HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-20-2019 Minutes Regular MeetingPage 1 of 2
Minutes
Tree Board
9 a.m. March 20, 2019
Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St.
Present: Chair Andrea Lewis, Vice Chair Frances Harris, Casey Collins, Tim Logue, Phyllis Simon, Bryan
Stuart, Liz Waters and Greg Yavelak (ex officio)
Absent: Tim Logue
Staff: Public Information Specialist Cheryl Sadgrove and Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood
1. Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum
Chair Andrea Lewis called the meeting to order at 8:57 a.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the
roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Lewis added a discussion item to “Updates” regarding the Citizens Academy.
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on Feb. 20, 2019.
Motion: Vice Chair Frances Harris moved to approve the minutes as presented. Member Phyllis Simon
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Changes: None
4. Discussion for Earth Evening participation April 26
Trueblood reminded the board that Member Casey Collins, Harris and Member Liz Waters had volunteered to be
present to help with the display. Simon noted Sarah Meadows, a member of the Hillsborough Garden Club and
that club’s bee initiative subcommittee, would also be helping with this event. Harris offered to use her truck to
bring tables and resources to the event. The plan is to give parents information while children are playing a game.
Meadows has the game.
5. Discussion of plans for celebrating National Pollinator Week (June 17-21)
Simon reported that Meadows has met with the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce and several
merchants and organizations for involvement in the pollinator week. Simon has plans to contact more. Simon also
is preparing posters for Trueblood to print.
Trueblood encouraged follow-up conversations with businesses and organizations so that they develop ideas to
participate.
Simon also shared other teaching and speaking opportunities she is doing. Trueblood asked Simon and others on
the board to record the name, date, location and agenda from any presentation board members give that relate
to pollinator awareness so she has the information for the Bee City USA annual report.
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6. Discussion of 2019 Treasure Tree selection
Collins recommended a hemlock on Faribault Lane.
Trueblood said trees 14 and 15 are not listed on the brochure because there is not room. Perhaps the Public
Information Office could help reduce the text to fit more trees. It was noted that the red oak should be removed
because it has fallen.
Collins agreed to write information about the hemlock for The News of Orange.
Member Bryan Stuart said he would like the young American chestnut trees to be selected. There was discussion
about waiting for the chestnut trees to become more established.
There was a recommendation to select an ash tree before the emerald ash borer kills all the ash trees.
There was a recommendation to select another red oak or a white oak. Stuart offered to write information about
the oak and to determine the species of oak found behind the historic courthouse as the specimen tree.
Trueblood said she would also help identify the species of the tree.
The board agreed to select the oak. Member Greg Yavelak said that he would help approximate the age of the
tree.
Motion: Harris moved to select an oak tree. Simon seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
7. Updates
A. Hillsborough Garden Club — Lewis and Harris reported that the club is working on the garden tour, which will
take place May 4.
B. Bee City Subcommittee — No report was given in addition to the National Pollinator Week discussion.
C. Staff and board updates
• The Cates Creek workday for dividing plants in the rain garden has been moved to 9:30 a.m. to noon April
27 to give the plants more time to grow before dividing them.
• The Parks and Recreation Board has given a Girl Scout troop permission to create fairy gardens with
natural materials in Turnip Patch Park.
• Lewis said she would be speaking at the Citizens Academy later this day and asked the Tree Board for
input on what to mention. Staff and the board gave her several ideas.
• There was a recommendation to update the list of recommended trees and plants at a meeting later in
the year.
8. Adjournment
Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10 a.m.