HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-03-2021 Minutes Tourism Board Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
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Minutes
Hillsborough Tourism Board
Remote regular meeting
5:30 p.m. May 3, 2021
Virtual meeting via YouTube Live
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair Matt Hughes, Vice Chair Kim Tesoro, Barney
Caton, Barry Hupp, Tommy Stann and Cathleen
Turner
Absent: Mark Bateman and Nic Beery
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell
1. Call to order
Chair Matt Hughes called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. with five members present.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Economic Development Planner added Item 5B regarding consideration of an audit prep contract.
Motion: Member Barney Caton moved to approve the agenda as amended. Vice Chair Kim Tesoro
seconded.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Barry Hupp, Hughes, Tesoro and Cathleen Turner. Nays: None.
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on April 5, 2021
Motion: Tesoro moved to approve the minutes as presented. Caton seconded.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes: Caton, Hupp, Hughes, Tesoro and Turner. Nays: None.
4. Presentations
Quarterly reports from contract partners
A. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough (Visitors Center)
Sarah Sandbeck, executive director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, presented. Sandbeck said
program development, planning and marketing strategy evaluation was successful in the third quarter. The
Visitors Center staff collaborated with contract partners and applied for a grant. The pandemic has limited
tours but everything is starting to open up and improve.
Member Tommy Stann joined the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
B. Hillsborough Arts Council (Last Fridays, Artwalk and Handmade Parade)
David Hays, chair of the council’s board, presented with Joshua Collins, who organizes Last Fridays events.
They shared the quarter had started out slow and was picking up with more visitors coming out later in the
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spring. The council has been cross-promoting with the contract partners. Last Fridays are planned with
roaming performers and performances at various locations around town.
C. Hillsborough Historic Foundation (Orange County Historic Museum)
No one was present to speak.
D. Historic Hillsborough Commission (Burwell School Historic Site)
Brooks Graebner, chair of the commission, presented. He noted the Burwell School had hosted a successful
virtual webinar on women’s suffrage in January. Greeters and QR codes are new additions to the site.
Hughes excused himself from the meeting and Tesoro assumed the role as chair at 6:04 p.m.
5. Action items
A. Vacant Tourism Board seat
Campbell said she was not sure if Elise Tyler, general manager of The Colonial Inn, was ready to commit to the
position. She asked if the board wished to table this item again to give Tyler more time to get settled as a
Hillsborough resident and/or continue recruitment efforts to fill the seat.
The board noted it did not have other candidates to consider this evening.
Motion: Turner moved to table the item to give time to ask Tyler and recruit. Stann seconded.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes: Caton, Hupp, Tesoro, Turner and Stann. Nays: None.
Hughes returned and resumed chairing the board.
B. Audit contract
Campbell said the Tourism Development Authority pays one audit firm to prepare the paperwork for the audit
and another to conduct the audit. The contract for Greg Isley and Associates to conduct the audit notes a cost
of $5,000. The other other firm’s cost is $5,150, bringing total cost to more $10,000 for this year. The Board
noted a significant increase in cost over past years. Last year, it cost a total of $7,500 and the year before it
cost a total of about $5,000.
The board expressed interest in staff asking the Town Manager and auditing firms why costs have increased
so much.
Motion: Hughes motioned to table the contract to the next meeting give staff time to ask questions.
Tesoro seconded.
Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Tesoro, Turner and Stann. Nays: None.
6. Discussion items
Draft Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget
No comments.
7. Monthly reports and comments
A. Board comments and updates
Campbell said artists can apply now for the mural on the building that houses The News of Orange County.
She attended the virtual Visit NC 365 conference. Revenue was up 1% in February. Tourism grants were still
open through the end of the week and there were currently no applicants.
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Stann added that restaurants are very short-staffed and that everyone is having a hard time finding workers.
8. Adjournment
Motion: Turner moved to adjourn at 6:33 p.m. Caton seconded.
Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Caton, Hughes, Stann and Turner. Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannan Campbell
Economic Development Planner
Staff support to the Hillsborough Tourism Board
Approved: June 7, 2021