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When my wife Karen and I moved to Wayland over 23 years ago, we knew it would be a wonderful place to raise our family. The excellent school system, semi-rural environment, high quality of its programs and services, and the fact that it was a caring community which placed a premium on volunteerism, made Wayland a very attractive and special community for us. And our expectations have been met, as our three children have had a high quality education, and as a family we have reaped the benefits of all that Wayland has to offer.

However, primarily due to the severe fiscal constraints which Wayland and every other municipality in the Commonwealth has been facing over the past decade, it has become an increasingly difficult challenge to maintain the high quality of life that is so valued by all of us.

The good news is that over the past three years, we have collectively—as a town—made great progress in meeting this challenge.

We have made great strides in developing and implementing a long term plan for fiscal stability. This includes (1) the implementation of several of the 40 recommendations of the Ad Hoc Budget Committee, which has already resulted in dramatic savings to the town, and (2) structural changes in our health insurance and pension programs. We have continued to streamline town government, have had a smooth transition to the town administrator form of government, worked to improve the delivery of services, and have avoided a budget override this year without cutting core services. We have resolved several long-standing personnel and litigation matters to the benefit of the town. We have even created a model for future public –private partnerships, which is exemplified by the Wayland-to-Waveland effort and the funding for the new turf field. And over the past three years we have engaged a whole new generation of concerned residents who have energized this town and are ready to move Wayland into the future.

This is all reflected in the fact that Wayland is one of only 12 municipalities in Massachusetts with a AAA bond rating, the highest possible rating. Most important, if we are able to bring the town center back to life, a project supported by 80% of the electorate, the likelihood of long term fiscal stability should become a reality.

Although we cannot go back in time to protect what gives Wayland its unique character, we can preserve all of what makes Wayland special by wisely investing in the future. By investing in our future, I mean investing in our schools, buying and conserving open space when the opportunity presents itself, creating new recreation space, maintaining the infrastructure of our town—whether it be roads, buildings or new technology, creating opportunities for affordable housing, and developing the town center with all of its benefits.

Finally, we must continue to applaud, encourage and participate in the extraordinary volunteerism which makes Wayland particularly unique. It is said that one can truly judge the quality of a community by its volunteerism, and if that is the case, then Wayland stands out above all. This is reflected in the fact that several volunteer organizations in Wayland have literally become models for other communities throughout the country.

There is a renewed positive spirit and energy in Wayland, a spirit and energy which we should all embrace as we move forward. We have a great deal to be proud of, but there is still much work to be done. If re-elected to the Board of Selectmen, I will do everything I can to provide the leadership and vision to continue the progress we have made together over the past three years.

Kevin Murphy

Candidate Statement:

My name is Kevin Murphy and I ask for your vote in support of my candidacy for the 5-year term on the Wayland Planning Board.

Ten years ago, my wife Lana and I moved to Wayland. Like many young families, we were attracted to Wayland’s excellent school system and its scenic charm. Since then, we’ve benefited from Wayland’s many resources. We’ve also contributed to the community by volunteering in youth sports, organizing numerous school-related activities and volunteering with the Save Our Services coalition. We feel fortunate to live here and we look forward to raising our four children in Wayland.

As a Planning Board member, I will support thoughtful, responsive planning that reflects the desires of the Town’s residents and is consistent with the Town’s Master Plan. I understand the balancing act that is needed to maintain the qualities that make our community special while planning for and controlling growth. If elected, I will work to streamline the Planning Board’s decision making process and improve relationships with other Town Boards. I am committed to improving transparency and creating an open, friendly and accessible Planning Board.

I’m also extremely interested in resurrecting the Town Center development process. Rarely do we have an opportunity to guide a development that will make so many positive contributions to community life while simultaneously improving Wayland’s fiscal position. The concept plan, in its current form, reflects comments received from numerous residents, the Planning Board, and our design consultant. I believe that proposal, if reintroduced, can be subjected to an appropriate level of due diligence while honoring the voters’ directive. Moreover, this can be done in a collaborative, respectful manner.
I believe my technical and financial background makes me ideally suited for the Planning Board. I have a degree in engineering from Columbia University and I have almost 20 years of experience in investment management.

