Town Meeting Voters Reject New Wayland Library: Board Responds

WAYLAND, MA—Wayland's Board of Library Trustees pushed a hard campaign, and the positions were overwhelmingly supported by the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and the School Committee.

But ultimately, at Wayland Town Meeting, which started on April 2, voters rejected the two warrant articles that would either fund the building of a new town library or update the old one.

Article 17, which was voted on during night two, required a two-thirds majority to pass, and it would have authorized $29 for a new library to be built at the old site of the Department of Public Works.

"We are thankful that so many came to Town Meeting to consider funding a new public library," said Aida Gennis, chair of the Board of Library Trustees in an email statement to Patch. "While Wayland will not have this one, we did hear that a clear majority do want improved spaces, services and a new location. We heard that the 'proposal was expensive.'"

Gennis argues that what may have not been clear enough to voters was that $10 million of state money had been secured already, and it would have cost Wayland $18 million and also would have cleaned up and remediated 196 Main St.

"There is no other state grant to apply for," continued Gennis. "This $10.1 million of state money will go to other library projects in the state. We will take some time to consider next steps, and as always, we will provide the best library services we can to the public in Wayland."