Wayland 2023 Candidate Profile: Anne Brensley, Select Board

WAYLAND, MA — One thing's for certain: Wayland will have at least one new select board member after the April 25 election.

There are two select board seats up for election this year, but only incumbent Dave Watkins is back to seek reelection. Longtime member (and current chair) Cherry Karlson is bowing out, and two challengers — Bill Whitney and Anne Brensley — have stepped into the race.

Wayland's next select board will have several serious issues before it for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024: a proposal to redevelop the former Whole Foods site, relations with Wayland's first-ever town manager, a potential search for a new police chief and a possible connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system.

Wayland Patch sent each candidate a questionnaire to help voters get to know them better before Election Day. Here's how candidate Anne Brensley responded:

You've stated that you'll vehemently oppose the Mill Creek development, but you're the CEO of a development company. Are you involved in any potential development in Wayland, and why as a developer you would oppose this project (on its merits)?

No. I am not involved in any potential developments in Wayland and would find that to be a significant conflict of interest. I am viewing the Mill Creek project as a Waylander. I support affordable housing projects, but not ones I believe would disrupt our Rte 20 corridor plans, the ecosystem in the area, would cause significant traffic issues, would possibly cause a strain on our already stressed schools, and is asking for twice the density per acre than the River’s Edge project. It’s simply not a good fit.

Why are you running for the select board this year?

This is the time for some fresh changes and ideas. I have the drive, the time, the experience, and the perspectives needed to do this job successfully. For me, it really is as simple as, if I can help, I help. I think our town needs some help and I can help.

Wayland has seen a few notable development proposals recently. What's your thinking about the future of development in Wayland? What type of housing does the town need, and where should it go?

It’s more important than ever that the various committees and boards in Wayland work together on development ideas. Unfortunately, we have to be realistic that right now with the state’s housing shortage, our needs will have to be met in conjunction with the state’s housing requirements. As a town we have to strategically identify locations for additional density as required by the MBTA Communities Act over the next year, and it’s important for everyone to plug in and participate to solve the puzzle. We have a lot of medium affordable (80% area median income) units at River’s Edge now, but now need to encourage deeply affordable, like the senior housing being proposed at St. Ann’s to help fill housing gaps.

To answer the last portion of the question, I don’t know yet. We should be exploring ideas as the Route 20 corridor planning is under way.

The Mass Central Rail Trail ends in Wayland, but will someday extend across Route 20 into Sudbury. Do you think Route 20 needs to be modified more for the needs of people who walk, bike, or roll rather than drive?

Yes. We need sidewalks not only to accommodate walkers, but also to help really create the Rte 20 corridor into an area that can be navigated safely by people walking to the local churches, stores, town building, and library.

Both the select board and the Wayland School Committee have dealt with high-profile disciplinary actions involving key town leaders. Do you think those boards performed well with those issues, and what would you do differently?

I think we need to digest what has happened over the last 12-24 months and face what the Boards need to improve on. Specifically, our communication with community members, transparency with community members, and shared accountability between the boards. In addition, we need to all accept the following truths: 1) turnover is a sign we are doing something wrong; 2) it is never one person’s fault; 3) as community members we vote decision makers onto these boards. Vote so you can have influence! My leadership style is not to look back unless it's to learn. That’s how I would approach what has happened in the past — as a road map of what we do and don’t do going forward.

Wayland's first-ever town manager just started on the job. What's your vision for the relationship between the select board and the town manager?

The new organization chart is also one of the reasons this a good time for fresh ideas and a new way of operating. Change is already happening. I’m looking forward to delegating responsibilities to a Town Manager, working with him to meet measurable outcomes of his work, and having Select Board focus on getting initiatives over the finish line and then refilling the pipeline of initiatives with those that have been waiting too long.

What's one thing Wayland does well, and what's one thing Wayland needs to improve?

We hang out well together. We really do. When we take the time to actually get to know each other, I think we are reminded of what we have in common that attracted us to this town. We just need to communicate better and when I say that, I mean communicate better when we are explaining our opposing viewpoints, when we are reacting to those viewpoints, when we are advocating, when we are writing to each other in open and closed forums. I know that seems simple, but communicating well requires a commitment to respecting each other, trusting each other, and empathizing with each other. It also requires we put standards and principals in place that we don’t compromise within our communications. That’s what we need to work on.