City Council

July 9, 2019 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on July 9, 2019 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included Jennifer Bowles, Chad Martin, Jim Woods and Danny Turner. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager/City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Sheriff Steve Draper, Police Chief Eddie Cassady and numerous members of the Martinsville Police Department and Sheriff’s Department. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 6:45 PM. In accordance with section 2.1-344 (A) Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Council Member Turner seconded by Vice Mayor Martin with the following 4-0 recorded vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Woods, aye. Council Member Bowles arrived after the vote. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) appointments to boards and commissions, as authorized by Subsection 1, 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. When Council returned to Chambers, Mayor Lawson explained that the Closed Session recessed and would resume after the general session. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Bowles, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. City Manager Towarnicki explained the technical issues with the cameras that record the meetings. There will only be one camera working during tonight’s meeting so the PowerPoint presented by the Police Department will not be visible to the public. It was noted that the equipment is out of date and options for repairs are being considered. Recognition of Martinsville City Police Department for Reaccreditation: Sheriff Steve Draper attended as a representative of the VA Law Enforcement Police Standards Commission (VLEPS). Draper recognized the Martinsville Police Department for reaccreditation, which is issued every 4 years. Martinsville Police Department received their initial accreditation certificate in 1998 and has achieved reaccreditation regularly every 4 years since. Police Chief Cassady thanked the department staff and officers; Cassady said they are responsible for this award. Council Members praised the police officers for being professional and being good representatives of the community. Hear a presentation from the Police Department regarding their 2018 Annual Report: Police Chief Eddie Cassady and Deputy Chief Rob Fincher presented Council with a hardcopy of the complete report and provided a condensed slideshow with the report highlights. The complete report will be made available on the City website for residents to view. Cassady expressed appreciation for the police department staff, the staff that contributed to the report and the July 9, 2019 Council Meeting Martinsville residents for their willingness to work with the officers. Currently there are three vacancies in the department and they are accepting applications for those openings. July 9, 2019 Council Meeting July 9, 2019 Council Meeting Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented; Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all members voting in favor. Business from the Floor – Ms. Reed of 31088 Jeb Stuart Highway in Spencer shared a previous experience she had with the Police Department relating to an expired inspection sticker July 9, 2019 Council Meeting on her car. An officer pulled her over on her way to get the car inspected and gave her a ticket, refusing to verify the inspection appointment by calling the garage. She felt it was very unprofessional that the officer was not more forgiving since she was on her way to the inspection appointment. Police Chief Cassady said he had already spoken to Ms. Reed, advising her what to do when she went to court. Comments by Members of City Council – Council Member Woods said on July 4 he helped the Mayor, her husband and other residents to erect 160 flags in uptown Martinsville. Woods said it was a great opportunity to show his pride in the flag. Council Member Bowles invited residents to the New Heights Foundation on July 20 for the Back to School Bash. New Heights Mission Possible will be offering additional activities for teenagers, middle and high school students. Council Member Turner said the Martinsville Speedway hosted another great July 4 event. Vice Mayor Martin thanked the Speedway as well as the Mustangs for their July 4 events. Martin also congratulated Eric Monday for being appointed the new Assistant City Manager. Mayor Lawson shared details about the upcoming Mustang’s baseball game on Friday night. Comments by City Manager and City Attorney – City Manager Towarnicki said the VML Policy Committee meeting would be held on Thursday July 18 if any Council Members would like to carpool. Council returned to Closed Session. At the conclusion of Closed Session, 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 by Council Member Bowles to return to general session; the motion was seconded by Council Member Turner with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Lawson, aye; Martin, aye; Bowles, aye; Turner, aye; and Woods, aye. Council Member Turner made a motion to appoint Emily Parker to the School Board for a 3- yer term ending June 30, 2022. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with the following 4-1 roll call vote: Turner, aye; Lawson, aye; Martin, aye; Woods, nay; and Bowles, aye. Vice Mayor Martin made a motion to appoint Yvonne Givens to the School Board for an unexpired 3-year term ending June 30, 2021. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Martin with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:25pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor