One Year In, First Wayland Town Manger Gets High Marks

WAYLAND, MA — The Wayland Select Board has given Town Manager Michael McCall high marks in his first performance review one year after he started.

Overall, the select board rated McCall's first year a 4.7 out of 5 possible points, a rating between "exceeds expectations" and "excellent/highly commendable."

The overall rating was made up of reviews of McCall's performance across eight areas: professional characteristics, professional knowledge, public relations and communications, town board relations, organizational leadership and personnel management, planning and organization and achievement of goals.

"He has demonstrated considerable energy and openness, and has accomplished several priority tasks with at times limited staff resources. With many such pressing, immediate needs having been largely addressed, I anticipate that Mr. McCall will have more opportunity to address longer-term projects and policies going forward," one board members said of his overall performance.

McCall scored close to five points in every category. The select board members rated him lowest in the organizational leadership and personnel management category at 4.25. Comments on that section said McCall should find ways to free up his time by delegating more tasks, and make more efforts to fully implement the Town Manager Act.

That act, approved by Town Meeting in 2021, and approved by the state in 2022, switched the town from a town administrator form of government to a town manager form. That change helped the town move departments under the purview of the town manager, including hiring and firing decisions. Under the previous system, some Wayland town boards and commissions oversaw some department heads.

McCall, hired by Wayland in December 2022, began work at the end of February 2023 after serving as the Southbridge town manager. As part of the review process, McCall and the select board have begun discussions on adjusting his contract, a process that could take until April.

The full review begins on page 37 of the packet from the Feb. 26 select board meeting.