Message from Town Manager, Michael McCall | |
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We hope you enjoyed the inaugural Town Newsletter. The first edition was well-received, and we appreciate those who took the time to send us their appreciation and feedback! If you would like to provide feedback, please email execasst@wayland.ma.us.
We hope you enjoy the second edition of the newsletter. This latest edition of our newsletter now will include Town Board and Committees!
My next office hours for residents to talk about topics of interest or concern will be held on Monday, August 19 from 5:30pm – 6:30pm at Wayland Town Hall.
Lastly, it's hard to believe that it is already August. I hope that you have had an enjoyable summer. The warmer weather allows the Town to move forward on its outdoor projects. Construction continues at the Council on Aging facility and Fire Station 2, and soon work will begin on the Town Beach playground. DPW will be paving roads, and our crews are visible on Town fields and greenspace. Soon, September will be upon us, signaling the end of summer, and Wayland Public Schools will be back in session. Until then, I wish you a happy and safe August.
Sincerely,
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Tips to Use at the Pump
The Weights and Measures Division within the Building Department would like to remind residents to make sure you are getting what you pay for at the gas pump.
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Octane rating per gallon/liter should be visible on each pump and must be set to zero before every use.
- Make sure you are being charged for the exact amount by checking the price by multiplying the gallons by the unit price.
- Make sure to check to see if the gas station carries 'economy' gas as well as regular gas. Economy gas can sometimes be the least expensive gas.
- Price you are charged must match the posted price. If the posted price is lower than what you see at the pump, the gas station is violating the law.
- Avoid purchasing gasoline when the station is receiving a shipment of gasoline. When the tanker truck is unloading, it can stir up sediment located in the underground storage tanks.
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Buy the correct grade. Check the owner's manual to determine what level of gasoline octane is require for your car: 95% of cars today require only 87 octane.
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Cow Conservation Land
The Appalachian Mountain Club and their Americorp team have been working this week at Cow Common installing a boardwalk.
The boardwalk is part of the current project to reroute the Bay Circuit Trail and provide an ADA accessible trail for the community center.
The trail should be completed by the end of August.
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NEW Sudbury-Wayland
Hospital Shuttle Service
A new hospital shuttle with home pick-ups and drop-offs starts in August for Wayland and Sudbury seniors (age 60 and over). The Sudbury-Wayland Boston Hospital Shuttle will take riders to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Jamaica Plain VA Hospital, Brigham and Women's, Dana Farber, Beth Israel Deaconess, Mass General, and Mass Eye and Ear.
Three round-trip shuttles - morning, mid-day, and afternoon will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The rides will be free of charge in August to encourages residents to try it out. Starting in September, the one-way fare will be $2.00. No cash will be collected on the shuttle vehicle, so fares will be charged through a prepay debit system. Riders will need to establish a fare account, and can add value to their fare account by check, credit/debit card, or cash.
The shuttles are projected to start Tuesday, August 6. Reservations for the shuttle may be made up to two weeks in advance but no less than 24 hours before the day of your scheduled appointment.
For further information, contact the MWRTA Central Reservations, 508-820-4650.
The Wayland and Sudbury Council on Aging collaborated to secure grant funding from the MA Department of Transportation to support this new service!
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Department of Public Works | |
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Wayland Activates Emergency Connection with Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
Why is this emergency water connection needed?
This connection will supplement Wayland's local water source as needed. Having access to a backup water supply provides Wayland with more flexible and resilient options to deliver safe, clean drinking water to the public.
How is this water different from the water Wayland currently?
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) treats its water differently from Wayland in two ways:
- MWRA uses chloramine (a mix of chlorine and ammonia) instead of free chlorine (the amount of chlorine in water that is available to eliminate contaminants).
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MWRA water has a higher pH (around 9 to 9.5) to prevent corrosion and reduce lead
Water with chloramine is safe to drink and use just like chlorinated water. These differences will not affect most people unless they have specific medical conditions. Chloramine is a disinfection used to keep water safe as it travels through pipes. It is mild, produces less taste and color, and has fewer disinfection products.
Chloraminated water meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and is safe for drinking, cooking, bathing and other household uses.
Are there concerns with blending these two supply sources?
Proper monitoring ensures that mixing water treated with free chlorine and water treated with chloramine can be managed effectively. Water quality analysis of Wayland's water and MWRA's water indicates that potential concerns will be minimized as long as the amount of water coming from the MWRA is kept below one-half. When activated, the new connection will supply approximately one-third of the Town’s water, with the remaining two-thirds from the Town’s own water sources.
