Select board keeps Wayne School consulting warrant item open amid concern $25,000 placeholder may be insufficient

The Town of Wayne select board voted to retain the ‘Wayne School Consulting’ line as an open item on the annual warrant after an extended discussion about funding uncertainty and procedure. Board members said substantial additional study and consulting may be needed and worried a $25,000 placeholder would not cover actual costs; others cautioned the town may face legal or accounting limits if the article remains open without proper wording.

Multiple board members urged keeping the item open so the group doing the work would have flexibility to present a higher number before the warrant is finalized. "If there's any way Shannon you can keep it open and we can be respectful at town meeting and not going crazy and get the numbers nailed down even before that, that would be really helpful," one member said. Another said the $25,000 figure "is a good start" but likely insufficient and urged getting a better estimate before the warrant is posted.

Shannon said she would consult the town attorney and stated the current approach will leave the $25,000 in the budget as a starting point that could be raised later only if procedures allow. Board members discussed alternatives, including creating a separate article that establishes a non‑lapsing capital reserve account and a companion article with open language to fund that account; legal counsel was asked to confirm which approach is permissible.

The board took a voice vote to retain the item as open pending any legal advice that would prevent doing so. The board also discussed designating a knowledgeable speaker (someone from the local school committee or another proponent) to present the item at town meeting if it remains open.