audience of residents.
Capital Improvement Planning Committee Charge Finalized
The board formally adopted a charge for the new Capital Improvement Planning Committee. The committee, created through a 2025 Town Meeting vote, will develop an annual capital improvement plan and a capital budget recommendation to advise the Select Board and Town Manager. The Select Board will soon begin recruiting five members for appointments as specified by Article 17, with a goal of establishing the committee by June 1.
Additional Votes and Updates
The board voted to support pending state legislation (S.2197 and H.2274) that would expand remote participation options for municipal boards. Members also approved a new town social media policy and finalized meeting minutes from March 31 and April 7.
Consent calendar items approved included the High School Wastewater Treatment Facility and Needs Analysis for Dudley Pond Watershed, from Environmental Consulting and Technology, Inc. (ECT of Gainesville, FL) for a period of up to eight months at a total value of $150,000, camera installation and electronic security upgrades on town properties for $105,243 and a two phase $365,000 project for repairing the public safety building exterior façade by Vintage Properties, Inc.
2025 Trust Fund Commissioners Meeting
The Commissioners were joined by Treasurer/Collector Lily Bretton Marasco to receive an investment update from Brian Jamros and Kathleen Cyganiewicz of Bartholomew & Company, the firm managing the trust fund portfolio.
Portfolio Performance and Risk Management
As of March 31, 2025, the Trust Fund portfolio held just over $5 million for the 12 individual fund balances that range from $4,590 up to $2.011 million dollars. The portfolio is allocated approximately 70 percent to equities, 30 percent to bonds, and an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) alternative investment sleeve comprising about 16 percent of the total assets for diversification.
Jamros reviewed the Trust Fund’s 20 trailing quarters spending policy, reaffirming the 3.5 percent draw rate designed to smooth distributions over time. The Bartholomew team discussed the impact of market volatility, including the first week of April 2025 5% drop in the market, and the importance of staying calm and diversified.
Cyganiewicz reported a fiscal year-to-date gain of about $155,000, representing an increase of just over 3 percent since July 1, 2024. Since the trust’s inception in 2013, the portfolio has produced a net annualized return of 6.17 percent, down slightly from 6.59 percent reported in December 2024.
The Commission’s stated intent was not to change allocations or investments having invested for the long term. Commissioners agreed to schedule a follow-up review in May 2025 to reassess market conditions and portfolio performance.
Fund Disbursement
Regarding the Perpetual Care Fund for cemetery maintenance, Jamros explained that $1,155,044.63 is classified as non-expendable principal by statute, while $731,160.47 is available as expendable earnings. When a plot of land is sold for burial, the expendable proceeds are used for operational expenses like digging graves, burial, and site restoration.
The Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund is bound by Massachusetts statue to ensure long-term financial sustainability for cemetery maintenance and requires a specific policy to be in place for how a predetermined percentage of the proceeds from plot sales are divided between non-expendable (currently 67%) and expendable funds (33%) as set by the Cemetery Commission.
Commissioners acknowledged some dissatisfaction from the Department of Public Works regarding disbursement limits but agreed that the Trust Fund Commission remains the entity approving Perpetual Care expenditures. Although statute technically permits full expenditure of earnings, the commission reiterated its commitment to adhering to the 3.5 percent spending rule, absent extraordinary need.
The Commission voted unanimously to approve three disbursement requests: Wayland Free Public Library: $196.80 from the Small Funds account to cover book and material purchases. Public Ceremonies Committee: Up to $220 from the Gossels Family Trust to purchase and ship a bronze plaque commemorating the Peter Gossels Award. Cultural Enrichment Committee: $3,000 from the Greaves Fund to pay for Zuzu acrobatic performances at Wayland’s elementary and middle schools.
Commissioners also discussed Article 11 on the 2025 Annual Town Meeting warrant, which proposes transferring the oversight of the Wayland Free Public Library’s Millennium Fund to the Trust Fund Commission and took no position on the article. Note: Article 11 passed at ATM.
