Wayland Historical Commission declines $1.4M Snake Brook Dam preservation letter

WAYLAND -- November 15, 2024, Wayland Historical Commission declines to support a $1.4 million Snake Brook Dam CPA application. Member Ann Gordon moved to decline the letter of support requested by Linda Hansen, citing inadequate notice and doubts about historic significance, and the motion carried unopposed. R. Richard Conard said the dam is not on the Massachusetts State Register and that the work, stabilizing the downslope, re-establishing the low-level outlet and enlarging the spillway, looked like a "public safety project" better suited to state dam and FEMA hazard mitigation grants; total project cost was listed at $2.9 million. The commission separately backed an additional $80,000 to finish the 1858 Stones Bridge restoration, now at roughly $1.18 million across three town meetings; about $4,500 for a Boston Post Cane display case proposed by Assistant Town Manager Kelsey Powers-Prilette; and roughly $75,000 for archival boxes covering 245 Assessors' record books. "I don't feel like we have enough information," Gordon said.