The Wayland City Council Monday night voted to suspend the Downtown Development Authority façade grant program until it has had a full state review.
The move came after reluctant approval of a façade grant of a little more than $33,000 for the vacant blue building immediately to the south of Harlequin Hair Fashions on South Main Street.
Wayland downtown businesses have been applying for and some are receiving grants for façade improvements through the Main Street program in an effort to make the downtown area more attractive.
However, there were issues about what should be be funded and what should not. There was some talk that some of the uses applied for in the grant were ineligible, but there was some debate.
Councilwoman Jennifer Antel said at first glance it appeared Arnie Rodriguez’s blue building was getting funded inappropriately, but after researching the matter came to the understanding he “had met all the caveats.”