Chair Carol Martin opened the Select Board on March 30 by outlining a warrant that now includes 41 articles scheduled for the May 4 Annual Town Meeting (ATM).
The board’s debate over reordering ATM articles intensified as members made a vote that locked in a revised order the night before final warrant went to the printers.
Town Meeting, held at Wayland High School fieldhouse, could run over to May 5 and May 6.
The dispute centered on when to schedule two of the most consequential warrant articles — Article 15, the $38.6 million long-term water supply borrowing request, and Article 16, the 25 Holiday Road study article.
Martin and Town Manager staff had assembled the warrant order after multiple revisions. “I cannot tell you how many hours I’ve spent on this, and I’ve revised it four times,” Martin said. “Everybody wants to be first.”
She pointed out that under her proposed order, major articles were distributed across sessions to balance time and maintain quorum across multiple nights of Town Meeting based on expected attendance patterns, article complexity and debate duration. She described the warrant order as “a huge jigsaw puzzle.”
Martin emphasized that placing multiple high-interest items consecutively could push key debates well past 10 p.m. She added that attendance typically declines after 9 p.m. and that scheduling needs to account for that drop-off.
“You also want to think about … you need a couple [of smaller items] for people to get into the seats and settle down,” she said.
Member Thomas Fay pushed back, arguing that the most significant and potentially controversial articles should be heard when attendance is highest — typically the first night.
“We’ve got most people in the seats the first night,” Fay said. “I think it’s fair to the residents.”
Regarding the timing of the proposed change, Martin repeatedly noted that the warrant was effectively finalized and scheduled to go to the printer the following day, warning that last-minute changes would create additional work for staff and risk errors.
“If we move something, you’re going to cause a lot of work.”
Fay moved to reorder the articles, proposing that the Long Term Water Supply article (finalized at #15) and Holiday Road article (from #25, finalized at #16) be moved earlier in the first night’s agenda, immediately following initial budget and consent items. The motion also incorporated a related adjustment to remove certain articles from the consent calendar due to differing vote thresholds.
Fay made the motion and Whitney seconded the motion, which passed 2-1, with Martin voting in opposition. Martin warned that concentrating major articles early could backfire if debate ran long. Fay rejected that concern, arguing that recent Town Meetings had moved efficiently through budget items and that residents should be expected to stay engaged.
“Their civic duty,” Fay responded when asked what would draw attendance on the following night. “Their desire to participate in democracy in its purest form.”
Senior tax relief The board’s next procedural vote came during discussion of the senior tax relief article, which had been proposed by the Senior Tax Relief Committee. Martin reported that Town Counsel deemed the article “repugnant,” meaning inconsistent with state law because it created a tax exemption outside the framework allowed under Chapter 59.
Fay initially raised the possibility of allowing revisions to incorporate means testing, but ultimately moved to remove the article entirely. The board voted 2-0-1 to pull the article from the warrant, with Martin abstaining after expressing concern that the committee had not had time to respond.
“I’m uncomfortable where that board did not have an opportunity… to decide what they would like to do with the article,” Martin said.
Town Manager Michael McCall provided an update on the town’s effort to secure 0% State Revolving Fund financing for that project, reporting that testimony had been submitted and that state officials, including Sen. James Eldridge, had been contacted in support of the appeal.
“We’re getting as much as we can in to supplement the record and try and get things changed,” McCall said.
BoPW dispute The board also addressed a dispute with the Board of Public Works over use of retained earnings in the enterprise fund budget article. Martin said the Select Board removed retained earnings as a funding source to maintain target reserve levels needed for bond ratings, and confirmed the board is seeking town counsel guidance on its authority to override the BPW’s recommendation.
Committees disbanded The board voted unanimously to disband both the Route 20 South Landfill Visioning Committee and the 212 Cochituate Road Advisory Committee following completion of their work.
Fay presented the landfill committee’s final recommendations for the 17-acre capped site, including a grass playing field, school bus parking with potential electric charging, and a public works materials facility. Consultant Weston & Sampson estimated approximately $5 million in potential capital costs and emphasized that state environmental restrictions prohibit construction of buildings on the site.
The 212 Cochituate Road Advisory Committee recommended issuing a request for proposals for housing focused on adults with disabilities, with small-scale clustered structures and long-term service providers. The board voted 3-0 to authorize preparation of the RFP.
EDC reports on initatives Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair Rebecca Stanizzi outlined ongoing initiatives, including a potential playground at the town center, reactivation of a state-funded shared streets project at Elissa Avenue, Route 20 corridor cleanup efforts, a meals tax and exploration of a post-permitting survey to gather developer feedback on doing business in town.
Tom Fay as their Select Board liaison endorsed the committee’s role. McCall cautioned that coordination should continue through Select Board liaisons to manage staff workload and maintain oversight.
Snake Brook dam project
Town Manager updates noted the $1.4 million Hazard Mitigation grant for the Snake Brook Dam project contract documents had been submitted and the town received notice to proceed. Starting with tree removal in a few weeks, the project is scheduled to finish by the end of 2026 and expend the allotted ARPA funding on time.
McCall also reported that the snow and ice budget overruns are estimated at $640,000, and he is working to close the shortfall. He has asked staff to use their discretion about their remaining expenses for the balance of the fiscal year, but he may need to implement a spending freeze for certain departments in the last three months of the year.
