HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-01-2021 Minutes Tourism Board Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov
www.visithillsboroughnc.com | @HillsboroughNC
Tourism Board Minutes | 1 of 3
Minutes
Hillsborough Tourism Board
Remote regular meeting
5:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 2021
Virtual meeting via YouTube Live
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair and Commissioner Matt Hughes, Vice Chair
Kim Tesoro, Barney Caton, Barry Hupp, Tommy
Stann and Cathleen Turner
Absent: Mark Bateman
Staff: Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell
1. Call to order
Chair Matt Hughes called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. with four members present.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Economic Development Planner Shannan Campbell said that Item 4B needed to be tabled until Felicita
Feliciano Rivera, a candidate for the board, was able to join the meeting.
Motion: Member Kim Tesoro moved to approve the agenda as amended. Member Tommy Stann
seconded.
Vote: 4-0. Ayes: Members Hughes, Tesoro, Cathleen Turner and Stann. Nays: None.
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on Oct. 4, 2021
Member Barney Caton joined the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
Motion: Stann moved to approve the minutes as presented. Turner seconded.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Tesoro, Turner and Stann. Nays: None.
4. Presentations
A. Quarterly reports from contract partners
1. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough (Visitors Center)
Sarah Sandbeck, executive director for The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, addressed the board. She
reviewed the Visitors Center:
• Collaborated with the Orange County Historical Museum on virtual Lunch & Learn events.
• Expanded walking tours.
• Partnered with Caton on a Churton Street History Stroll.
• Continued to generate print and social media marketing, advertised heavily on WUNC and worked on
a brochure display that will be placed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Tourism Board Minutes | 2 of 3
• Is planning a walking tour to coordinate with the museum’s Date Night exhibit and is hosting a Santa
corner around the holidays.
2. Hillsborough Arts Council (Last Fridays, Art Walk, Handmade Parade)
Mollie Thomas, executive director of the Hillsborough Arts Council, addressed the board. She reviewed staff
changes. She shared examples of marketing efforts.
She reported the council has:
• Continued to hold Last Friday and Art Walk events.
• Started planning for the next Handmade Parade.
• Continued to increase numbers of followers on social media and new visitors to the website.
3. Historic Hillsborough Commission (Burwell School)
Sharon Ringwalt, chair of the commission, addressed the board.
She reported:
• The heirloom tomato picnic and tasting drew more than 160 guests and a more diverse crowd than
past Burwell School events.
• The Star Party was canceled due to weather conditions on the date and the back-up date.
• A virtual event was held in September with Ellen Steinberg.
• A kick-off event for the bicentennial of the Burwell School house took place.
• The unveiling of the National Register plague for the site took place Oct. 24.
• Received grants totaling $7,010.
• The site has done some cross promotion with Somerset Place in Washington County, NC.
• Renovations of the brick schoolhouse are almost complete.
Member Barry Hupp joined the meeting at 5:54 p.m.
4. Historical Foundations of Hillsborough (Orange County Historical Museum)
Tanya Day, site manager, addressed the board.
She reported:
• This quarter brought 418 visitors on site.
• Last Fridays drives visitors.
• The most recent donation was a cheese press from the 1800s.
• The Date Night exhibit has been a success and is open until Dec. 31.
• Some painting, carpentry, gutter work and portico repairs were made.
• A new marketing employee has started.
• The museum has not been doing pop-up events because of the pandemic but staff and the boardare
considering when to start.
B. At-large board member interview with Felicita Feliciano Rivera
Postponed until Rivera is able to attend.
5. Monthly reports and comments
A. Tourism staff report and Orange County Visitors Bureau updates
Tourism Board Minutes | 3 of 3
Campbell noted:
• She does not have October prepared food and beverage tax revenue information yet.
• She and Sandbeck are collaborating with others to draw visitors to town in January and February. One
idea is being floated to collaborate with OC Visitors Bureau and other OC towns.
• Restaurants with outdoor seating are considering how to keep customers warm outdoors as the
weather turns chilly.
• She is creating a list of winter holiday events to advertise them.
• A lot of people came out for the Last Fridays Halloween event.
B. Board comments and updates
There was none.
6. Adjournment
Motion: Turner moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Tesoro seconded.
Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Caton, Hughes, Hupp,
Respectfully submitted,
Shannan Campbell
Economic Development Planner
Staff support to the Hillsborough Tourism Board
Approved: Dec. 6, 2021