Diseases Squeeze Wayland 2020 Town Meeting Plans

WAYLAND, MA — The town of Wayland was facing a unique problem in planning for the already postponed 2020 Town Meeting: how to keep voters safe from two diseases swirling in the state.

Town Meeting was delayed from the original April date due to coronavirus. This week, the Board of Selectmen voted to set a new date — the weekend of Sept. 12 — but had to factor in a potentially serious Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat.

The town wants to hold the meeting outdoors this year to allow social distance between voters. The Selectmen were considering a date in mid-August, but were concerned about heat, and EEE — in 2019, the rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease ramped up at the end of summer.

The Selectmen were also concerned about the length of the meeting. With a long list of articles to get through, it's possible Town Meeting could last into the evening hours, which is when mosquitoes are most active.

Ultimately, the Selectmen voted 5-0 in favor of the Sept. 12 date for several reasons: more voters would be back from summer vacation, and the weather might be cooler, which is of particular concern for older Town Meeting attendees; it's also easier for the schools to accommodate Town Meeting after school starts on Aug. 27, according to Wayland Public Schools facilities director Ben Keefe.

Although it's possible another postponement could happen, the 2020 Town Meeting will begin around noon on Sept. 12 at the Wayland High School football field. The meeting could continue on Sept. 13 if necessary, or if weather washes out the Sept. 12 date.