City Council

August 8, 2017 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on August 8, 2017 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Gene Teague presiding. Council Members present included Gene Teague, Sharon Hodge, Chad Martin, Jennifer Bowles, and Kathy Lawson. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager Wayne Knox, City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Linda Conover, Sheriff Steve Draper, and Police Chief Eddie Cassady. Mayor Teague called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 7:00 PM. In accordance with Section 2.1-344 (A) of the Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Council Member Lawson, seconded by Council Member Hodge, with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Mayor Teague, aye; and Council Member Hodge, aye. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) Discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interview of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Subsection 29 and (B) Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members, attorneys or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, or other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel, as authorized by Subsection 7. At 7:30pm upon returning to Council Chambers, Mayor Teague explained that Council would recess Closed Session. Mayor Teague read the following statement regarding the medical school project, Tobacco Commission Grant and Dr. Boaz’s obligation for repayment: “To keep our citizens informed regarding the ongoing medical school project, the City and staff are in close communication with and closely following deliberations by the Tobacco Commission regarding the TROF grant awarded to the City for that project. As of this time, there has been no official communication from Tobacco regarding the City’s obligation in regard to repayment, nor a repayment schedule. We will be communicating with Dr. Boaz in the coming weeks regarding the project, ability to repay any or all of the grant, and the City’s next course of action.” Following the invocation by Vice Mayor Martin and Pledge to the American Flag, Teague welcomed everyone to the meeting. Hear an update from the Martinsville Sheriff’s Department regarding reaccreditation – Sheriff Steve Draper thanked Council and introduced Police Chief Gary Roche of the Pulaski Police Department and Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission Chairman. Roche recognized the Martinsville Sheriff’s Department for the successful completion of the state reaccreditation process and detailed what is required to achieve this accreditation. Sheriff Draper attributed the reaccreditation to the Sheriff’s Department staff. August 8, 2017 There are few offices in Virginia that are certified and he is proud that the Martinsville Sheriff’s Department, Martinsville Police Department and the Henry County Police Department are all certified. Draper introduced employees of the Sheriff’s department who have stepped into new rolls and helped to ensure the reaccreditation went smoothly. Hear an update from the Martinsville Sheriff’s Department on the inmate work program – Sheriff Draper said all inmates go through a classification process to determine where they are housed in the jail system and if they would qualify for the work program. Draper shared a PowerPoint of projects completed through the work program and details on inmate compensation. Martinsville is the only jail in the area that provides a paid work program with inmates receiving $3 per day. Work crew responsibilities and current projects with various City departments and non-profit organizations were explained. Details on the educational programs offered to the inmates were shared. Draper said the department has been working with PHCC and NCI on the EDOVO program and shared videos explaining the program. With the EDOVO program, each inmate will have access to a tablet to participate in the program. The tablets should be available to the City in about 8 weeks. Council Member Bowles asked how many inmates participate in the work program. Draper said there are 42 beds at the Annex; they require all of those inmates to work either inside the fence or in the public, weather permitting. They try to rotate the responsibilities so the inmates are not doing the same jobs every day. August 8, 2017 August 8, 2017 August 8, 2017 August 8, 2017 Hear an update from the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation – Mark Heath provided a report with updates on small businesses, marketing grants, marketing research and recruiting, unemployment rates, industry projects announced, and an updated brochure on Commonwealth Crossing. Heath introduced Sarah Hodges who updated Council on Martinsville and Henry County tourism. Hodges shared the annual tourism expenditures for Martinsville and Henry County. The Visitors Center sees 200-300 guests each month. Tourists come to the area because of the history and the outdoor activities. She shared details on the Smith River Fest on Saturday August 12. August 8, 2017 Hear an update from Amanda Witt-Cox of the M-HC Chamber of Commerce regarding activities related to the City/C-PEG Small Business Development contract – Amanda Cox provided an update regarding the Incubator that is at 99% occupancy, TGIF, OctoberFest, and the Farmer’s Market including EBT acceptance and sponsors, and the Small Business Development contract. They are planning for the third year of the small business development August 8, 2017 program. The Henry Hotel is almost full both business and residential and they are finalizing a contract on some retail strategies that will be discussed more in the near future. Hear an update regarding activities related to the Brownfield Grant the City received – Assistant City Manager Knox introduced Lori Kroll of Draper Aden. Properties damaged by recent fires have been viewed for potential redevelopment through a Brownfield Grant. Kroll described what is involved in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the grant studies and detailed some of the current projects. Future projects include the Paradise Inn, the Sons of Solomon Lodge, both American of Martinsville sites and a gas station on Fayette Street. Draper Aden is setting up an information booth on the Brownfield Grants at the OctoberFest. Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented; Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Business from the Floor – Don Kirby, 1178 Banner Street requests that Geter Street be paved with curve and gutter as originally planned. Ural Harris, 217 Stewart Street requested that Council require an investigation on where the medical college funds were spent and feels that those responsible should be held accountable. Jeff Peverall of 215 Aaron Street says Aaron Street is a disgrace including the security of the property. He says it is disheartening that the Fire Department does not have the manpower to do an investigation because of choices made by City Council. He said there should be some way to hold the property owners responsible for cleanup of the property through property maintenance requirements. He feels that property maintenance issues should be proactive, not reactive. He also mentioned lack of property tax payment on 172 Moss Street. Police Chief Eddie Cassady thanked Council and the citizens for wonderful National Night Out events. Cassady reminded citizens that Martinsville and Henry County schools start tomorrow and he asked that they be aware of students and buses. Comments by members of City Council – Council Member Bowles expressed gratitude for the local National Night Out events and wished luck to students starting school. Bowles August 8, 2017 acknowledged several organizations for hosting back to school events. She thanked the City departments for their help with the New Heights back to school events. Council Member Hodge thanked the churches for hosting the National Night Out events and law enforcement for making these events successful. Hodge congratulated Dr. Talley and the schools for a motivational start to the school year. Hodge met with several health care organizations regarding a needle exchange program but agreed that was not a good program to help with the opioid problem. On August 16, Hodge will attend the Regional Rural Caucus Program at NCI. Comments by City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki will work with the City Council and the School Board on a joint meeting date in September. At 9:35pm, Mayor Teague explained that Council would return to the Closed Session. At the conclusion of Closed Session at 9:55pm, each returning member of Council certified that (1) only public business matters exempt from open meeting requirements were discussed in said Closed Session; and (2) only those business matters identified in the motion convening the Closed Session were heard, discussed, or considered during the Session. A motion was made to return to regular session by Council Member Lawson, seconded by Council Member Bowles with all Council Members voting in favor. No action was taken. There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Hodge with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 10:00pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Gene Teague Clerk of Council Mayor