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Home My Public Portal About03-16-2022 Minutes Tree Board Regular Meeting 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov TREE BOARD MINUTES | 1 of 2 Minutes TREE BOARD Remote regular meeting 9 a.m. March 16, 2022 Virtual meeting via YouTube Live Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel Present: Chair Casey Collins, Vice Chair Tim Logue, Sharon Billings, Bridget Booher, Mixon Nelson, Linda Paynter and Greg Yavelak Staff: Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood 1. Call to order, roll call and confirmation of quorum Chair Casey Collins called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum with seven members present. 2. Agenda changes and approval The agenda stood as presented. 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on Feb. 16, 2022 Motion: Member Greg Yavelak moved to approve the minutes from Feb. 16, 2022. Member Sharon Billings seconded. Vote: 5-0. Ayes: Members Billings, Bridget Booher, Collins, Tim Logue, Mixon Nelson, Linda Paynter and Yavelak. Nays: None. 4. Discussion items A. Creek Week planning and updates Booher and Logue reported that some people stopped and asked during the invasive species removal Creek Week event. It was a cold day, so fewer people were out than usual. Logue reported some regular volunteers and a total of four new volunteers were helping with invasive removals. Logue reported that the invasive species volunteers are planting several plants to fill the spots where the privet was removed. Trueblood said there is interest in installing signage to explain what’s happening along Riverwalk. B. Earth Evening planning Billings and Booher had volunteered to be at a Tree Board table at Earth Evening. C. Treasure Tree 2022 Logue said a Kentucky Coffee Tree grove has been identified on Riverwalk. A volunteer found there are only two places where there are groves identified in North Carolina, both in Orange County. One was on the banks of the Eno River, identified in the 1950s. he’s not sure if this grove is the grove identified. The board agreed to select the grove of Kentucky Coffee Trees on Riverwalk as the 2022 Treasure Tree. 5. Updates TREE BOARD MINUTES | 2 of 2 A. Garden Club Billings reminded everyone that the Garden Club’s plant sale will be May 7. B. Invasive Removal Program Trueblood noted the program is getting attention. C. Staff Trueblood reported: • Tree Board funds were used to purchase plants to replace the invasive Chinese privet along Riverwalk. • The planters have been planted downtown. She will soon plant the one at Gold Park. • The overwintered plant material in the town’s pollinator gardens will be left on site in habitat piles. Trueblood thinks it would be good to post signs at the community parks to explain the purpose of the piles. • While discussing ideas for the Comprehensive Sustainability Plan, the Parks and Recreation Board suggested that some food forests be planted in the town’s parks. • Collins participated in a Comprehensive Sustainability Plan focus group. • Some American Classical Homes property may become Eno River State Park property. This plan is dependent on raising funds. Collins has identified a place in Gold Park to plant Nutell oaks in memory of Liz Waters. 6. Adjournment Collins adjourned the meeting at 10:22 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Trueblood Public Space and Sustainability Manager Staff support to the Tree Board Approved: