Historical Commission declines to sign Army Corps rail trail MOA

SUDBURY -- September 8, 2022, Sudbury Historical Commission declines to sign Army Corps rail trail historic agreement. The commission voted 4-0 with three abstentions on Sept. 8 to refuse the July 29 memorandum of agreement governing the Mass Central Rail Trail, citing the planned demolition of Bridge 127 and an impact spreadsheet that still inaccurately shows all track being removed at the Section Tool House. Member Diana Sieber, who made the motion, said signing as a "concurring party" gives Sudbury no legal standing in dispute resolution or amendments and that she "cannot sanction a document that really doesn't give us any power." Chair Chris Hagger, Jan Costa and Marjorie Katz abstained. The commission also agreed to keep an 18-month demolition delay in its draft Historic Preservation Plan and to pursue three October CPC grants covering the Hosmer House and an Indigenous Cultural Landscape survey.