Wayland HRDEI Committee approves land acknowledgement handout for town meeting

WAYLAND -- April 18, 2023, Wayland HRDEI Committee approves Indigenous land acknowledgement handout for annual town meeting. Members voted 5-0 Tuesday to distribute the two-sided document, with a QR code linking to background materials, on the second night of town meeting under Article 27. Volunteer Marianne Burkowski said Staples quoted $160 for 600 copies; Assistant Town Manager John Bugbee said the town building can likely print roughly 300 double-sided copies at no cost, with Burkowski authorized to cover the bill from the publicity grant fund if needed. Chair Yamini Ranjan said she was "disheartened" that new Town Manager Michael McCall has not signed off on the hate and bias reporting line, with Bugbee noting McCall is "asking questions that go back to the beginning." Members also discussed an April 11 racist incident involving a new resident of color.