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Wayland Select Board
How the Wayland Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. David Watkins, elected in June 2020, joined the board after the September 2020 Annual Town Meeting; Doug Levine left it (his last meeting was September 12, 2020). On September 14, 2020 the board chose Cherry Karlson as Chair and Thomas Fay as Vice Chair (5-0). Covers 44 meetings, September 14 to May 16, 2021.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetBoard years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
Vice-ChairThomas FayVice Chair · At-large · at 43 of 44 meetings
Carol MartinMember · At-large · at 0 of 0 meetingsDavid WatkinsMember · At-large · at 44 of 44 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Wayland Select Board minutes (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until March 2022) from January 8, 2018 through September 8, 2026: 376 meetings and 2,527 votes. Minutes from 2018 through 2024 come from the town’s Document Center (Agendas & Minutes prior to 2025, Select Board), which holds the board’s open-session minutes back to July 2009 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on); minutes from January 2025 on come from the town’s Agenda Center. All the minutes are typed documents with searchable text. Not here: executive-session minutes; two dates with no meeting (October 8, 2019, when there was no quorum, and September 30, 2021, when no meeting was called to order); March 25, 2025, when the board attended a Board of Public Works forum (agenda only, no minutes posted); and meetings after September 8, 2026 (the September 22 and October 5, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). On three days in early 2021 the board met twice; the morning meetings are listed as Special so the two stay separate. Wayland’s minutes record nearly every vote as a roll call by name (“YEA: T. Fay, D. Levine, C. Martin, C. Reynolds and W. Whitney. NAY: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Adopted. 5-0-0.”), and we show each member’s vote as recorded; members listed as absent for a vote or not listed are not shown as voting, with a note. Where a roll call lists a member twice, names someone the minutes do not show as present or no longer on the board, or does not match its stated count, we show the count only, with a note (16 votes). Where the minutes write “Adopted” but the roll call shows more no votes than yes votes, the motion is shown as failed, with a note. At joint meetings (with the Board of Health, School Committee, Board of Public Works, Board of Assessors, Planning Board, Housing Authority, Recreation Commission, Trust Fund Commission and others), only the Select Board members’ votes are shown, and votes taken by the other boards alone are left out. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
May 10Support Article 10 FY 2022 Omnibus Budget as presented…Motion: L. Anderson moved, seconded by T. Fay to support Article 10…Passed 4–1 · No: Watkins
May 10, 2021: Support Article 10 FY 2022 Omnibus Budget as presented with amended numbers
L. Anderson moved, seconded by T. Fay to support Article 10 FY 2022 Omnibus Budget as presented with amended numbers. In discussion, D. Watkins expressed opposition due to the fact that new initiatives were included in the budget. C. Karlson noted there are no new initiatives in the Town budget. T. Fay asked if there were initiatives that D. Watkins would move to delete or reduce.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Fay, KarlsonNo: Watkins
From the minutes
“L. Anderson moved, seconded by T. Fay to support Article 10 FY 2022 Omnibus Budget as presented with amended numbers. In discussion, D. Watkins expressed opposition due to the fact that new initiatives were included in the budget. C. Karlson noted there are no new initiatives in the Town budget. T. Fay asked if there were initiatives that D. Watkins would move to delete or reduce. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson. NAY: D. Watkins. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 4-1.” (Motion: Anderson, second: Fay)
May 3Approve the Consent CalendarMotion: M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, to approve the Consent…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 3, 2021: Approve the Consent Calendar
M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, to approve the Consent Calendar.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Karlson, WatkinsThe roll call lists Thomas Fay as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, to approve the Consent Calendar. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, C. Karlson, D. Watkins. NAY: none. ABSENT: T. Fay. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 4-0.” (Motion: Antes, second: Anderson)
May 3Release with redactions the minutes as listed on the…Motion: Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen…Passed 4–0 · see note
May 3, 2021: Release with redactions the minutes as listed on the agenda
Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen release with redactions the minutes as listed on the agenda.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Karlson, WatkinsThe roll call lists Thomas Fay as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen release with redactions the minutes as listed on the agenda. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, C. Karlson, D. Watkins. NAY: none. ABSENT: T. Fay. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 4-0.” (Motion: Anderson, second: Antes)
Mar 22Approve Article D. OPEB Funding for $250,000 funded by…Motion: T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of…Passed 2–1 · No: Watkins · Abstained: Anderson, Antes
March 22, 2021: Approve Article D. OPEB Funding for $250,000 funded by Free Cash
T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of Selectmen approve Article D. OPEB Funding for $250,000 funded by Free Cash. There was a review of the Town Administrator and Finance Director's previous recommendation for OPEB funding.
