Key official says Wellesley isn't book smart

WELLESLEY

Wellesley expects its town meeting members and residents to study through more documents than any other town, and should consider ending its policy of mailing every household a copy of the advisory recommendation book prior to each town meeting, a key town official says.

At a recent Selectmen’s meeting, town Executive Director Hans Larsen last spring’s advisory book ran 245 pages and cost more than $30,000 to print and mail. The town also mails an even thicker and more costly annual report to each town meeting member, Larsen said, and the expenses are “hurting us financially.”

A study committee appointed by the town moderator is planning to consider whether to change the bylaws requiring the printed books be mailed to each of the town’s 8,800 households. That committee meets Sept. 19 to decide whether to put the proposed change before the fall town meeting -- via the big book -- in November.

-- Lisa Keen