City Council

November 19, 2019 Council Meeting A called meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on November 19, 2019 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included Chad Martin, Jennifer Bowles, Jim Woods and Danny Turner. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager/City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, and Deputy Police Chief Rob Fincher. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and thanked residents for attending and their interest in the reversion study. Hear a presentation regarding the City’s consideration of reversion to town status: City Manager Towarnicki explained that the reversion process started again about a year ago and that a new study was requested to update information provided in 2012. The next step is to set a public hearing for December 10, 2019. The presentation tonight is more about the process and implications when reversion happens and how it affects the City as it reverts to a Town. Towarnicki said there is a lot of incorrect information circulating in the community. City Attorney Monday provided a PowerPoint, explaining that the City has been discussing the option of reversion for about 20 years due to financial constraints. November 19, 2019 Council Meeting November 19, 2019 Council Meeting November 19, 2019 Council Meeting November 19, 2019 Council Meeting Mayor Lawson explained that tonight was the first time that Council had viewed the PowerPoint. Council Member Bowles requested that City residents be offered the first option to speak over County residents. Lawson opened the floor to comments. Reverend Theodore Crutchfield of 115 Moss Street has property in the City and the County. His concern is that he is already being overtaxed for vehicles on his private property and if the City reverts, he fears that he will be required to pay both a City and County tax. He feels that November 19, 2019 Council Meeting the City needs to correct their personal property rates first and that Martinsville residents should be given the option to vote on reversion and not just Council Members. Robert Becker of 1105 Cherokee Trail asked about gerrymandering if the City reverts. City Attorney Monday explained due to the racial makeup of the City, if gerrymandering occurs then it will be obvious from the impact of the minority vote; in which case he will contact the appropriate state officials immediately for review. Becker stated that there is a large, significant African American voice in Martinsville, which will not be silenced. Ophelia Griggs lives at 267 Halfway Road in Henry County and owns property in the City. Griggs thanked Monday for an informative PowerPoint. She asked about the City’s reserve and the fund balance and if those funds can be applied to paying off existing debt. Monday explained that the debt incurred by the County is significantly more than the City. The debt is structured just like a family mortgage and cannot be paid off all at once using those funds. The willingness of the bond market requires that a minimum amount remain in that reserve. The City is run like a household but with different terminology and a larger scale dollar amount. The City’s debt would not be pushed off on the County and any future debts incurred by the City would remain in the City. City Manager Towarnicki further explained the City Council sets the policy for the City in regards to the cash reserve and the fund balance. The perception that the City is going broke is a misconception. Towarnicki explained the amount held in the fund balance and reserve is a calculated amount to maintain and keep the City departments functioning as needed. The City does not want to be in a situation to spend those reserves then get into a situation where the reserve is depleted. Every City has that reserve; however, the policies for each location differ. Monday referred to the Petersburg community who found themselves in a financial situation because they depleted those reserves. Avery Palmer of 377 Belva Lane in Collinsville had hoped to see someone from the Henry County Board of Supervisors in attendance. He requests that someone from Henry County sit down with Martinsville Council to discussion the reversion. Mary Martin resides at 1276 Cameron Road Martinsville and is a County resident. Martin expressed concern regarding what happens after the reversion is complete; the City could legally annex and no one is discussing the effect of that on Henry County. Residents would then have both Town and County tax, which would not be fair to those County residents affected. Reversion needs to be voted on by all residents in Henry County and Martinsville since this affects all residents. Martin suggests that in fairness, since the final study will not be available until December around the holidays that everyone should have the opportunity to review the reversion study. She asked Council not to jump into making decisions until the General Assembly has the opportunity to work through it and to see what happens with the County resolutions. Monday explained that it is fine for a County resident to attend a City meeting to express concerns. Monday said that Martinsville has consistently been willing to talk reversion November 19, 2019 Council Meeting with Henry County. He recommends that Martin express her concerns to the Henry County Board of Supervisors since they are the ones refusing discussions. William Gardner resides at 718 Gratten Road and is a student at Henry County schools. Gardner explained that the decision to revert affects him and he truly believes this is the best decision for the children of Martinsville and Henry County. Warren Mitchell of 1300 Carver Court asked that the issue with taxes be discussed so that no resident in the City or County be double taxed. Mayor Lawson explained that would be discussed fully with the County. Monday explained that although there may be two tax bills that does not mean that the total tax amount would be double. Charles Roark of 107 Courtney Terrace said Tim Hall of the County is waiting on the City’s offer before deciding what to do next. Monday confirmed that the City has formerly contacted all Board of Supervisors requesting communication. Roark asked for a copy of that correspondence. Vice Mayor Martin said Council would love to talk to the County about common interests, however Henry County does not plan to discuss reversion until Martinsville Council votes to revert. Martha Woody of 1105 Cherokee Trail remembers when the City and County had separate Social Services departments. Bringing those two departments together was a challenge with many hurt feelings but now the community has a very strong department that is more beneficial to all residents of both the City and County. She feels the same will ring true for the school systems when consolidated. Monday shared that the Martinsville law enforcement and public safety departments have a wonderful working relationship with the Henry County departments. The joint Economic Development Coalition is another positive joint collaboration. All resulted from the City and the County sitting down to talk things out. Council Member Woods made a motion to set the public hearing for December 10, 2019. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council voting in favor. There being no further business, Council Member Turner made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Bowles with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:25pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor