At the June 1 Select Board meeting, Finance Director Brian Keveny updated the board on the town’s debt financing plan. He reported that the town recently issued a short-term $3.82 million bond anticipation note (BAN) covering 11 projects through its municipal advisor, Hilltop Securities, and bond counsel. The five-month note carries a 4% annual interest rate and was awarded to Fidelity Capital Markets.
The town had previously retired water and wastewater BANs and issued $8.8 million in long-term bonds, Keveny said. All of Wayland’s BANs, totaling approximately $5.1 million by June 30, will be retired through a planned $13 million long-term bond issuance in November 2026, he added.
The board considered a request from the Planning Board for help drafting zoning amendments for the Route 20 corridor. Planning Board Chair Anette Lewis said the work would translate the consultant BETA Group’s prior corridor visioning recommendations into zoning language. Vice Chair Tom Fay emphasized continuing outreach to Route 20 property owners during the process. After discussion, the board voted 5-0 to authorize up to $20,000 for specialized legal assistance to support zoning work. Members had expressed concerns about relying on artificial intelligence rather than lawyers, as Fay had suggested, to draft zoning regulations without professional oversight. Funding is expected to come from guaranteed deposit funds held by the town.
Member Doug Levine introduced a resident group proposal to establish a volunteer-led initiative for civil discourse modeled after an Essential Partners program in Wellesley. Levine said the effort was intended to foster structured community dialogue on difficult issues and respond to recommendations from the town’s equity assessment. The town manager and board members expressed support for the concept and asked that Essential Partners be invited to come speak to them.
The board discussed potential funding for facilitator training. No vote was taken. The group of volunteers included former HRDEI Committee Chair Elizabeth Wuerz, Jessica Greher Traue, Yamini Ranjan, and Boston Children’s Hospital psychologists Jeff Winer and Heidi Ellis of the Civil Discourse working group, who described training local facilitators to lead discussions on topics ranging from public education and race to local government and community issues.
Dudley Chateau The board then resumed deliberations on a request by Dudley Chateau LLC to permanently continue outdoor dining that began under pandemic-era allowances. Board members reviewed concerns raised by neighbors regarding noise, parking, and traffic. Owners Mandy and Ken Phillips said the restaurant has operated for 17 years, regularly communicates with neighbors, and had previously requested installation of no-parking signs to address roadway congestion. During the public comment period, resident Pavel Ozhogen urged denial of the request, but the board voted 3-0, with only members who participated in the hearing voting, to approve outdoor dining for up to 30 seats from noon until a final seating at 7 p.m., with outdoor operations ending by 9 p.m. The approval runs from April 1 through Oct. 31 each year and expires Dec. 31, 2026, unless renewed. Levine emphasized concerns about parking and emergency vehicle access, while Whitney suggested additional discussions with neighbors and possible parking management solutions.
Rodenticides The board voted unanimously to restrict the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on town property. At Fay’s request, the board voted to consider the policy. Conservation Commission member Shannon Fischer and Conservation Administrator Linda Hansen explained that the poisons accumulate in rodents and can kill predators such as owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats that consume contaminated prey. Fischer said more than 559,000 pounds of such products were distributed statewide in 2022 and that nearly 50 Massachusetts communities have adopted restrictions.
Historic District parking The board also reviewed a memorandum from the Historic District Commission regarding parking pressures in the historic district. Members discussed growing competition for spaces serving the Grout-Heard House, the depot area, rail trail users, businesses, and the library. Town Manager Michael McCall said he would convene stakeholders, including the library, business owners, and other affected parties, to discuss possible solutions and future parking planning.
Cannabis delivery The motion passed 4-1, with Levine opposed, when the board considered an opt-out waiver regarding recent changes to state cannabis regulations. Whitney moved to authorize McCall to sign the waiver preserving the town’s existing prohibition on marijuana delivery operations. Levine questioned whether the issue had ever been directly presented to Town Meeting voters and raised concerns about acting without additional information regarding enforcement and delivery safeguards. Fay argued that the existing marijuana bylaw reflected voters’ intent to prohibit such activity.
Millennium Fund McCall reported that Senate counsel had proposed amendments to the Millennium Fund home-rule petition, including language previously recommended by the Select Board and Library Trustees. The petition aims to recognize the Wayland Free Public Library’s Millennium Fund as a permanent endowment to enable the Library Trustees to accept and manage donations and associated interest directly, independent of standard town appropriation laws.
He also said construction of the St. Ann’s affordable housing project may begin in October if the project receives anticipated MassHousing approval in September. McCall said the timeline depends on securing construction financing after the state approval process.
Town Manager’s report McCall also reported on discussions at a recent Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association conference, including manager burnout and municipal use of artificial intelligence. He said preliminary planning had begun for the fiscal 2028 budget and a possible override discussion. He noted concerns about delays affecting the regional emergency communications project, which now has a projected launch date of July 1, 2027.
Other business During board reports, Fay said he and Whitney were developing a request for proposals for possible redevelopment of 212 Cochituate Road and reviewing surplus municipal property identified in a 2017 report for sale. He also reported progress on efforts to hire professional assistance for Route 20 curb-cut planning.
Levine thanked Turner and the Public Ceremonies Committee for organizing the Memorial Day observance after weather forced the event indoors. Martin said she hoped to use a recent $200 donation to purchase a Select Board banner for future parades and public events.
During the public comment period, resident Elizabeth Carter criticized Levine’s main opposition to her citizen’s petition articles concerning safety on Sherman’s Bridge Road during Annual Town Meeting debate.
The board unanimously reappointed volunteers whose terms had expired and confirmed Richard Turner’s reappointment to the Public Ceremonies Committee, a moderator-appointed committee requiring Select Board confirmation.
The panel also completed its annual reorganization, with Martin serving another year as chair and Fay as vice chair.
