HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-07-2022 Minutes Tourism Board Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov
www.visithillsboroughnc.com | @HillsboroughNC
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Minutes
Hillsborough Tourism Board
Remote Regular meeting
5:30 p.m. Feb. 7, 2022
Virtual meeting via YouTube Live
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair Matt Hughes, Vice Chair Kim Tesoro, and
members Barney Caton, Barry Hupp, Victoria Pace,
Tommy Stann and Cathleen Turner
Absent: Mark Bateman
Staff: Planning and Economic Development Manager Shannan Campbell
1. Call to order
Chair Matt Hughes was having technical difficulties and asked Vice Chair Kim Tesoro to call the meeting to
order. Tesoro called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. with seven members present.
2. Agenda changes and approval
There were no changes.
Motion: Member Barney Caton moved to approve the agenda as presented. Member Tommy Stann
seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Barry Hupp, Victoria Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Cathleen
Turner
3. Minutes review and approval
Dec. 6, 2021, and Jan. 10, 2022
Motion: Turner moved to approve the minutes from Dec. 6, 2021, and Jan. 10, 2022. Caton seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Turner
4. Presentations
Q2 reports from contract partners ― reports available in the agenda packet
A. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough (Visitors Center)
Sarah Sandbeck, executive director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, addressed the board. Sandbeck
listed several holiday-related events that took place between October and December. She reviewed
marketing and promotion efforts and upcoming events.
B. Hillsborough Arts Council
Mollie Thomas, executive director of the council, addressed the board. Thomas reviewed fall activities and
noted the October Last Fridays was well attended. She shared there were record-breaking sales at the
council’s gallery and gift shop. She noted that there were 4,000 registrants for annual solstice walk. The
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weather was cold and wet but more than 1,200 people attended. She shared statistics on attendees and
noted a partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Art drew some people who don’t live in Hillsborough.
C. Burwell School Historic Site
Sharon Ringwalt, chair of the Historic Hillsborough Commission, addressed the board. Ringwalt reported an
increase in group tour bookings, buildings and grounds improvements, and collaboration with local artists and
writers to make two comic books about Burwell School. She also noted the site’s tax-exempt status had been
reinstated.
D. Orange County Historical Museum
Tanya Day, the museum’s site manager, reported 14 virtual tours and 49 in-person tours took place in the
second quarter. The museum asked local artists to create art that related to some of the museum’s inventory.
The museum is creating a new family gallery.
5. Discussion/action items
A. FY23 grant funding and cycle dates
Campbell proposed opening the grant applications on March 7 for 5 weeks with an early review deadline of 5
p.m. April 4 and a final deadline 5 p.m. April 8. The board would score the applications April 18-29 and would
announce the grant awards at the meeting on May 2.
Motion: Tesoro moved to offer grants this year and adopt the proposed schedule. Caton seconded.
Campbell called the roll for voting.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Turner.
B. FY21-22 grant project update: Art on the Hill
Katie Murray, director of the Orange County Arts Commission, addressed the board. She noted the project is
three years in the making. She explained artists from all over the country would be invited to create large
pieces of public art to be displayed in Hillsborough for a month. There would be a people’s choice prize as well
as prizes chosen by a committee.
Murray reported the project has received a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts and $50,000 from
Orange County. The national grant is good through 2023. Because of the project’s large size, large number of
partners and the ongoing pandemic, it has been determined that more time is needed to organize. The plan is
to display the pieces in July 2023. Murray asked the board to postpone support from FY 2022 to FY 2023. The
board had committed $7,500.
Motion: Turner moved to roll the grant to the Fiscal Year 2023. Hupp seconded.
Campbell called the roll for voting.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Turner.
C. Draft scopes of work for contract partners for FY23
Campbell shared the scopes of work, available in the agenda packet.
Hughes said they looked good.
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Campbell asked for board comments on creating a contract with the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of
Commerce for organizing the tree lighting and holiday parade. Tesoro said the amount of money the board
gave the chamber last year was adequate. She said the tree lighting and holiday parade are community events
and the chamber would continue to ask that it be considered for a contract.
Campbell shared Mebane’s parade budget, which did not include staff costs.
The board did not comment.
Campbell said she did not hear support for moving the parade to a contract at this time.
D. Appoint chair and vice chair
Motion: Turner nominated Hughes to continue to serve as chair and Tesoro to continue to serve as vice
chair.
Hughes requested the board vote on each nomination separately.
Campbell called the roll for voting for chair.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Turner.
Campbell called the roll for voting for vice chair.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Hughes, Hupp, Pace, Stann, Tesoro and Turner.
6. Monthly reports and comments
A. Tourism staff report and Orange County Visitors Bureau updates
Campbell noted:
• The town and Visitors Center continues to promote eating and shopping in Hillsborough this winter.
• The prepared food and beverage tax revenue continues to be strong, despite staffing shortages and
reduced hours at some restaurants.
• Visit NC 365 Conference is in Durham this year. Board members interested in attending should let
Campbell know so she can register them.
B. Board comments and updates
The board requested some additional information on where the additional prepared food and beverage tax
revenue is coming from. They would like information by area of town and type of cuisines (fast food, sit-down
dining, or bars).
7. Adjournment
Motion: Hughes adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannan Campbell
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Economic Development Planner
Staff support to the Hillsborough Tourism Board
Approved: March 7, 2022