My professional role as a portfolio manager requires that I make investment decisions every day by gathering market information and evaluating advice from experts in credit research, tax, legal and compliance. This complex process is nearly identical to that of a properly functioning board, working with the Town Administrator, Town Counsel, Town Planner, and other Town Boards.

We all have aspirations for Wayland, our hometown, and the Planning Board plays a critical leadership role in Wayland’s short and long term development. Good planning requires listening, consensus building and teamwork. I have the skills and the desire to make this a reality in Wayland.

Please consider my candidacy when you cast your vote on April 24th. Thank you.

Eric Knapp

Candidate Statement:

My name is Eric Knapp. I was appointed to the Board of Road Commissioners in January by unanimous vote from our Board of Selectmen and a three quarter majority of the Board of Road Commissioners. I am honored to be on the board, and hope that Wayland voters will elect me back to the Board of Road Commissioners on April 24.

My wife, Heather, and our two sons, Charlie and Wilson, have lived in Wayland for almost two years. We were immediately pleased to see how the commitment of volunteers on our elected town boards (and informal committees and groups) has a direct impact on Wayland’s strong sense of community.

Heather and I quickly became actively involved in Wayland; Heather, as vice president of the Wayland Children and Parents Association, and I through grass roots voter registration efforts, volunteering for candidates, attending the public meetings of various boards, and volunteering for the vacant seat on the Board of Road Commissioners. While I have not lived in Wayland as long as my fellow candidates, I firmly believe that commitment to Wayland is not a function of residency tenure, but rather a function of one’s desire to have a positive impact on the long-term future of Wayland and a willingness to partner with our clients (residents, petitioners, and developers) in ways that enable mutually beneficial outcomes for them and for Wayland.

As a business strategy consultant, I do this on a daily basis. My clients rely on me as a trusted advisor who partners with them to develop effective solutions. Wayland deserves the same from its elected boards.

Certainly, room exists for disagreement and fair discourse…it is important and should be encouraged to ensure all stakeholders are heard. However, elected boards must always adhere to the principles of fairness, decency, and respect, and be willing to work with residents, petitioners, or applicants to develop creative solutions.

I believe we must:

Continue the DPW analysis: Great work is underway by the DPW assessment committee. I hope that Wayland can see cost savings, and service improvements through more centralized operations.
Re-engage Town Center Developers: An overwhelming majority of Wayland voters want this town center. I will work to bring the developers back and promote a positive and collaborative environment for them and the boards, and to gain their assistance in mitigating town center traffic.
Address traffic and safety concerns: The board is actively investigating traffic mitigation strategies throughout Wayland without fundamentally altering the arterial landscape of the town (including speed humps, time-based traffic routing, truck restrictions, etc.). I will continue pushing this agenda forward as much as the town is willing to support.

With continued growth in Wayland and surrounding communities, we will face many challenges that will require all boards to partner with each other, and work closely with petitioners, while ensuring that we treat every applicant with fairness and decency. If you agree, then on April 24 please vote for Eric Knapp and for Alan Shubin for the Board of Road Commissioners.

Alan Shubin

Candidate Statement:

My name is Alan Shubin; I’ve lived in Wayland for 14 years with my wife Janice and our two children, Michael and Erica, now 23 and 20. I have had a long career in health care and in the insurance industry; with management experience in pharmacy operations and health benefit strategy. I currently work as a senior consultant in the Health and Welfare practice of a global firm specializing in HR Services. I seek to return to the Board of Road Commissioners, having served there from 2001-2003. You may very well ask why.

Some weeks ago, while channel surfing at home one evening, I came across a rebroadcast of the combined Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Board of Road Commissioners meeting with the developers of the Town Center project. I was frankly appalled by what I heard. Watching, it became clear to me there is a very significant disconnect between the actions and attitudes of some board members, including some on the BORC, and the wishes of the overwhelming majority of residents in Wayland to see this project move forward. This realization has motivated me to join with others, especially with Eric Knapp at the BORC, to provide the leadership necessary to remedy this situation. Town boards of course have a responsibility to focus on the details of process but they should not lose sight of the bigger picture, the requirement to facilitate the course of action mandated by a majority of town residents.

