On the agenda: Bristol, CT Diversity Council Meeting — Flock camera (Sep 22)

City of Bristol
Diversity Council
INFORMATION TO ACCESS THIS MEETING
https://bristolctgov.zoom.us/j/82946776934?pwd=cEVOUnVJaExGQlF3WFhHak1JZUJ3dz09
Meeting ID: 829 4677 6934
Passcode: 346884
A Diversity Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 6:30pm in Meeting
Room 1-2 at City Hall, 111 North Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut.
I.

Call to Order

II.

Council Attendance

III. Public Participation
IV. Approval of Minutes

V.

a.

Meeting Minutes from the August 18, 2026 Special Meeting

b.

Meeting Minutes from the August 25, 2026 Regular Meeting

Current Business
a.

Council Members Review Resource and Event News and Notes

b.

Cash Mob/Vote Mob Event Review

VI. New Business
a.

Final Cash Mob '26 Options

b.

Unity in the Community Ideas and Execution

VII. Adjournment

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Per Order of the Interim Chair, Marcus Patton

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Diversity Council Special Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 7:15pm
Meeting Room 1-2, City Hall, 111 N. Main Street & on Zoom
Present:

Interim Chair Marcus Patton, Council Members Sandy Kamens, David
Rackliffe, Carolyn Palmquist, Danny Palmquist, and Tony Lopes (Zoom)

Absent:

Council Member Jeff Israel

Guests:

Dawn Nielsen, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Bristol Farmers Market
Mickey Goldwasser, Director of the Bristol Farmers Market

I.

Call to Order
The Interim Chair called the meeting to order at 7:17pm. Council Members and
guests introduced themselves. There was a quorum.

II.

Farmers Market Cash Mob Discussion and Brainstorming
A. Review of the Cash Mob Objectives
--Examples of Previous Cash Mob executions
The Interim Chair provided a brief history of the revived Cash Mob the Diversity
Council as it has recently been operating. Details included the voting process
and event planning and completion. The idea of focusing on farms for the next
Cash Mob came up at an earlier Diversity Council meeting, which transitioned
into the idea of holding the Cash Mob on an existing Farmers Market date, which
led to the initial contact with Mickey Goldwasser of the Farmers Market.
B. Review of the Farmers Market
--Farmers Market representatives discuss different registered vendors
Dawn Nielsen provided an update on the current success of this year’s Farmers
Market including receiving various grant funds to support their efforts as a notfor-profit entity. These grants allow for programs like Double SNAP Benefits. The
market is now being held at 18 Main Street in the parking lot of Express Kitchens
who is the market’s Premiere Sponsor. The new location has expanded the
vending and parking spaces which has added to the market’s success. Many of
the vendors report selling out each week.
The Farmers Market Board was grateful to be considered for the next Cash Mob
in support of their vendors. As the goal of a Cash Mob is to infuse cash sales and

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support to a local business, and with the market doing so well with a large
amount of community support already, the Farmers Market Board feels the
Cash Mob would be of better benefit to one of the city’s businesses. Dawn and
Mickey expressed their desire to share the Cash Mob benefit to an area business
that might need the exposure more than the market.
C. How to Drive Attendance to the Farmers Market
--Assortment of ideas that Diversity Council members can execute and
advertise to attract shoppers to the Cash Mob
--Farmers Market representative’s guidance on possibilities
Dawn Nielsen presented an alternative to the Cash Mob which would still allow
the Council to provide support to the Farmers Market and keep the Cash Mob
movement for an area business. The proposed action is to encourage the online
voting for the market through a People’s Choice award provided through
Farmland Trust.
Farmland Trust recognizes markets across the country (nationally, regionally
and by state). Voting is allowed as one vote per person per email address. The
goal of the Bristol Farmers Market for 2026 is to be voted #1. Currently they are
at #2 behind the Coventry Farmers Market. Discussion followed, including
creating this as a Vote Mob. Voting runs through September 30, 2026. The
winner receives bragging rights and recognition across the farmers market
community, as well as online and the various national, regional and state levels.
D. Date Selection of the Farmers Market Cash Mob event
Discussion continued, including the Diversity Council being a featured nonprofit at an existing market day to create a Vote Mob Event. Council Members
would open the market, share a few words about their mission, and be there
through the day to actively encourage attendees to vote. Additional promotion
would begin through the Council’s social media beforehand. Dawn noted that
voting is on the honor system and no offers or incentives to vote could be given,
to which the Council was in agreement. September 19, 2026 was proposed as
the Vote Mob Event date, and event logistics were reviewed.
With no further discussion noted, the Interim Chair made the following Motion:
Motion for the Diversity Council to run the Vote Mob at the Farmers Market on
September 19, 2026.

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The motion was seconded by Council Member Kamens. All were in favor and the
motion was accepted into the record.
III.

Adjournment
With the Special Meeting business completed, the Interim Chair adjourned the
meeting at 7:50pm

Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Arsego
Recording Secretary

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Diversity Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 6:30pm
Meeting Room 1-2, City Hall, 111 N. Main Street & on Zoom
Present:

Interim Chair Marcus Patton, Council Members Sandy Kamens, David
Rackliffe, Carolyn Palmquist, and Danny Palmquist

Absent:

Council Members Jeff Israel and Tony Lopes

Guests:

None

I.

