Author: League of Women Voters of Wayland

The League of Women Voters is a political grassroots network and membership organization that believes the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue. For more than a century, we’ve worked to empower voters and defend democracy. As a women-led organization, we encourage everyone to take part in our democracy.

72nd LWVW Candidates Night

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The League of Women Voters of Wayland will hold its 72nd Annual Candidates Night on Thursday, April 14th at 7pm via Zoom. Karen Kavet is organizing the event and Nancy Brumback from the Sudbury League will moderate. All candidates will be invited to participate.

Questions for the candidates must be submitted in advance of Candidates Night. Send your questions to info@lwvwayland.org

  • The following offices are up for election:
    • Board of Selectmen (one 3-year term)
    • School Committee (one 3-year term)
    • Board of Assessors (one 3-year term)
    • Trustees of the Public Library (two 3-year terms)
    • Board of Health (one 3-year term & one 1-year term to fill a vacancy)
    • Planning Board (one 5-year term)
    • Board of Public works (two 3-year terms)
    • Recreation Commission (two 3-year terms)
    • Commissioner of Trust Funds (one 3-year term)
    • Housing Authority (one 5-year term)
    • Town Clerk* (3-year term): The Town Clerk was made an appointed position with passage of the Select Board/Town Manager Act at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting. It awaits final approval from the Legislature.

It appears that there may be at least two contested positions. The Zoom link will be available closer to the event.

Upcoming events for 2022:

  • Thursday May 5:  Town Meeting Issues Forum
  • Tuesday May 10:  Town Elections
  • Saturday May 14:  Town Meeting Begins (Continues on Sunday May 15 and Monday May 16 if needed)
  • Tuesday September 6:  State Primary Election
  • Tuesday November 8:  State Election

Special Town Meeting, Sunday, October 3rd at 12:30 p.m.

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Be sure to vote at the Special Town Meeting on Sunday, October 3rd at 12:30 p.m. at Wayland High School!  The primary article calls for a three-year moratorium on turf fields.  In addition, funding will be requested for three grass fields:  design money for a grass field at the Loker Conservation and Recreation area, and feasibility study money for a potential field at the former DPW site near the middle school and at another site.

LWVW Forum on the Special Town Meeting

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Join us on September 30th at 7pm when Iryna Priester will moderate a forum to discuss the four articles that will be considered at Town Meeting on October 3rd.  The primary article calls for a three-year moratorium on turf fields.  In addition, funding will be requested for three grass fields:  design money for a grass field at the Loker Conservation and Recreation area, and feasibility study money for a potential field at the former DPW site near the middle school and at another site.   

Join us to learn more on the issues to be voted on, and bring your questions! Here is the link to the meeting: LWVW Forum on Wayland Special Town Meeting

September LWVW Bulletin–hot off the press!

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Welcome to fall—already!  The Coordinating Committee met in August to plan for the year ahead but life has a way of interrupting plans.  Unknown at the time of the meeting, signatures were being collected that call for a Special Town Meeting.  That meeting will take place on Sunday, October 3rd.  As a result our League will hold the following:

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING ISSUES FORUM

On September 30th at 7pm, Iryna Priester will moderate a forum to discuss the four articles that will be considered at Town Meeting on October 3rd.  The primary article calls for a three-year moratorium on turf fields.  In addition, funding will be requested for three grass fields:  design money for a grass field at the Loker Conservation and Recreation area, and feasibility study money for a potential field at the former DPW site near the middle school and at another site.   Keep an eye out for the Zoom link!

LEAGUE ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

We’ve set the date of December 8th for the holiday party and hope to meet in person at Karen Kavet’s house at 11:30.  Put the date on your calendars and keep your fingers crossed!  Think about inviting a League friend. 

KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT VIRTUAL MEETINGS

The Coordinating Committee is planning two meetings to learn about topics of general community interest.  They will be held on Zoom and will be open to the public.  No dates have been set yet but one of the topics will be water and wastewater issues.

A reminder to pay your dues if you have not already done so.  $60 and $30 for a second member.  Send checks to LWV Wayland, Box 9, Wayland, MA 01778

Meet the Specialists: Gun Violence Prevention

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From LWVMA: How can Massachusetts establish unarmed crisis response teams to 911 calls? Did you know that untraceable ghost guns circumvent the stringent firearm licensing process? Learn answers to these questions on Monday, September 13 at 12 noon when LWVMA gun violence prevention legislative specialists Sue McCalley and Jen Muroff brief us on bills designed to address these issues. We will also review our partnership with the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and their holistic approach to reaching zero gun deaths in the Commonwealth. Register here

We will cover the following bills in more detail:

  • H.2491/S.1540 An Act Relative to 3D Printed Weapons and Ghost Guns
  • H.2519/S.1552 An Act to Create Alternatives for Community Education Services (ACES)
  • H.2437/S.1562 An Act Relative to Crime Gun Data Reporting and Analysis

LWVMA: Support the Community Immunity Bill

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From LWVMA: A Joint Committee on Public Health hearing July 12 on H.2271/S.1517, the Community Immunity Act, lasted 15 hours, until 1 a.m., as anti-vaccine forces turned out in force to oppose this bill and to ridicule and shout down proponents who attempted to support it. We don’t usually ask League members to send emails supporting bills to joint committees, but in this case the committee is being swamped with communications from the anti-vaccine forces and needs to hear from Massachusetts citizens on the other side.

Please send an email now to the joint committee members, email addresses listed below, using the template below or drafting your own.

The Community Immunity Act has nothing to do with the Covid-19 vaccine, does not mandate vaccination, and does not remove the religious exemption to being vaccinated. You can read the League testimony on this bill here. To quote that testimony, “this bill will create a consistent baseline immunization policy across Massachusetts schools, preschools, daycare centers and summer camps. Mandatory reporting will allow for accurate data collection by (the Department of Public Health) that will help identify local gaps in vaccination rates and allow appropriate and effective interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy and achieve community immunity.”

Here is an email template you can use:
Subject line: Support for Community Immunity Bill, S.1517/H.2271

Dear Chair Comerford, Chair Decker, and Members of the Joint Committee on Public Health:

As a League of Women Voters member, I strongly support S.1517/H.2271, the Community Immunity Act. As we endeavor to emerge from a global pandemic, I urge you to expediently advance the Community Immunity Act with a favorable report. We know the importance of widespread herd immunity (both localized and statewide) and the need to improve our public health infrastructure. Unfortunately, our current infectious disease prevention provisions leave gaping holes in our public health protections. The Community Immunity Act fixes the holes by creating the statutory immunization infrastructure our Commonwealth needs, without mandating vaccines or striking the religious exemption.  

Please help keep all of us safe and healthy, particularly people who are immunocompromised and rely on community immunity. Take action to report S.1517/H.2271 quickly and favorably out of committee.   

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

[your full name] [your phone number (optional)] [complete address – street, city, state, zip]