Wayland HRDEI Committee drafts interview questions for equity assessment finalists

WAYLAND — March 5, 2024 — Wayland HRDEI Committee shapes interview questions for equity assessment bidders. At the March 5 meeting, Equity and Inclusion Officer John Bugbee disclosed the town received 12 proposals, not 10 as previously reported, and said an evaluation team of four will interview three to five finalists in 15-minute presentations followed by 15-minute Q&As. Chair Karen Blumenfeld led members through an open brainstorm. Heather Pino asked how bidders engage historically marginalized residents and whether the review will reach town bylaws; Jessica Schendel pushed for questions grounded in what firms "have done," not what they would do; Meilin Ellermann asked about gender-inequality work and equity tools. Bugbee said the RFP is primarily a climate assessment covering housing, employment, transportation, town services, health care and other areas, with schools excluded. Yawu Tien flagged the gap between resident and employee demographics.