Wayland Cultural Council fully funds 14 grantees after state surplus surfaces

WAYLAND — January 9, 2024 — Wayland Cultural Council fully funds 14 grant applicants after discovering nearly $4,700 in extra state money. Chair Rachel Seidman-Purth told members at the Jan. 9 Zoom meeting that the Massachusetts Cultural Council's award system refused to release notifications until the town allocated its full $10,925 balance — well above the $6,275 originally distributed. Treasurer Naresh Mysore presented two options; the council voted 7-0 on a motion by Lynn Lipcon, seconded by Nora Rothschild, to fund all 14 approved projects at their requested levels and route the roughly $810 remainder to the Human Rights and Diversity Initiative. "You have to allocate them. You can't keep them for yourself," Seidman-Purth said state officials told her. Members also approved "peace and community" as the next utility box art theme, with explicit language barring political or religious content.