The Select Board voted to impose penalities on two establishments for liquor law violations
Chief of Police Ed Burman backed keeping the Town Building as the sole polling site, saying it needs fewer officers, causes less disruption at the Middle School, and reduces traffic. The board agreed to extend the trial and that they still need to address accessibility and space issues.
Assistant Town Manager Kelsi Power-Spirlet provided an update on capital projects, noting improved tracking due to new oversight policies and updated software. About 70 projects are active across departments, with the total set to rise to 110 after FY26 appropriations. As of March 2024, there were 122 open projects, including some dating back to 2016. Today, only two projects from 2017 and 2018 remain incomplete.
In public comment, resident Mike Lowery told the board that the proposed tree preservation rules are too complex and could unintentionally curb routine homeowner tasks like tree trimming. He asked the board to step in or advise the Conservation Commission to simplify the regulations and warned he may file a petition at Town Meeting to suspend them.
The board tentatively selected May 4 and 5, 2026, for next year’s Annual Town Meeting (ATM), with the town election set for April 28. Final confirmation depends on approval from school officials and the College Board’s AP exam schedule. The board discussed potential 2026 ATM articles including:
A home rule petition requesting additional liquor licenses, as Wayland has no remaining all-alcohol restaurant licenses and expects its quota to be exhausted following two upcoming requests.
A home rule petition permitting online-only publication of legal notices, reducing recurring advertising costs currently paid to print newspapers like the MetroWest Daily News. The legislature has already approved similar petitions for Arlington, Bedford, Franklin and Lincoln.
A $65,000 transfer to Sudbury related to a shared wastewater facility was initially pulled from the 2025 annual town meeting.
A home rule petition to authorize green burials locally, addressing current regulatory obstacles from the state.
