On Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 PM in the Senior Center of the Town Building, Wayland Moderator Dennis Berry will be holding an informal Moderator’s Forum. The meeting will be informal and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. This will be an opportunity for anyone supporting or opposing an article at the upcoming November 9 town meeting to present and discuss the article, answer questions, and possibly listen to those with an opposing point of view. In addition, anyone wishing to offer amendments to any article is encouraged to bring those forward so they can be openly discussed prior to the meeting.

The informal nature of the meeting is intended to allow everyone whether or not directly involved in an article to have an opportunity to speak in a relaxed setting. This is also intended to give both sides of any given article an opportunity to review their positions, perhaps find common ground, or try to understand the other’s point of view.

This is the second such form that the Moderator has held and he emphasized that it will become a regular feature of town meeting preparation during his tenure in office. “I often feel that we don’t have an opportunity to talk with each other just before town meeting or attempt to understand each other’s point of view, this Forum should provide one more opportunity to do that.”

The Warrant for the upcoming meeting has 14 articles which will put a premium on efficient use of time and meaningful deliberation. Preparation by all parties prior to the meeting is most important and this Forum is one more avenue to support that preparation.