For more information please visit MWRA Connection Information
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The Town of Wayland is pleased to provide trash and recycling disposal services at the Transfer Station. The Town offers “green” recycling of metal, Styrofoam bubble material, electronics, oil, batteries, tires, mattresses & box springs, yard waste, give-n-take items and textile materials & composting. Additional services include paper-shredding events and the disposal of bulky waste items (non-recyclables too large to fit in PAYT (Pay As You Throw) bags). Residents with an active Transfer Station sticker may pay these disposal fees at the Transfer Station at the time of disposal. | |
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Wayland Free Public Library | |
Residents are reminded to consider timing when scheduling vaccinations. For older adults, the seasonal flu vaccine provides the best levels of protection from illness and death for four to six months, vaccines take about 14 days after administration to work with your immune system to provide protection. For most persons who need only one dose of influenza vaccine for the season, vaccination should occur during late September or October. However, vaccination should continue throughout the season as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
The typical "flu season" in Massachusetts runs from November to May and usually peaks in December through February. Vaccination during July and August is not recommended for most groups. Timing considerations include:
- For most adults (particularly those aged ≥65 years) and pregnant persons in the first or second trimester, vaccination during July and August should be avoided unless there is concern that later vaccination might not be possible.
- Children 6 months through 8 years who require 2 doses should receive the first dose as soon as vaccine is available.
- Vaccination during July and August can be considered for children of any age who require only 1 dose.
- Vaccination in July and August can be considered for pregnant persons who are in the third trimester during these months
The Health Department will will offer the seasonal Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 vaccinations in the fall. Schedules and registration will be posted at Wayland.ma.us/vaccine by September 15.
Standard (Ages 6 months - 64) and High Does (ages 65+) influenza vaccine will be offered. We are working to off Moderna Pfizer and Novafax COVID-19 vaccinations.
Your insurance company will be billed for vaccines and administration, just like pharmacies and doctor's offices. If you are under or uninsured, we can provide you with insurance information and vaccines free of charge.
Call your healthcare provider with questions about what to get or visit our website at Wayland.ma.us/vaccine for more resources.
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Reverse 911 Community Notification System (CodeRED)
The Town of Wayland currently uses CodeRED community notification system to send important alerts and time sensitive messages to staff members and residents. Along with emergency and critical messages, the CodeRED notification system will also enhance community engagement via the release of important but non-emergency information such as road closures, schedule changes, snow plow schedules and other Wayland services.
CodeRED Benefits
- Registration is customized allowing residents to choose which alerts they'd like to receive, as well as their preferred channel.
- Residents can select different methods including landline, cell phone, email, text message, TTY, or even a combination. Alerts can be specific to streets, neighborhoods or regions.
- Residents & visitors can keep track of alerts in Wayland with the CodeRED Mobile app which notifies smartphone holders of real-time alerts in the area.
All residents are encouraged to sign up for CodeRED and immediately start receiving these informative alerts. For more information on the CodeRED notification system or registration, please contact Ed Burman, Chief of Police at eburman@wayland.ma.us.
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Based on statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2017-2021, July was the peak month for grill fires and one-fifth of the fires were because of the grill not being properly cleaned.
Follow these tips to ensure your grill is properly cleaned and to prevent a fire.
- Once the charcoal has cooled, brush out the ash
- Make sure to clean the grill grates with a long handled, stiff-wire brush
- Use a rag or paper towels to apply vegetable oil to clean the grates. This will prevent rust and food build up.
- Make sure to clean the inside and outside of the grilling bowl and lid using soap!
- Towel dry to prevent rust and protect the grill with a grill cover.
If you are cleaning a Flat-Top Grill:
- Clean the surface while the burner is still hot
- Spray cleaning solution along the top and let it set for a minute. You can use dish soap, degreaser, or a homemade baking soda mixture.
- Use a grill brush to scrub away any debris or food.
- Wipe the grill down with a dry cloth and repeat the process if needed.
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If you are new to Wayland, or you have never registered to vote in Wayland, the last day to do so is Saturday, August 24, 2024. The Town Clerk's Office will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM., or you can register online with a valid MA driver's license or State ID card using the link below. If you have moved within Wayland and have not updated your address, you can also use this link to update your address.
Please Click Here to Register or Update Information.
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Vote By Mail Information
MA State Elections has mailed a vote by mail postcard to every registered voter who had not submitted one in January and checked off all elections. The list they used was as of July 5th. If you wish to not vote by mail, there is no need to return the postcard,
If you are registered to vote after July 5 and did not receive a postcard from the State, you can click here Vote by Mail Application to submit to the Town Clerk's Office. Please Note: If you completed the white postcard sent by the State Election in January and checked off "all elections", you are all set for the remainder of elections for 2024.
