Wayland Finance Committee elects Barnes chair, sets weekly fall meeting schedule

WAYLAND — July 13, 2026 — Wayland Finance Committee elects Barnes chair, front-loads fall calendar for potential override. The committee voted 6-0 to elect Carl Barnes chair and Iris Hawksa vice chair for FY2027, and welcomed new members Satish Raj and Rob Quimby. Brian O'Herlihy, a retired CPA in his fourth year on the committee, will continue as minute-taker and reported that Finance Director Brian Keveney and the town manager have recommended the Select Board consider placing a Proposition 2½ override question on the November 5 state election ballot, which draws roughly 80 percent voter turnout versus 10 percent at a special election. The Select Board is expected to vote on ballot timing September 8. Members set meetings for July 27, August 10, August 24, September 9, and weekly Mondays thereafter. O'Herlihy warned that measures used to avoid an override last year — including deferred debt and shifting highway department debt to excluded debt — are unavailable for FY28, with any override likely split 60-to-70 percent to schools and 30-to-40 percent to the town. Wayland has not passed an operating override since 2009.