Unofficial Results of 2021 Annual Town Meeting
Day One
| # | Article | Result | Vote | Timestamp |
| 1 | Recognize Citizens and Employees for Particular Service to the Town | Passed | Vote 1: 91-0 Vote 2: 92-0 |
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| 2 | Pay Previous Fiscal Years Unpaid Bills | Passed | 87-4 | |
| 3 | Current Year Article | Passed | 82-6 | |
| 4 | OPEB Funding | Passed | 84-10 | |
| 5 | Enterprise Fund Budgets | Passed | 93-5 | |
| 6 | Fiscal Year 2023 Revolving Fund Expenditure Limits | Passed | 93-10 | |
| 7 | Update Personnel Bylaws and Wage & Classification Plan and Fund Union Agreements | Passed | 94-12 | |
| 8 | Surface Water Quality Committee Budget | Passed | 109-9 | |
| 9 | Wastewater FY2022 Budget Request | Passed | 92-22 | |
| 10 | Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Budget | Passed | Operating Budget: 103-44
Capital Budget: |
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| 11 | Capital Stabilization Fund Appropriation | Passed | 129-14 | |
| 12 | Community Preservation Act – Set Asides and Transfers | Passed | 135-6 | |
| 13 | Amend Outdoor Seating Zoning Bylaw | Passed | 108-21 | |
| 14 | Lease Agreement for Space on Reeve’s Hill Cell Tower | Passed (as amended) | 150-4 | 2:51pm |
| 15 | CPA Open Space: Acquisition of 27 Sherman’s Bridge Road | Passed | 155-23 | 3:20pm |
| 16 | Oxbow Meadow Field ADA Accessibility Funding | Passed (as amended) | 118-8 | 3:37pm |
| 17 | Local Historic District Bylaw Amendment | Passed | 111-1 | |
| 26 | Amend Town Code for the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund | Passed | 87-5 | |
| 29 | Town Acceptance of Whittemore Lane as a Public Way | Passed Over | 97-3 | |
| 30 | Choose Town Officers | Passed | 95-2 | 3:58pm |
| 31 | Hear Reports | Passed | 93-2 | 4:01pm |
| 32 | Sell or Trade Vehicles and Equipment | Passed | 85-2 | 4:03pm |
Under Article 31, congratulations to Anette Lewis, the Public Ceremonies Committee’s selection for the Lydia Maria Child Award.
Meeting continues to a time certain, ending for the day at 4:05pm
Day Two
| 18 | Amend Bylaw on Finance Committee Reports | Passed | 121-13 | 12:37pm |
| 19 | Amend Conservation Cluster Bylaw | Passed | 133-15 | 12:42pm |
| 20 | Appointment of Finance Committee | Moved for further study | 144-100 | 12:50pm |
| 21 | Council on Aging and Community Center Construction | Passed | 230-71 | approx 1:26pm |
| 22 | CPA – Housing: Launcher Way Acquisition | Passed | 268-31 | 2:08pm |
| 23 | Resolution on Expenditure of Funds for Stonebridge Road Bridge | Failed | 59-236 | |
| 24 | Rescind Appropriation for Framingham Bridge | Passed | 255-34 | 2:59pm |
| 25 | Loker Grass Field Construction | Passed | 254-69 | 3:02pm |
| 27 | CPA – Housing: Fire Sprinkler System at 89 Oxbow Condo Trust | Passed | 130-11 | 3:37pm |
| 28 | CPA – Historic Preservation: Library Document Preservation | Passed | 131-0 | 3:42pm |
Meeting adjourned at 3:45pm
It looks like the high population of voters was 323. That’s a bit frightening.
This general lack of interest seems to be the root of the problems that exist. It would be interesting if the system could be improved.
The root of the problem is not interest. It is accessibility. Currently, the majority are disenfranchised.This is not true democracy. Nearly 1/3 of the town are seniors and long time Wayland residents . Can we expect those 4000 people to attend outside town meetings in the hot sun. Never mind those who may be disabled or ill. Technology exists for this voting to happen over the internet. Other places are doing it. And fortunately There is a Wayland committee exploring this. As it is the voice of the minority is deciding for the whole.
And who has time to sit outside all day, or for two days? I don’t know how to fix it, but these are problems.
According to our electronic voting service provider (OTI),
1. 211 voters checked in to on Saturday’s Town Meeting session
2. 374 voters checked in to Sunday’s Town Meeting session
3. 449 voters checked in to either the Saturday or Sunday Town Meeting session
Based on the timestamps above, Town Meeting ran for a total of 6.75 hours
Note that the Select Board’s decision hold the meeting outdoors was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic; it is not standard Wayland practice. The two sessions were held over the weekend because weekday evenings outdoors would be a mosquito festival.
Wayland’s ELVIS committee has developed a technical solution to “Remote Participation in Town Meeting” via the internet and cellular networks. This solution has been presented at several public ELVIS meetings, as well as to Moderators across the state as we seek interest and support from other towns.
The next step is to convince the Massachusetts Legislature to make “Remote Participation” legal; the Select Board is leading that effort.
Dave Bernstein, Chair ELVIS
Thanks for your efforts on this, Dave!