Meeting Summary May 4, 2023
Attending: Hultgren, Clark, Waldburger, Valentine, Thorne, Taylor, O’Keefe, England
The meeting began shortly after 7 pm in the lobby of the Nash-Zimmer Transportation Center.
Clark reported on Bike Mansfield’s participation in the UConn Community Ride Day (where Clark, Hultgren and Manizza spoke) and the Fairfield Way Spring Fling (that celebrates Earth Day).
Hultgren reported that the 4th grade bike education program funding website was up and receiving donations and asked everyone to notify their family, friends and neighbors as the matching grant from SustainableCT requires 75 separate donors.
Valentine said he would be able to make Bike Mansfield posts on Instagram and Facebook, since Belliveau was busy with college classwork. Palmer set Valentine up as a Bike Mansfield Facebook page administrator and Hultgren will get him the Instagram password.
Thorne reported on his meetings and activities to set up a Cycling Without Age chapter in Mansfield. He is looking for some assistance in setting up a fundraising effort to get the program going.
Hultgren reported that the Town’s Parks and Natural Resources Committee had requested further modifications to the draft Town Bike/Ped Master Plan, and he said he was working with the Town’s Environmental Planner to make those edits. After the edits are made the draft will go to the Town Council and PZC for public hearing(s) and adoption.
Hultgren and Clark summarized the efforts to get the Town and UConn coordinating bicycle planning efforts. Hultgren will speak with the Assistant Town Engineer and/or the Town Manager about the best way to get this started.
Hultgren said he was planning to update the business members list for the next reprinting of the Map of Mansfield Bike Routes and Points of Interest as well as substitute information on the Airline and Hop River rail trails to take the place of the “suggested rides” section to the left of the large map.
Hultgren asked for approval of a $100 sponsorship from Bike Mansfield for the Tour de Mansfield ride this June 3rd, which was given by consensus. He also said that the Farmer’s Market was planning to include community organizations at its June 3rd Farmers Market, and Bike Mansfield has been invited and will have a table that afternoon. Members who can assist in staffing our table are requested to stop by – the market will be active from 3pm to 5pm. (June 3rd is also the day of the “Ride the East – CT trail ride on sections of the East Coast Greenway west of Manchester Community College.)
The meeting concluded shortly after 8:00 pm.
Lon Hultgren, Secretary Treasurer
hultgrenlr981@gmail.com