Before disucssing various Town Meeting articles at its Jan. 20 meeting, the Select Board heard public comments on the 25 Holiday Road parcel, property tax relief, and Sherman’s Bridge
Andrew Carpenter of Orchard Lane urged the board to delay proposed funding for an engineering study and appraisal related to Town Meeting Article DD, 25 Holiday Road.
Carpenter said the town does not currently control the parcel, which remains under School Committee authority, and warned that spending $200,000 before confirming whether the School Committee is willing to relinquish control could expose the town to unnecessary risk. He also asked that town counsel review prior litigation involving the parcel, including a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, before funds are committed.
Jennifer James Young, a resident whose property abuts the parcel, spoke in favor of conservation-based options for the land. She described the site as one of the last intact woodlands in the neighborhood, supporting wildlife habitat and informal recreational use, and urged the town to consider conservation and low-impact recreation before investing in studies focused on development.
Hope Podell, a resident of Jennison Road, asked about a potential senior property tax relief article. Martin responded that the Senior Tax Relief Committee had submitted an article that has not yet been reviewed or vetted, and that the Select Board would decide whether to insert it into the warrant after hearing from the committee, possibly as early as Feb. 2. Martin noted the proposal carries a significant cost that would require discussion.
Elizabeth Carter, a resident of Sherman’s Bridge Road, raised concerns about the scope of the planned Sherman’s Bridge project. Carter said the project appears to go beyond a simple repair and could significantly affect residents and non-vehicular users. She argued the work should be addressed through a public meeting and potentially Town Meeting review rather than being handled solely as an internal municipal project.
Town Meeting articles
The board continued its preparations for the 2026 Annual Town Meeting. Martin said 52 articles are anticipated, including zoning articles from the Planning Board, Community Preservation Committee proposals, Board of Public Works articles, the Finance Committee budget, and seven citizen petitions. The board discussed assigning Select Board liaisons to each article, distinguishing between substantive items and those suitable for abbreviated presentation or a consent calendar, and coordinating with the Finance Committee ahead of its Jan. 28 article workshop.
By consensus, the board voted to co-sponsor the Board of Public Works article related to long-term water supply construction funding. Members emphasized that liaison assignments require familiarity with article language and the ability to respond to Town Meeting questions, even for items placed on a consent calendar.
Equity and diversity
The board reviewed recommendations stemming from the Town of Wayland MA Community Life & Engagement Data Book, an equity assessment produced in August 2025 by the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership & Social Innovation. Members discussed implementation approaches, emphasizing that the recommendations are intended as a multi-year framework rather than a checklist.
McCall outlined planned staff training initiatives using no-cost programs available through the town’s insurance provider, MIIA, including cultural awareness and diversity training. Board members discussed potential next steps, including forming a short-term advisory group to develop an implementation roadmap and examining models used in other communities.
Surface water quality update
Tom Klem, chair of the Surface Water Quality Committee, provided the committee’s annual update and reviewed its draft FY2026 $30,000 budget. Klem described ongoing water chemistry testing at Dudley Pond, mechanical harvesting of invasive species, Eurasian milfoil and tape grass, using town-owned equipment operated by trained volunteers, and continued challenges managing water chestnuts at Heard Pond. He reported that a limited herbicide application of ProcellaCOR at Heard Pond in 2025 cost approximately $9,500 but produced mixed results.
The committee plans to reassess treatment strategies in 2026, potentially shifting funds from manual harvesting to expanded herbicide application, which could require up to $20,000 depending on acreage.
The board also reviewed the grant agreement with the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust for development of a stormwater asset management plan. William Whitney said follow-up confirmed that grant funds are disbursed over time rather than upfront and align with the consultant’s phased work schedule, resolving earlier concerns.