Service on the BORC also means dealing with more specific matters pertaining to the Highway Department, the maintenance of roads, traffic calming measures and perhaps most important, the needs of our residents who come before the board seeking either permit or remedy. Coming before the BORC must not be an adversarial process. Rather, a high level of customer service must be demonstrated by board members to Wayland residents whom we serve. As with larger issues in town, process must be observed. But creative solutions and a strong measure of sensitivity must also be applied to issues before us.

I believe Wayland sits at an important crossroads in its development. I strongly support and applaud the efforts of Wayland SOS, not only for its advocacy of Town Center, but also with regard to Wayland’s pressing need for a new high school and support for this year’s debt exclusion initiative. They believe, as I do, that prudent, forward looking development in Wayland is crucial to our future. The maintenance of status quo is not a tenable course of action. I ask for your vote on April 24^th, allowing me to contribute in some small way to the future of our town.

Thank You.

Deborah Cohen

Candidate Statement:

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Deb Cohen and I am running for Wayland School Committee. My husband and I moved to Wayland 13 years ago because of this school system’s reputation for excellence. I now have three children in the Wayland schools: one at the town’s preschool and two at the Claypit Hill School.

My educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University and a law degree from Boston College Law School. I have worked as a management-side labor and employment attorney for 15 years. Currently, I have a solo law practice based in Wayland where I develop employment-related policies and agreements and provide guidance to employers regarding their obligations under state and federal employment laws.

I have used my background in labor and employment law to serve the town. Previously, I served on the Personnel Board, which oversees the town’s eight other unions and non-union personnel. During my tenure on the Personnel Board, we implemented policies that saved the town money and increased the efficiency of the personnel department, including a new wage and salary classification system. We also developed the town’s first Employee Handbook and successfully settled 16 labor agreements. I have spent many hours at the collective bargaining table on the side of management and I believe that I can be helpful to the School Committee as it negotiates the terms of a new labor agreement with the teachers.

As a member of the School Committee, I would promote a financially prudent plan for the construction of a new high school. A new high school is needed given that the current building is deteriorating, its infrastructure is inadequate and its classrooms are overcrowded, overused and undersized. There are also significant health and safety concerns. In fact, the High School is presently under the scrutiny of the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety, it has received a Notice of Noncompliance from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and it is at risk of losing its accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The time has come to act. Wayland deserves a high school that is safe, that meets today’s standards, and that meets programming needs.

I also recognize the need to continue to attract and retain high-quality personnel and maintain standards of excellence in a fiscally sound manner. As Chairman of the Personnel Board, I helped negotiate union contracts that stayed within strict budgetary guidelines and I helped develop policies that improved the town’s efficiency. I look forward to helping the School Committee do the same.

I am committed to seeing that Wayland’s schools continue to flourish. I believe that my background in labor and employment law, my previous involvement in town government and my strong commitment to the Wayland schools make me a good choice for School Committee. I ask for your support at the polls on Tuesday, April 24. Thank you.

Arnold Soslow

Letter of Endorsement:

To the editor:

As a Wayland resident who sits on the Board of Health, I am very pleased to learn that Arnold Soslow, MD, has expressed an interest in being elected as a write-in candidate to the Board of Health. Currently, there is no physician sitting on the board.

Dr. Soslow’s medical background and commitment to Wayland’s public health would make him a tremendous asset to the Board of Health. His certifications as a physician include pediatric and emergency medicine. His experience with the Board of Health includes having served on the board in the past when appointed to fill a vacancy.

In addition, currently Dr. Soslow actively volunteers for the board on its Wayland Pandemic Flu Task Force. His involvement with this task force includes creating a town-wide neighborhood network in the event of a pandemic event.

On April 24, elect Dr. Soslow to the Board of Health by writing him in as a candidate. Specifically, write his name on the ballot, Arnold Soslow, 8 Fox Meadow Lane, Wayland, and fill in the circle next to his name and address.

Anna Ludwig

Aqueduct Road