Wayland Capital Panel Flags IT Cybersecurity Gap, Plans FY28 Process Overhaul

WAYLAND — June 3, 2026 — Wayland Capital Improvement Planning Committee scrutinizes IT cybersecurity shortfall and moves to overhaul capital submission process. IT Director Nick Lombardi told the three-member panel Wednesday that his $628,000 annual operating budget absorbs $240,000 in mandatory software subscriptions, leaving insufficient funds for cybersecurity remediation after his original $450,000 request was effectively reduced to roughly $250,000 — split between security work and school video camera upgrades following a description mix-up before the warrant went to print. Town Manager Michael McCall confirmed the town sought guidance from town counsel on what could lawfully be spent under each appropriation's description. Chair Kelly Lappin pressed for a risk-ranked accounting of all open IT capital before the fiscal 2028 cycle, saying, "When we're asking the taxpayers to appropriate money, it's going to get used in relatively short order." The committee voted unanimously to approve minutes and tentatively rescheduled its next session from June 24 to June 22 at 5:30 p.m. to allow ex-officio members — including the finance director and department heads — to attend during regular working hours.