Wayland HRDEI Committee lands $12,000 from town for multicultural festival

WAYLAND — March 19, 2024 — Wayland's HRDEI Committee secured $12,000 in town funds to underwrite this year's multicultural festival. Assistant Town Manager John Bugbee told the committee Tuesday that the Select Board approved the allocation Monday from Town Manager discretionary accounts, ending a model under which volunteers spent out of pocket and sought reimbursement after the event. Vendors will now invoice the town directly, with performers required to submit a W-9. Chair Karen Blumenfeld also reported the committee has narrowed an unusually large 13-proposal field for its equity assessment to four finalists, with 30-minute interviews set for late next week and a vendor recommendation expected within three weeks. "Thirteen is new territory for me," Bugbee said. The committee welcomed new member Maya Raj and confirmed Pride signboards for June 17-30.