Town of Wayland Announces Purchase of Mechanical Harvester

WAYLAND — Assistant Town Manager John Bugbee and the Wayland Surface Water Quality Committee (SWQC) are pleased to announce that Wayland recently purchased a mechanical harvester to manage aquatic vegetation on bodies of water in Town.

The harvester, which was purchased from Alpha Boats in Weedsport, NY, was delivered in July 2022. It will be used as a permanent resource to primarily manage tape grass on Dudley Pond and other bodies of water. The Town has rented similar harvesters in the past through third parties.

The Department of Public Works will oversee the harvester’s operation, under the supervision of DPW Director Tom Holder and guidance from SWQC. DPW staff were trained on how to use the device over the summer.

The benefits of purchasing the device include the ability to use the harvester over longer time periods without relying on third-party scheduling, resulting in more effective weed management.

SWQC Chairman Tom Klem stated, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those on the Committee as well as within the Town government who worked hard to see this project become a reality.” 

The purchase was made possible at Annual Town Meeting as part of the Town’s Capital Budget Expenditure for fiscal year 2023. SWQC member Norm Marowitz played an important role in demonstrating the advantages of owning the harvester rather than renting from a third party. Select Board member Carol Martin drafted the Article and presented it to the Wayland community for consideration.

The Town would like to thank all the volunteers for their efforts on this worthwhile project.

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