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Home My Public Portal About04-20-2022 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. April 20, 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 Vice Chair Tim Logue 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. Chair Casey Collins joined the meeting. 2. Agenda changes and approval The agenda stood as presented. 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on March 16, 2022 The minutes were not prepared for approval at this meeting. 4. Discussion items A. Invasive species Fig Buttercup with guests Holly Reid and Rich Shaw Reid and Shaw said it came to their attention three years ago that Fig Buttercup was growing on the banks of Stillhouse Creek. They’ve connected with a multi-county group that is collaborating to eliminate this invasive species. When Fig Buttercup takes hold in a wet area, it chokes out all other plants. Reid and Shaw have followed the creek upstream and found residences where the plant may have originated. They’ve spent more than 40 hours removing this invasive species. Where Fig Buttercup spreads, nothing else grows. The plant can be pulled from the soil in sandy areas but must be treated with glyphosate in our local soil because it is so hard to remove all the small bulbs. They noted that it is most easy to identity this plant in March and early April will the yellow flowers on the plant are blooming. The Tree Board noted that they would like to talk about raising awareness of this invasive plant at their January 2023 meeting so that they can inform Hillsborough residents to be on the lookout for the yellow blooms in Spring 2023. B. Treasure Tree 2022 article and photo The board reviewed a draft article on the Kentucky Coffee Tree grove, designated as the 2022 Treasure Tree. C. Earth Evening planning Board members confirmed they are prepared to participate in Earth Evening. TREE BOARD MINUTES | 2 of 2 Collins shared that some communities in Wisconsin promoted a “No Mow May” that had some success in raising awareness of the benefits to pollinators of delaying the start of mowing season. She was interested in implementing an awareness campaign in Hillsborough early next spring. The board suggested they talk about it in February 2023 to launch a campaign before people begin to mow in March. 5. Updates A. Garden Club Billings reminded everyone that the Garden Club’s plant sale will be May 7. B. Invasive Removal Program Trueblood noted that she can do a call for more volunteers when needed. C. Staff Trueblood reported: • Three Nutell oaks were planted in Gold Park in honor of Liz Waters. They will be watered. • All planters have been planted and pollinator gardens have been cut back. • The May meeting will be in person. 6. Adjournment Collins adjourned the meeting at 9:50 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Trueblood Public Space and Sustainability Manager Staff support to the Tree Board Approved: