Wayland committee adds $4,575 for Heard Pond water chestnut pulling

WAYLAND -- August 9, 2023, Wayland's Surface Water Quality Committee authorizes extra Heard Pond weed work and requests the town harvester. The committee voted unanimously Aug. 9 to add $4,575, a 25 percent increase on an $18,300 SOLitude Lake Management contract, for roughly three and a half more hand-pulling days at $1,200 per day, and separately asked DPW to move the mechanical harvester from Dudley Pond for up to four days of water chestnut work. Member Thomas J. Largy blamed a "botched" 2016 harvest for seeding the current surge, saying a four-person crew filled 28 contractor bags in one day. Chair Thomas Klem said he would contact DPW director Joe Doucette; the harvester is already due to come out of the water next week for a new starter. Members also approved a $750 ProcellaCOR survey invoice and a $3,600 partial payment for Heard Pond.