HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-04-2022 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. April 4, 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 called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with six members present.
2. Agenda changes and approval
An Item 4.C. was added to ask Cathleen Turner is she would like to be reappointed to this board.
Motion: Member Cathleen Turner moved to approve the agenda as presented. Member Barney Caton
seconded.
Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Members Caton, Barry Hupp, Hughes, Victoria Pace, Tommy Stann and Turner
3. Minutes review and approval
March 7, 2022
Motion: Turner moved to approve the minutes from March 7, 2022, as presented. Stann seconded.
Vote: 6-0. Ayes: Members Bateman, Caton, Hupp, Hughes, Stann and Turner
4. Discussion/action items
A. FY23 Draft Budget
Campbell noted that, with the board’s approval, she had informed contract partners that they could ask for
small funding increases for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 with justification on what increased funds would be spent
on. Campbell indicated that this was just one of many budget discussions and that this board wouldn’t
formally adopt a budget until after a public hearing in June when it was more finalized.
B. Review of Contract Scopes of Work Responses for FY23
The board made a preliminary review of the funding requests and justifications. The contract partners will be
invited to come speak to the board at the May meeting.
The asks and justifications of the contract partners were available in the packet. Campbell also shared a one-
page summary of the increase requests and the justifications. The board reviewed that summary.
The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough did not ask for an increase. There was no discussion.
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Turner noted the Hillsborough Arts Council had taken on a lot of activities and it was surprising to her that
they were only asking for an additional $5,000 to support additional Last Fridays event offerings.
The Burwell School Historic Site requested an additional $14,435. There was no discussion.
The Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, which operates the Orange County Historical
Museum, requested an additional $20,000 to assist in paying for two part-time staff positions to become full
time.
Member Kim Tesoro joined the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
The Tourism Board’s fund balance is estimated to be healthy, but actual numbers are not available without
the most recent audit.
Tesoro cautioned against viewing the increases as a one-year commitment if some of the money would be
paying salaries because the expectation to continue to pay those salaries is that these funds are given every
year.
Some board members expressed interest in whether some staff positions could be shared among the
partners. It was noted that the board wants the museum and the Burwell School to be open and available for
tourists. It was also noted that the partner organizations cannot grow if the amount of funding remains the
same. The board directed contract partner staff and tourism board staff to re-explore the idea of housing all
staffing within one central organization.
C. Consider recommending Turner for reappointment to the board
Turner said that she was willing to serve another term.
Motion: Caton moved to recommend that the town board reappoint Turner. Pace seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Bateman, Caton, Hupp, Hughes, Stann, Tesoro and Turner
5. Monthly reports and comments
A. Tourism staff report and Orange County Visitors Bureau updates
Campbell noted:
• Tourism efforts underway include a spring marketing campaign: “Come see what’s blooming in
beautiful Hillsborough.”
• Upcoming events in April (rededication of the Occaneechi Village Replica and Handmade Parade)
• River Park Concert may take place this fall.
Sarah Sandbeck, executive director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, reported that she is leaving her
position in June to go back to school and for a career change.
B. Board comments and updates
Hughes and Caton shared the Visit North Carolina 365 Conference was informative and went over some of the
things they learned there.
6. Adjournment
Motion: Tesoro moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 p.m. Turner seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: Members Bateman, Caton, Hupp, Hughes, Stann, Tesoro and Turner
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Respectfully submitted,
Shannan Campbell
Economic Development Planner
Staff support to the Hillsborough Tourism Board
Approved: 6/6/2022