Call to Order
The Interim Chair called the meeting to order at 6:32pm.

II.

Council Attendance
A round table roll call of the Council Members was taken. There was a quorum.

III.

Public Participation
There was no Public Participation.

IV.

Approval of Minutes
a. Meeting Minutes from the June 23, 2026 Meeting
The Interim Chair called for a Motion to approve the Minutes from the June 23,
2026 Meeting. Council Member Kamens made the motion to approve the
Minutes. The motion was seconded by Council Member Carolyn Palmquist. All
were in favor and the Minutes were accepted into the record.

V.

Current Business
a. Council Members Review Resource and Event News and Notes
Council Members provided the following updates:
Interim Chair Patton:
Attended the Hubbell School backpack event. It was a true family get-together
and attendance was high. Payton’s Promise made a large donation of school
supplies to fill the backpacks.

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The Interim Chair attended an event at Real Café when Gov. Lamont was in
Bristol that day meeting with residents and business owners. The Governor
responded to questions about AI and other concerns.
Council Member Rackliffe:
Attended the City Council Meeting where the Flock and Red Light/Speed
Cameras were on the agenda. Current concerns such as retention capabilities
of the Flock cameras were discussed, as well as cyber security controls. He
made a point to clarify that current City Ordinances don’t address the use of
Flock cameras. The Flock cameras do help the police coordinate their efforts
across district lines.
The Council Member also noted that new donations have come into the Men and
Boys Club which he is associated with, and the donation from Barnes increased
from $5,000 to $10,000.
Council Member Carolyn Palmquist:
Reported on recent Bristol Pride events including a Dungeons & Dragons night at
Faith Lutheran Church which was a free-to-attend community connections
event. Dark Moon on N. Main Street contributed to the event.
The upcoming Bristol Pride Fall Fantasy Ball on October 23rd is looking for a new
host location as Ventana’s has closed and they were the original venue. The
group is looking into having a table at the September 19th Farmers Market the
day of the Diversity Council’s Vote Mob for the Market, and the No Boundaries
Youth Academy in New Britain held their Addams Family play.
b. Cash Mob/Vote Mob Review and Ideas
Logistics for the Vote Mob to benefit the Bristol Farmer Market with the people’s
choice online standing were discussed. Cross promotional branding will be
used to incorporate the Diversity Council with the Farmers Market. The flyer and
promoting the voting will start as soon as possible ahead of the September 19th
Vote Mob Day at the market. The last day to vote is September 30th.
The voting rules emphasize one vote per email address. Voters can access the
voting site through the provided QR Code or a link. As of this meeting, the Bristol
Farmers Market has 138 votes. Council Member Carolyn Palmquist will create

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the co-branded flyer, review it with the Farmers Market contacts and with the
Interim Chair for approval, and then it will be publicized.
Discussion followed, including the best way forward to best gather nominations
and votes for the next Cash Mob in support of an area business. Based on the
discussion, the following Motion was made:
Motion to conduct a Vote Mob/Cash Mob for the Bristol Farmers Market at the
regularly scheduled market day of Saturday, September 19, 2026, and provide a
volunteer nomination sheet at the event to gather business names for the fourth
quarter Cash Mob. Based on the number of nominations received on that day,
the Diversity Council will decide whether to open up nominations on Bristol
Talks to allow for more options, or move ahead with the voting based on the
nominations already received.
The motion was made by Council Member Carolyn Palmquist and seconded by
Council Member Rackliffe. There was no additional discussion or questions. All
were in favor and the motion passed into the record.
c. Tee-Shirt Orders
The Diversity Council shirt orders will ideally be made and arrive for the Council
to wear at the Vote Mob event on September 19th.
VI.

New Business
a. Final Cash Mob '26 Options
The Interim Chair noted this item was included in the earlier discussion under V.
New Business b. Cash Mob/Vote Mob Review and Ideas.
b. Diversity Council "Passport" Next Steps
This item will be on the September 2026 Agenda as the members continue to
consider the information and discussion reviewed at an earlier meeting.
The Interim Chair noted wanting to also add the conversation about youth
involvement in the Council to the September meeting. Members were asked to
consider options for incorporating the area high schools and teens into the
Council, and/or how the Council can best support the school’s existing diversity
programs and/or efforts. Discussion followed including including the need to

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ensure that all three high schools were represented, as well as inviting
Superintendent Iris White back for additional discussion.
c. Unity in the Community Execution
Members were also asked to consider ideas and platforms for the fourth quarter
Unity in the Community event. The Bristol Public Library allows the Council to
use their space free of cost, with a small fee for after event clean up if food is
provided. The Council agreed they would again provide refreshments paid by
their individual donations. Discussion followed regarding some possible topics
and logistics. The Council’s goal is to ensure they’re serving the community in
the best way possible in this year end gathering.
VII.

Adjournment
With no further items noted, the Interim Chair called for a motion to adjourn. The
motion was made by Council Member Rackcliffe and was seconded by Council
Member Kamens. All were in favor and the meeting adjourned at 8:21pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Arsego
Recording Secretary

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