Yes: Fay, KarlsonNo: WatkinsAbstained: Anderson, Antes
From the minutes
“T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of Selectmen approve Article D. OPEB Funding for $250,000 funded by Free Cash. There was a review of the Town Administrator and Finance Director's previous recommendation for OPEB funding. Roll Call Vote: YEA: T. Fay, C. Karlson. NAY: D. Watkins. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: M. Antes, L. Anderson. Adopted 2-1-2.” (Motion: Fay, second: Anderson)
Mar 15Support Article II titled Finance Committee Appointing BoardMotion: M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board support…Passed 3–2 · No: Fay, Karlson
March 15, 2021: Support Article II titled Finance Committee Appointing Board
M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board support Article II titled Finance Committee Appointing Board.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, WatkinsNo: Fay, Karlson
From the minutes
“M. Antes moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board support Article II titled Finance Committee Appointing Board. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, D. Watkins. NAY: T. Fay, C. Karlson. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 3-2.” (Motion: Antes, second: Anderson)
Mar 15Support Article JJ. Resolution to declare Climate EmergencyMotion: L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of…Passed 4–1 · No: Watkins
March 15, 2021: Support Article JJ. Resolution to declare Climate Emergency
L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen vote to support Article JJ. Resolution to declare Climate Emergency.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Fay, KarlsonNo: Watkins
From the minutes
“L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen vote to support Article JJ. Resolution to declare Climate Emergency. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson. NAY: D. Watkins. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 4-1.” (Motion: Anderson, second: Antes)
Mar 15Insert Article Z. Implement School Elementary Space Utilization StudyMotion: L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of…Failed 0–5 · No: Anderson, Antes, Fay, Karlson, Watkins
March 15, 2021: Insert Article Z. Implement School Elementary Space Utilization Study
L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen vote to insert Article Z. Implement School Elementary Space Utilization Study.
No: Anderson, Antes, Fay, Karlson, WatkinsThe minutes write "Adopted", but the count is 0-5, so the motion is shown as failed.
From the minutes
“L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen vote to insert Article Z. Implement School Elementary Space Utilization Study. Roll Call Vote: YEA: none. NAY: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson, D. Watkins. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 0-5.” (Motion: Anderson, second: Antes)
Mar 8Jointly with the Board of Assessors, appoint J. Todd…Motion: L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of…Passed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
March 8, 2021: Jointly with the Board of Assessors, appoint J. Todd to the Board of Assessors for a term ending at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting
L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors vote to appoint J. Todd to the Board of Assessors for a term ending at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting.
This was a joint vote with another board (count 9-0, including the other board’s members: yes: Z. Ventress, M. Upton, P. Parks, M. Taurisano). Only the Select Board members’ votes are shown.
From the minutes
“L. Anderson moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Assessors vote to appoint J. Todd to the Board of Assessors for a term ending at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson, D. Watkins. Z. Ventress, M. Upton, P. Parks, M. Taurisano NAY: none. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 9-0.” (Motion: Anderson, second: Antes)
Mar 8Approve Article AA titled CPA Historic Preservation: Rehab 70-74…Motion: T. Fay moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board approve…Passed 4–1 · No: Watkins
March 8, 2021: Approve Article AA titled CPA Historic Preservation: Rehab 70-74 Main St, for up to $125,000 as amended
T. Fay moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board approve Article AA titled CPA Historic Preservation: Rehab 70-74 Main St, for up to $125,000 as amended. In discussion, G. Schuler reported the projected CPA fund balances for the start of FY2022, totaling approximately $1.52 million.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Fay, KarlsonNo: Watkins
From the minutes
“T. Fay moved, seconded by M. Antes, that the Board approve Article AA titled CPA Historic Preservation: Rehab 70-74 Main St, for up to $125,000 as amended. In discussion, G. Schuler reported the projected CPA fund balances for the start of FY2022, totaling approximately $1.52 million. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson. NAY: D. Watkins. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: none. Adopted 4-1.” (Motion: Fay, second: Antes)
Mar 8Insert and support Article X. Spencer Circle Street Acceptance…Motion: T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Watkins
March 8, 2021: Insert and support Article X. Spencer Circle Street Acceptance to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant
T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of Selectmen insert and support Article X. Spencer Circle Street Acceptance to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. In discussion, D. Watkins indicated he did not have enough information to vote.
Yes: Anderson, Antes, Fay, KarlsonAbstained: Watkins
From the minutes
“T. Fay moved, seconded by L. Anderson, that the Board of Selectmen insert and support Article X. Spencer Circle Street Acceptance to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. In discussion, D. Watkins indicated he did not have enough information to vote. Roll Call Vote: YEA: L. Anderson, M. Antes, T. Fay, C. Karlson. NAY: none. ABSENT: none. ABSTAIN: D. Watkins. Adopted 4-0-1.” (Motion: Fay, second: Anderson)
From the Wayland Select Board’s official minutes: 2018 to 2024 from the town’s Document Center (Agendas & Minutes prior to 2025, Select Board), and 2025 on from its Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Wayland Patch candidate profiles (Thomas Fay, May 2022; William Whitney, April 2023; Carol Martin, April 2024; Doug Levine, May 2024), photos courtesy of the members. Christopher Reynolds from his candidate profile in The Wayland Post (April 2026).
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