Happy August!

There is still time to visit Town Beach before it closes for the season on August 10. After August 10, Town Beach will operate with limited hours, amenities and lifeguards. We hope you take advantage of what the beach has to offer, from swimming, lounging to canoeing and kayaking. I would also like to thank our residents who attended the 14th Annual Council on Aging Community Concert Series, marking another successful year of live music by local musicians. 

Are you interested in being involved in the community? The Town is currently seeking volunteers to serve on several boards/committees, ranging from the Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, and Historical Commission to the Local Emergency Planning Committee and more! Click here to see all available vacancies and information on how to apply! 

My next office hours for residents are on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 5:30pm – 6:30pm in the Select Board Meeting Room in the Town Building. Residents are welcome to stop by to say hello or to discuss any topics of interest or areas of concern. I look forward to talking with you. 

Lastly, as the summer ends, Wayland Public Schools will be back in session with Pre-K and grades 1 through 12 returning on August 28 and Kindergarten on September 2. I would like to extend my best wishes to all students, parents, teachers, and staff as they begin a new school year. 

I hope you have a wonderful August and enjoy the rest of the summer. 

Please Note: Town Offices/DPW Offices operate on summer hours through August 29. Normal Business Hours will resume September 2. 

Sincerely, 

In addition to fully removing and replacing the boilers at the Middle School and Town Building, the Facilities Department has also accomplished:

1.) The EV Pumps at the Town Building and COA Community Center are now complete and open to the public for $0.35/kWh. 

2) New HVAC upgrades are being made to the Children's Way system for more efficient and comfortable cooling! 

The Sustainability Department has launched an Instagram to provide department and project updates as well as resident engagement updates. You can follow here: Wayland Sustainability Instagram.

Protect your Wellbeing in an Emergency and Be Prepared

1) Be sure to turn on, and leave on emergency alerts on your phone. 



📱 Learn more about the iPhone Emergency, Government and Local alerts here

📲 Learn about managing Android emergency alerts here

🚨 Subscribe to CodeRed alerts - the system used by Wayland emergency management here

2) Have an emergency kit ready. Learn more from Mass.gov here and stop by to see us at Wayland Day on October 4 to ask questions!

With the hot weather and mosquito season in full swing, everyone should be prepared to protect ourselves from mosquitoes by following these tips:

Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours (Dusk to Dawn). Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors!

Drain Standing Water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters, drains, unused flowerpots, and wading pools.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors.

Keep Yourself Safe from Ticks and Tick-Borne Illnesses.

Ticks are found all around New England, especially in wooded areas during peak seasons (April – August & Fall). Protect yourself from Ticks and Tick-Borne Illnesses by:

Educate Yourself: Know what environment they thrive in and the symptoms of a tick bite.

Check Body, Clothes, & Pets: Conduct a full body check. Use a mirror or ask someone to check areas that are hard to see.

Tuck Pants into Socks: Tucking pants into socks seals off potential crevasses that ticks can crawl into and hide.

Walk on Trails & avoid tall grass: Ticks hide in bushes and tall grass, avoiding these areas limits exposure.

Use DEET-Based Repellent: Regularly apply repellent on any exposed areas of skin.

Wear Closed Toe Shoes & Light-Colored Clothing: Light-Colored clothing allows you to better spot ticks.

Pops with Cops! 🍧

On July 3, 2025 the Wayland Police Department collaborated for "Pops with Cops".

Officers enjoyed engaging with beachgoers and campers wile distributing popsicles. Archie, the Wayland Police Department's comfort dog was also in attendance.

Summer is winding down!

A special thanks to our seasonal staff for all of their hard work and dedication to the members of our community! 

The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Thursday during the summer months. Our current focus includes updating records to ensure that all board and committee members are in compliance with State Ethics and Open Meeting Law requirements. We are also following up with residents who still need to register their dogs, learning a new software system from State Vitals for registering birth and death records, and continuing the work on the re-codification of the Town’s bylaws.

Recently, the Town Clerk hosted a tabletop exercise at Wayland Town Hall, organized in partnership with Wayland’s Regional Cyber Security Analyst from the Information Technology Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office. The event was attended by 15 Town Clerks and staff from surrounding communities and provided a valuable two-hour training session.

We are pleased to welcome Wayland resident Merline Bhukhanwala as the new part-time Department Assistant in the Town Clerk’s Office. Merlin brings a strong background that includes years of volunteer service with the Wayland Public Schools, part-time experience at a local senior living facility, and a solid professional history in the financial sector. We’re excited to have her join our team.

As always, the Town Clerk’s Office is here to serve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Dave Campisano serves as a Veterans Services Officer with the West Suburban Veterans District, working alongside Dan O’Neill, where he is dedicated to be advocating for and improving the lives of veterans and their families.

A former U.S. Army combat veteran with 15 years of distinguished service—including Ranger and Airborne qualifications—Dave transitioned to the private sector after earning his degree from Suffolk University, building a strong foundation in finance. Motivated by the loss of close military friends to suicide, he founded 22Mohawks, a national nonprofit committed to veteran mental health and connection, launching initiatives such as high-impact static line parachute retreats and the “Pups for Vets” program, which has placed over 190 companion dogs with veterans.