Instead of completing the paper Vote by Mail Application and sending it to the Town Clerk, You can submit a vote by mail application through the State's Mail-in Ballot Application System. You must be registered to vote to use the online application system. If you need to make changes to your registration, you need to make those changes before submitting the application here.
Voter Registration changes need to be reviewed and certified by the Town Clerk's Office before they become effective. Please allow a few days for the processing of your voter registration changes before you plan to submit your Vote by Mail Application online.
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September 3 - State Primary Information
If you are registered as a Democrat, you can only request the Democratic ballot. If you are registered as a Republican, you can only request the Republican ballot and the same if you are registered as a Libertarians - you can only request the libertarian ballot.
If you are registered as unenrolled (referred to as Independent), you can request one of any of the three party ballots.
State Primary - Sample Ballots
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Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes due by August 1.
Checking My Payment Status
City Hall is a quick and easy way to confirm receipt of your payment. Real Estate bills can be searched by property address, bill number, owner name or parcel ID.
If a balance is still shown here after August 7, please email treasurer@wayland.ma.us with your name, address, check #, amount and address the check was mailed a well as the date it cleared your bank.
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Remember, while Direct Bill Pay is convenient, paying through your bank may cause delays in the receipt of your payment and interest accrues daily beyond the due date. Banks will often withdraw funds from your account the day you make the request, provide a confirmation number to you, and mail a paper check to us. If you want to check the status of a Direct Bill Payment, you’ll need to provide us the check number of the bank generated check. | | |
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Wayland is a member of the West Suburban Veteran’s District. Veterans and Families, please make sure to reach out to our office to make appointments for services. Remember, when you raised your hand to support to the United States of America, your Veteran's Service Officer (VSO) that keep America's promise to you. Please make sure to reach out because we can improve your quality of life. Some example of services we have been able to provide are hearing devices, Agent Orange Exposure and questions concerning for spouses.
Wayland’s Veteran’s Agent, TJ Tedeschi is available at the Wayland Town Building on Tuesdays, 9am – 4pm. For appointments outside of office hours, please contact Sarada Kalpee at (781) 850-5504.
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Are you passionate about arts and culture? Join the Wayland Cultural Council and make a difference in the community! 🎨
Why Join?
Impact: Fund and support local artists, musicians, and cultural organizations
Community: Collaborate with like-minded individuals to create engaging events
Growth: Gain experience in grant-making, project management, and outreach
Influence: Help decide which projects and events receive funding.
Fun: Enjoy bringing exciting cultural experiences to Wayland
Grant Opportunities: Be part of the grant distribution process, allocating state funds to deserving projects.
The Cultural Council is a town committee with members appointed by the Select Board. We distribute state-allocated funds through a grant process. With the grant cycle opening soon, we'd love to onboard new members to share the excitement!
Ready to contribute? Email wccmembers@wayland.ma.us to get involved!
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Wayland Historical Commission | |
How Many Stories Does Your House Have?
Did you know you can trace your home’s history just like you can trace your family’s past? Learn how by watching “Researching the History of Your House” by Marian Pierre-Louis, co-sponsored by the Wayland Historical Commission and the Wayland Public Library. Marian demonstrates her research techniques by tracing the history of a Wayland house you might recognize. More than 150 people attended in person or online. Where can you find your home’s deeds? How do you “chain” a deed? Where can you locate other sources of information such as the US Federal Census records? Marian Pierre-Louis is an educator who specializes in house history research, southern New England genealogy, and historic cemetery research.
To watch the presentation, please click here!
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Mr. Faia has a long history of construction and facilities management. Mr. Faia began his career as an Ironworker.
Mr. Faia worked at Emerson College for 15 years assisting in developing both their Boston and LA campuses as a Construction Manager as well as assisted in developing their long term capital plan.
Before coming to Wayland, Mr. Faia worked as a Senior Project Manager with a predominant general contractor.
Welcome to Wayland Michael!
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Volunteer on a Board or Committee | |
International Overdose Awareness Day | |
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The Opioid Settlement Working Group has been meeting to discuss the observance of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) held on August 31 every year. It's the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
There were 2,215 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2023. Observing IOAD provides an opportunity for reflection on the tragedy caused by the opioid crisis.
The theme for 2024 is "Together We Can" highlighting the power of community when we all stand together.
Click here to view Massachusetts Overdose Awareness Day Events.
For more information on International Overdose Awareness Day, please visit https://www.overdoseday.com/
For Substance Use Recovery Resources, please click here: Wayland Health Department
#IOAD2024 #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose
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