State of the Town: Wayland Selectmen Talk Topics, Format

The Wayland Board of Selectmen is beginning to talk through topics and format for the State of the Town meeting tentatively scheduled for mid October – likely Oct. 12, 13 or 20.

In 2010, the “State of the Town” meeting took the form of a forum to “discuss and define community values,” according to a press release from Town Administrator Fred Turkington.

At Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Chair Tom Fay said selectmen had previous discussed hosting a hybrid of past meetings, which would involve a report from one or more committee members on a particular topic followed by a small-group, roundtable discussion.

Vice chair Sue Pope said she would like to see a short presentation related to ongoing projects in town. The other selectmen agreed, but expressed some concern about finding a format that is respectful of residents’ time yet provides ample information.

All the board members liked the idea of a roundtable discussion, with Selectmen Steve Correia going so far as to call the 2010 forum “extremely successful.”

Topic suggestions included “needs and wants relative to future municipal buildings,” volunteerism in town, balancing “semi-rural” character with development, meeting the needs of the elderly in town and more.

The board expects to make a firm decision about format and topics by late summer and will begin advertising the meeting after Labor Day.

But what are you looking for during a “State of the Town” meeting or forum? Do you want a discussion or would you rather simply hear from town leaders? What topics are you interested in learning about or hearing addressed in October?