Gov. Baker Signs Off On Wayland Town Government Change

WAYLAND, MA — After years in the works, a change in Wayland's town government structure became officials this week after Gov. Charlie Baker signed off on the measure.

The change was supposed to go to Town Meeting in 2020, but was pushed to spring 2021 due to the pandemic. After Town Meeting's approval last May, the change then had to be approved by the state House and Senate, and by Baker.

Now, Wayland will have a town manager instead of a town administrator, and the Board of Selectmen will be known as the Select Board — a gender inclusive name change most other nearby towns have already made. The town clerk will also now be appointed by the town manager, so Clerk Anna Ludwig will not be on the ballot in May.

The government change has been in the works since about 2017 after a Collins Center for Public Management report about how the town's structure compares to other communities. The report found that Wayland is fragmented, with departments operating in silos and deferring to volunteer-led boards and committees.

Wayland's next town manager — the town is searching for a replacement after Louise Miller's departure earlier this year — will have stronger control over town operations, with all departments expect schools reporting directly to them.

"This new form of government will enable our organization to modernize processes, streamline operations, and develop a nimble, responsive local government that will serve the community well for years to come," Select Board Chair Thomas Fay said in a news release.