City Council

April 23, 2014 A special meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on April 23, 2014, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 6:00PM, to conduct a budget worksession with Mayor Adkins presiding. Council Members present included: Mayor Adkins, Vice Mayor Gene Teague, Sharon Brooks Hodge, Danny Turner, and Mark Stroud. Staff present included: Leon Towarnicki, City Manager, Brenda Prillaman, Linda Conover, Kenneth Draper, Edie Cassady, Betsy Pace, Ted Anderson, Bobby Phillips, Dennis Bowles, Durwin, Jeff Joyce, Mike Scaffidi, and Lane Shively. Mayor Adkins opened the meeting and reviewed guidelines advising Council will be considering motions at this worksession. Fund Balance discussion: Finance Director Linda Conover presented detailed information regarding the fund balance FY14 projected and FY15 proposed. Council discussion impact of BPOL exemption and impact of water/sewer increase A motion was made by Gene Teague, seconded by Danny Turner, with a 5-0 vote to eliminate the proposed water/sewer increases FY15 budget. A motion made by Sharon Brooks Hodge, seconded by Danny Turner, with a 5-0 vote, to implement gross receipts threshold of $100,000 effective January 1, 2015. Commonwealth Crossing funding: Discussion on current and future impact of funding. No actions taken Telecommunications: Mike Scaffidi presented detailed information to Council. No actions taken. Refuse fund: Jeff Joyce presented detailed information to Council. No actions taken. Capital expenditures: Lengthy Council discussion regarding capital expenditures and future needs. No actions taken. Review department budgets and agency funding: After lengthy Council discussion the following motions were made: Motion made by Danny Turner, seconded by Sharon Brooks Hodge, to reduce EDC contribution to $118,207. The motion failed with a vote of 3-2. (Teague-nay, Adkins-nay, Stroud-nay, Turner-aye, Hodge-aye) Motion made by Danny Turner, seconded by Sharon Brooks Hodge, to eliminate funding from budget for The Launch Place. Mayor Adkins advised she will abstain from voting due to business conflict. The motion died due to a tie vote of 2-2. (Teague-nay, Stroud-nay, Turner-aye, Hodge-aye, Adkins-abstain) April 23, 2014 Motion made by Sharon Brooks Hodge, seconded by Danny Turner, to eliminate funding for the Dental Clinic. Mayor Adkins advised she will abstain due to business conflict. Vice Mayor Teague disclosed he serves on the board for the Dental Clinic as an unpaid volunteer and he will vote on the issue. The motion died due to a tie vote of 2-2. (Teague-nay, Stroud-nay, Turner-aye, Hodge-aye, Adkins-abstain) There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm. ___________________________________ ___________________________ Brenda Prillaman, Clerk of Council Kim Adkins, Mayor