Dave also earned a Master’s in Public Administration to expand his leadership in the nonprofit space, positioning 22Mohawks for sustained growth and national impact. His unwavering mission is to build community and save lives by fighting for those who fought for our country.

Hydrant Painting Continues – Get On Board!

Nearly 20 Wayland individuals or families have signed up to paint a fire hydrant (or two!) in town as part of the Wayland Rev250 celebration. You can, too! Join in this fun project and create some public art.

Individuals, families, groups, and organizations can participate. Paint kits are available, or use your own.

Guidelines specify the type of paint (oil-based enamel paint for metal), and how to ensure that your artwork doesn’t interfere with the hydrant’s function. Some colors are prohibited – all black, all white, or dark camouflage green, for example – and no words or logos are allowed. But there is plenty of room for creative expression.

This could be a great family project and a fun summer activity. The deadline for painting is November 1, 2025. To register, simply select a hydrant (or more than one) and email Select Board member Tom Fay at tfay@wayland.ma.us. Tom will send you the guidelines and the agreement for hydrant sponsors to sign. Then, the rest is up to you! 

Click here to view photos of painted fire hydrants in Wayland!

Interested in Wayland Audit Committee as the School Committee Appointee

The Wayland School Committee appoints one representative to serve on the Town’s Audit Committee, a panel established by the Select Board to advise the Town’s elected leadership and financial management teams. The appointed member ensures that the School Department’s financial systems, internal controls, and audit recommendations are integrated with the broader town oversight process.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Make recommendations to the Select Board on the selection of the independent auditor and recommend scope of the independent audit;
• Make recommendations to the Select Board for areas where extra focus or expanded attention may be appropriate 
• Review annual financial statement and management reports prepared by the auditors and provide comments with respect to said review;
• Review and report to the Select Board at least annually on the status of management recommendations made by the independent auditor and corrective action taken by management;
• Additionally, with approval of the Select Board, provide assistance in support of the process for other external audits or reviews, which may include providing input on the scope, reviewing and ranking respondents to RFPs, acting as a point of coordination and support for the auditor conducting the work, and, if requested, provide advice to the requestor on reading and interpreting the report.

Qualifications

• Experience in school or municipal finance, accounting, or auditing (a CPA or financial background strongly preferred).
• Knowledge of internal control practices, financial statements, and audit protocols.
• Ability to maintain a objective and collaborative working relationship with municipal and school stakeholders.
• Willingness to attend scheduled committee meetings, review detailed financial documents, and contribute to clear reporting.

If you are interested in joining this committee, please email Diane Marobella: diane_marobella@waylandps.org with your brief statement of interest.

Energy and Climate Committee: Committee Voting Member and Student Volunteer Needed

The Wayland Energy and Climate Committee consists of currently 6 dedicated and hardworking individuals appointed by the Select Board with an open voting member position and a student volunteer position available.  

The Energy and Climate Committee’s main tasks focus on achieving the goals of the Climate Action and Mobilization (CAMP) Plan . The Committee regularly interacts with Town sustainability staff, meeting monthly either in person or virtually.  

The Energy and Climate Committee is made up of individuals with diverse career experience, not limited to energy or environmentally focused fields. The Committee values these broad and different perspectives that each member brings, and encourages anyone with a passion for energy and sustainability to apply.

Residents (registered voters) with a passion for energy and sustainability are encouraged to apply. We are particularly encouraging residents with children and those from diverse backgrounds with various incomes and cultural influences to apply. Residents with experience in marketing or Social Media skills are also encouraged to apply.

The student volunteer position is open to any Wayland High School-aged resident who has a passion about sustainability and energy.

Applicants are also encouraged to attend an ECC meeting to learn more about how the committee operates. If you have questions about the committee or position, feel free to contact committee chair Ellen Tohn at etohn@wayland.ma.us. 

All residents who are interested in serving on the Energy and Climate Committee should submit a letter of interest and resume to Jailyn Bratica, Executive Assistant to the Town Manager, at execasst@wayland.ma.us.  

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Decision:

Bus Parking Special Permit Extension

In August 2022, the ZBA granted a five-year extension for the use of the rear parking lot at 41 Cochituate Road for school bus parking. This extension, valid through August 31, 2027, allows for the continued parking of up to 16 school buses on the property, with conditions to ensure proper use. Notably, no fueling or topping off of bus fluids will be allowed, and physical barriers will be installed to prevent buses from encroaching on adjacent vegetated areas.

The ZBA will revisit the issue on September 9, 2025, during a public hearing to ensure compliance with the conditions of the Special Permit.

How You Can Get Involved:

The ZBA invites the public to attend the meeting on September 9, 2025, to provide comments or concerns regarding the ongoing use of the parking lot. This is an opportunity for community members to stay informed and share their thoughts.

For more details, visit the Zoning Board of Appeals page on the Town website or click the button below.