Wayland 2023 Candidate Profile: Dave Watkins, 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 Ann 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 Dave Watkins responded:

Why are you running for reelection this year?

Simply put, I want to finish more of the initiatives that we started since I have been actively involved in town affairs. I still have a steadfast commitment to serving our entire community from having been immersed in local government for the past 12 years while on the Finance Committee, Economic Development Committee and, currently, as Vice Chair of the Select Board. Every year of service has provided progressively more insight into the connectivity that works in our town government, and what we can do better from an operational and long-term planning perspective. First and foremost my purpose for serving has been to collaborate and follow through on delivering solutions that meet the expressed desires of the community.

I was first elected during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but because of an unanticipated catch in Wayland’s bylaws, I was prevented from taking office for six months. Since then, in addition to the usual work of a Select Board member, I have also devoted my time to following through on my campaign initiatives. Among them are the following:

• Closing on the long-overdue settlement with Twenty Wayland (the former owners of the Town Center Project since 2005) to acquire the municipal and other conservation parcels of land so that the Council on Aging/Community Center could proceed.
• Initiating a town-wide forum on the need for athletic playing fields. Authoring the three articles that were approved by the 2021 Special Town Meeting to proceed with design and permitting of a natural grass Loker Athletic Field, a feasibility study for a multipurpose natural grass field at 195 and 207 Main Street and a feasibility study to identify and investigate an additional location for a multipurpose natural grass field.
• Drafting and submitting for legislative action an Act to authorize remote participation in Town Meeting as voted by the 2021 Wayland Annual Town Meeting; engaging with senators, state representatives, moderators and officials in other towns, and with representatives from the attorney general's office, to gain support. Today, the Act is moving through the Massachusetts legislature.
• Creating a Capital Stabilization Fund mechanism to set aside money for either unforeseen needs or capital projects including establishing a policy for its funding and uses.

For more about why I am running and the issues, please see my website https://watkins4wayland.com

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?

With the town's population and demand for more housing options, there will continue to be a focus on new development. Planning for how and where development is carried out in our community needs to involve consideration of crucial factors such as: the location and capability of existing primary roadway corridors to support the growth and carry the traffic; the ability of our water supply system to provide adequate service; environmental constraints on wetlands, flood plains, and sewage disposal; and, without question, development that respects and fits in a surrounding neighborhood.

Wayland already has zoning and other bylaws developed with some of these considerations in mind. But, unless we maintain “safe harbor” status, we have little control when it comes to Massachusetts 40B proposals. Therefore, it is important that we continue to meet our responsibility to provide affordable housing at a level of at least 10% of our housing stock.

Recently, the Select Board was asked to partner with developers of two affordable housing projects through the state Local Initiative Program (LIP). I believe that a prerequisite for considering a development proposal is to have the developer prepare a thorough presentation addressing how the project fits into our existing neighborhoods, its potential impact on the environment, and the plan for handling wastewater.

Separate from 40B affordable housing, a newly enacted MBTA Communities zoning requirement is applicable to Wayland (even though we don’t have a train or bus station). The Planning Board is working on the requirements for compliance with state directives and considering where in town to rezone 50 acres for denser housing. I plan to continue to stay involved with that process.

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?

In 2021, I initiated the first town-wide survey to poll residents and business owners about improvements they might like to see along the Route 20 Corridor. The Planning Board is currently working on the development of an achievable Master Plan to revitalize the Route 20 Corridor. If there is significant demand for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure on Route 20, it is worth exploring options for modifying the road to better accommodate these modes of transportation. But, it is a given that Route 20 is a state highway that carries a significant volume of east-west traffic. There are options to achieve better esthetics and accessibility for pedestrians, those with physical handicaps, and bikers. Some of the proposals include: a continuous sidewalk set back from the roadway; fewer driveway openings along the most congested portion of the road; corridors for easy access from Route 20 to the rail trail; and encourage use of the rail trail instead of the roadway for improved safety of bikers.

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?

Handling disciplinary actions involving town employees requires a careful and deliberate approach. Wayland needs to have a clearly established process for investigating and addressing complaints. We need clear guidelines for reporting misconduct, appointing an impartial investigator, allowing for a fair and impartial review of the evidence and a defined timeline for resolving internal issues.

This should be part of well-developed Human Resource policies that include adopting best practices for communicating expectations to employees and management and establishing clear, measurable and aligned goals and objectives to provide guidance to supervisors. And we need to develop policies for conducting performance reviews with no surprises. Such policies will also clearly state what are (and are not) appropriate terms and conditions to include in employment contracts. Wayland needs to take a proactive approach towards avoiding undesirable litigation and boosting employee morale.

By following best practices for transparency, fairness, and effective communication, town boards can ensure that they are acting in the best interests of the community and upholding the highest standards of ethics and accountability. That said, we can do better.

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 Select Board’s role is to set overall policy for the town. The Town Manager is responsible for managing town employees and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the town. Michael McCall, our new Town Manager, was selected to make sure that town operations run smoothly, procedures are in place for employee hiring and oversight, and services are in place to serve the entire community. As a member of the Select Board I respect his role and support him as he carries out his responsibilities. In turn, he will make sure that Select Board members are kept abreast of consequential matters that could affect town operations, finances, or reputation.

In the near term, the Town Manager will assess current operations and possibly make changes or streamline processes for more efficient delivery of services. The Select Board and the Town Manager should share a vision for the future of Wayland and work collaboratively to set achievable goals and establish priorities that align with the needs and aspirations of the community. Michael is new to Wayland, so I believe that the Select Board can also share thoughts, insight and history. However, the Town Manager is ultimately responsible for operations and management decisions.

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

Wayland does an excellent job of providing high quality education with an excellent school system. Wayland Public Schools consistently rank among the top in the state. Our public schools have a rigorous academic curriculum, a wide range of extracurricular activities, and dedicated teachers and staff who are committed to the success of their students. And our town reinforces its support of the schools with parent-teacher organizations, active volunteer involvement and a generous school budget. Wayland also does well providing an extensive network of nature trails, parks, and conservation lands that are well-maintained and easily accessible to the public.

Wayland needs to improve its affordable housing options. The town has a relatively high cost of living, and housing prices can be prohibitive for people in low-to-middle-income families, young professionals, disabled adults and seniors. The town has made efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, but more needs to be done. An increase in affordable housing units in Wayland would make the town accessible to a wider cross-section of the population and promote diversity and inclusion within the community.

Wayland’s lack of a public transportation system makes it difficult for residents who don’t drive or have access to a car. And, it’s a hardship for those who need to get to neighboring towns for work or school.