HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-18-2017 Minutes Tree Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
MINUTES
Hillsborough Tree Board
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
9:00 AM, Town Barn
101 East Orange Street
Present: Chairman Andrea Lewis, George Campbell, Dana Dannehower, Bryan Stuart, Liz Waters,
Ex Officio – Karen MacAulay
Absent: Vice Chairman Frances Harris, Ex Officio – Greg Yavelak
Staff: Stephanie Trueblood
Item # 1: Call meeting to order, roll call, and confirm presence of a quorum
Chairman Lewis called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. Ms. Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence
of a quorum.
Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda
There were none.
Item 3: Approval of minutes from November 16, 2016
Motion: Chairman Lewis moved to approve the minutes as presented.
Second: Ms. Waters seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 4: Review FY17 Mid-Year Expense Report
Ms. Trueblood explained that it would be wrong to assume that the budget should be half spent by now.
Many expenses are held off until the spring.
Although the public information budget indicates there is $900 remaining, this board has spent $510 on
the signs but has not paid for them yet.
Item 5: Review FY18 DRAFT Budget Highlights
Ms. Trueblood reviewed the budget process. This board will ask for $10,000 for tree maintenance,
$5,200 for new trees and $1,000 for public information. These are the same amounts of money this
board has requested for several years. There is a separate budget for Cates Creek planting that includes
removing the rock at Cates Creek Park and putting in a linear raingarden with pollinator plants. Also,
when the downtown and CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality—includes parking area across
from Hillsborough BBQ, five sidewalk segments) infrastructure is complete, then there will be plantings
in those areas and in the large planters downtown.
Page 2 of 3
Ms. Trueblood reminded the board that we’ve become a Bee City USA, that her new planning area has
taken over the contracts for grounds maintenance and that this board has worked on signage for trees
on Riverwalk as some of the highlights from the past year.
Next budget year, Ms. Trueblood is hoping to focus on realigning these budgets under Public Space,
making strategic connections, hiring a parks maintenance technician and improving parking at Kings
Highway Park.
Item 6: Interview Tim Logue for Tree Board vacancy
Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the board has a vacancy and reviewed that there are several second terms
coming to end in 2018. Ms. Dannehower’s first term ends in 2017.
Mr. Logue said he has worked at the Chapel Hill Public Library for 18 years. He has lived in Hillsborough
since 2003. He’s a gardener. He would like to contribute to the town by serving on this board. He has
experience of asking for advice from the forest service. He has come to realize that trees are such an
important host to insects.
Item 7: Interview Casey Collins for Tree Board vacancy
Ms. Collins said she has lived in Hillsborough for a year. She is an independent landscape designer and
she works at Montrose several days a week. She was drawn to Hillsborough by the attention the town
pays to its landscapes.
Ms. Dannehower asked if she could resign and become an Ex Officio member now to make room on the
board for both candidates.
Motion: Mr. Campbell made a motion to accept Ms. Dannehower’s resignation as a voting
member and appoint her as an Ex Officio member.
Second: Mr. Stuart seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion: Ms. Waters moved to recommend to Town Board the appointment of Tim Logue and
Casey Collins to fill two Tree Board vacancies.
Second: Ms. Campbell seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 8: Updates/Ongoing Business:
Garden Club update: Andrea Lewis
Chairman Lewis reported the Garden Club planted bulbs behind the restaurants.
The Garden Club has $500 set aside for the Bee City designation (education or
whatever is needed). There is an upcoming program on pollinator plants.
Staff Updates: Plantings on N. Wake Street, Calvin Street Plantings, Bee City
Calvin Street plantings went well. Ms. Trueblood asked for direction on
plantings on N. Wake Street. Ken Ostrand paid for oaks and this board had
decided it wasn’t a good place for oaks. The board was agreeable to plantings
Page 3 of 3
oaks in a better location on his property because the town finance department
cannot return the money.
Ms. Trueblood said this board’s chair or vice chair needs to attend the Citizens
Academy on March 15. Chairman Lewis said she’d attend.
Orange County Beekeepers Association is interested in partnering with the town
on promoting the Bee City status. Ms. Trueblood would like to talk about Bee
City ideas and outreach at the February meeting. In March, the board will talk
about a spring treasure tree.
Mr. Stuart said he had an update from Ken Ostrand that the Cedar Lane trees
have been confirmed to date to around 1818 to 1822. Mr. Ostrand and Phil Ray
are looking for two Red Cedars to plant along the row. They are working with
the two property owners.
Item 9: Adjourn
Chairman Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10:35 a.m.