WAYLAND — Town Manager Michael McCall would like to share information about the Town of Wayland’s upcoming annual Town Meeting.
The Town of Wayland’s annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 1 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Wayland High School Field House, 264 Old Connecticut Path.
Doors will open to the public at 4:45 p.m. If the Field House reaches capacity, the auditorium will be opened for voters and spectators as well.
Parking will be available at the high school, however, parking is limited. Residents should note that there will be no parking allowed on any roadway or grass area on school grounds. Carpooling is strongly encouraged and satellite parking will be available at the Wayland Middle School, 201 Main St., and other sites as needed. Buses will transport residents from satellite parking lots back to the high school.
Community members are encouraged to arrive early to allow for enough time to park, get on the shuttle if needed, and check in to receive an electronic voting remote. Residents should note that Town Meeting will begin promptly at 6:45 p.m. and will not be delayed for those who arrive late.
At last year’s annual Town Meeting, voters approved using wireless remotes to submit votes through Fiscal Year 2027 in place of shouting, raising hands or standing to cast their vote. The remotes will allow this year’s attendees to register votes quickly, accurately and privately.
At the meeting, 28 Warrant Articles will be presented and voted on. Notable articles this year include multiple articles for funding requests, a request to submit a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority admission application, articles related to historic preservation and more.
To view the complete Warrant for the Town Meeting, click here.
At Town Meeting, residents will vote on Article 12, which seeks approval for the town’s admission to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water system. This would facilitate a permanent connection to this system as a water source for Wayland. A permanent connection would help offset the rising water regulatory compliance costs and vulnerabilities in the town’s water supply infrastructure.
Article 13 proposes a Fiscal Year 2024 Omnibus budget of $99,726,007. As part of this article, the town will determine what sum of money will be appropriated for the operation and expenses of the town, including capital expenses for equipment, improvements or other purposes. It will also determine whether appropriations shall be provided by taxation, by transfer from unappropriated funds, by transfer of funds already appropriated for another purpose, by borrowing or otherwise.
Articles 17, 18 and 22 are various requests that will seek funding from the Community Preservation Act.
“Town Meeting is the time for registered voters in our community to come participate in the town’s legislative process through listening to and speaking on warrant articles that pertain to local bylaws, our budget and how we spend that money, and then voting for or against each article,” Town Manager McCall said. “We have several high-priority articles on this year’s warrant, including those pertaining to this year’s budget and long-lasting modifications to Wayland’s water supply. We encourage all voters to attend Town Meeting and have their voices heard.”
General questions pertaining to the annual Town Meeting and questions, concerns, complaints or requests for information regarding handicap accessibility may be forwarded to Wayland’s designated Town Meeting ADA Compliance Coordinator John Bugbee at 508-358-6821 or jbugbee@wayland.ma.us
