City Council

April 10, 2019 Budget Work Session A special meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on April 10, 2019, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 6:00PM, to conduct a budget work session with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Council Members present included Mayor Lawson, Vice Mayor Chad Martin, Council Member Jim Woods, Council Member Jennifer Bowles and Council Member Danny Turner. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager Wayne Knox, City Attorney Eric Monday, and Finance Director Linda Conover. Mayor Lawson opened the Council meeting. City Manager Towarnicki thanked everyone for attending and detailed the schedule starting with constitutionals. Towarnicki explained there was very little change in the proposed budget per department from last year. Council began their review on page 14 of the printed budget beginning with City Council budget. Treasurer Cindy Dickerson explained the reason for requesting an additional full-time employee. If a fulltime position is not approved, she asked that the budget for the part-time position be increased. Finance Director Linda Conover explained that the Finance budget includes a full year of a Finance Director assistant, which is part of a succession plan for when the Director retires. Conover also explained the Workers Compensation budget and how the “pool” determines the cost and coverage. Registrar Cindy Barbour explained that there would be cost savings this budget since there is no June primary. New voting machines worked well and the residents appeared to be more comfortable with those. Barbour explained the service contract on the voting equipment. Police Chief Eddie Cassady and Deputy Chief Rob Fincher were present to answer any questions Council had related to the Police Department budget and how not having the JAG Grant would affect them. Towarnicki elaborated on the change in the Inspections budget and explained staff changes within the department. Towarnicki explained the Public Works Street Maintenance budget and how funds reimbursed from VDOT affect that. Chris Morris mentioned street line painting done by a contractor versus with City equipment. Council Members discussed the option of going Facebook LIVE during Council meetings instead of investing over $120,000 in a new camera system in Council Chambers. Towarnicki described the new addition of the Chief Tassel building uptown and how it affects the budget and various costs associated with that. Council discussed management and grounds maintenance responsibilities of the Martinsville Mustangs and Hooker Field. Also discussed were details on the I81 and I73 projects, the PART buses, Brownfield grants, the Planning and Zoning department, and April 10, 2019 Budget Work Session contributions to local organizations including 911, which will be discussed more in depth at the next work session. The Refuse Department and Landfill budgets were also discussed. MINet Manager Mike Scaffidi was present to explain an 8% budget increase related to adding two new employees for traffic signals and telecommunications to keep up with the growth of the department. Scaffidi explained there were new customers who would start service after the new fiscal year and many more interested in residential service. Revenue is expected to increase by $200,000. Water Resources Director Andy Lash answered questions related to Water and Wastewater budget. Durwin Joyce was present to answer questions about the Electric Department budget and AMP Ohio. Commissioner of Revenue Ruth Easley explained that Business Licenses were up to levels prior to the recession. Fleet Manager Lane Shively answered Council questions related to capital requests for an ambulance and a fire truck. There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn. Council Member Turner second the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Kathy Lawson, Mayor