Board considers Bee City USA and pollinator gardens but lacks staff champion

Chair suggested expanding tree-board activities to include pollinator gardens and tree-grate plantings downtown and raised the Bee City USA designation as a possibility. "The Bee City USA is much like the Tree City USA... but you need a city staff person who will act as the liaison," the Chair said, adding that Shepherdstown has an active volunteer leader who runs fundraising and a committee.

Board members said Charles Town lacks a staff liaison and that the program has stalled without a local champion. They discussed possible volunteers (beekeepers, gardeners) and the need for a small committee to manage fundraising and programming; without that, the Chair said the town would likely lose the Bee City effort. The board agreed to revisit the topic if a volunteer champion steps forward.

Next steps: Chair will continue outreach to potential community volunteers and report back if a volunteer or staff liaison volunteers to lead the Bee City effort.