Wayland DPW board clears removal of 42 roadside trees

WAYLAND -- February 9, 2026, Wayland board approves removal of 42 trees, sparing a healthy Dean Road locust. The Board of Public Works, meeting jointly by Zoom with the Planning Board, voted 4-0 to remove 33 scenic-road trees and 4-0 again to remove nine shade trees across roads including Glezen, Draper, Plain, Pelham Island and Lincoln. DPW Superintendent Joe Doucette and Eversource arborist Matthew Mitchell convinced members to add a 24-inch chestnut at 101 Plain Road, originally listed "no action", to the cut list after it caused a power outage and developed a "structural defect" burn wound. Vice-Chair Michael Wegerbauer pressed Doucette on how four dead pines at 112 Lincoln Road went unflagged; Eversource agreed to handle those removals. A healthy 31-inch locust at 18 Dean Road was spared despite driveway damage. Wegerbauer also said a transfer-station evaluation vendor has been selected unanimously, with a kickoff meeting set for Feb. 24.