City Council

March 10, 2020 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on March 10, 2020 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included 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, Finance Director Linda Conover, Assistant Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Commissioner of Revenue Ruth Easley, Director of Utilities Durwin Joyce, Community Development Director Mark McCaskill and Police Chief Eddie Cassady. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 6:30 PM. In accordance with section 2.1-344 (A) Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Council Member Turner and seconded by Council Member Bowles with the following 4-0 recorded vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Woods, aye. Chad Martin was not in attendance for the vote but arrived during Closed Session. 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. 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 A motion was made by Council Member Bowles; seconded by Vice Mayor Martin, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; and Council Member Turner, aye. Out of Closed Session, Council Member Turner made a motion to appoint James Barnett to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a 5-year unexpired term ending September 22, 2024. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Woods made a motion to appoint Benjamin Sharpe to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a 5-year unexpired term ending September 22, 2024. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Bowles made a motion to appoint Richard Walker to the Henry County- Martinsville Joint Social Services Board for a 4-year unexpired term ending May 31, 2023. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Bowles made a motion to appoint Benjamin Williams to the Tree Board for a 3-year term ending 3/31/23. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Council Member Turner made a motion to appoint Jay Dickens to the Tree Board for a 3- year term ending 3/31/23. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Woods, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Conduct a public hearing regarding a Community Development Block Grant application for the Pine Hall Road area – City Manager Towarnicki summarized the need for the public hearing and the status of the grant application. Janet Jonas provided a PowerPoint of details, stating that the City is in the final stages of the project preparation. Jonas pointed out the boundaries for the project at Council Member Turner’s request. Mayor Lawson opened the public hearing. Alexis Lee of Sellers Street is in favor of the proposed block grant and she would like to see the broadband in the neighborhood as well. No one else approached the podium so the public hearing was closed. Vice Mayor Martin made a motion to approve the submission of the application to DHCD for a Community Development Block Grant for Pine Hall Road project area. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider information related to a solar energy project for the City of Martinsville – City Manager Towarnicki said the City has been looking into solar projects for some time. In the past few years, the technology has improved which drives down the cost of the hardware along with potential tax credits. Garrett Cole of GDS Associates presented a PowerPoint presentation detailing the proposed project. Council Member Turner would like to get others to review the proposal to ensure he makes the best decision. Council Member Bowles questioned if the corporation would maintain and upgrade the panels as needed. Vice Mayor Martin asked that the corporation be reviewed in terms of reputation and how they dispose of the panels. Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the project concept and authorize staff to proceed with development of a draft power purchase agreement that will be brought back to Council later for approval. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Turner requests that Council hold a public hearing before the final vote to approve the project. March 10, 2020 Council Meeting March 10, 2020 Council Meeting March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider adoption of a resolution in support of plans by a newly formed group, Uptown Partnership, to reapply for a Virginia Main Street designation – City Manager Towarnicki explained that things are progressing and moving forward in our community. There is a local group of individuals interested in contributing to that continued growth. Lee Prillaman of Uptown Partnership presented a PowerPoint describing the organization, the purpose and benefits, who would be eligible in the community and a timeline of application. Council Member Woods made a motion to adopt the resolution in support of plans by a newly formed group, Uptown Partnership, to reapply for a Virginia Main Street designation. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Prillaman introduced those members in attendance and said there are approximately 50 residents involved in the group. March 10, 2020 Council Meeting March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing a public hearing and approving related actions regarding potential financing of the Beaver Creek Reservoir spillway repair project – City Manager Towarnicki explained that the resolution is being requested by the City’s bond counsel. Council Member Turner made a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing a public hearing and approving related actions regarding potential financing of the Beaver Creek Reservoir spillway repair project. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with the following roll-call vote: Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; and Council Member Bowles, aye March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider authorizing the City Treasurer to issue a refund resulting from amended bank franchise tax returns for tax years 2012, 2013 and 2014 – Commissioner of Revenue Ruth Easley explained the need for the refund and the reason why the bank has requested the refund. The City is not required to pay interest on this refund. Council Member Turner made a motion to authorize the City Treasurer to issue a refund to the bank within 30 days with no calculated interest. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Read and present a proclamation acknowledging the month of March as Red Cross Month – Council Member Woods read the proclamation which was presented to Ralph Lawson, representative for the local Red Cross organization. Lawson thanked Council for the proclamation and stated that it is an honor to be a part of the Red Cross. Lawson said our community is blessed to have a local office since so many localities do not. Martinsville has had a local office for over 30 years with the territory expanding again soon. Lawson encourages residents who want to help to reach out to the local office about volunteering. March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Read a Proclamation acknowledging March 2020 as Women’s History Month – Vice Mayor Martin read the proclamation, which was presented in honor of Ruth Easley, Linda Conover and Mandy McGhee as representatives of the woman who work for the City. March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider two actions needed in regard to the Aaron Mills Apartment project, being (1) adoption of a Resolution approving the donation of property at 201 and 209 Aaron Street and confirming revitalization zone tax incentives; and (2) approval of the Land Bank Authority to donate property at 201 and 209 Aaron Street – City Manager Towarnicki updated Council on the work that’s been done since the last Council meeting to get paperwork and approvals needed for this project. Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the resolution approving the donation of property at 201 and 209 Aaron Street and confirming revitalization zone tax incentives. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Woods made a motion to convene as the Land Bank Authority. Council Member Bowles seconded the motion with the following roll-call vote: Council Member Woods, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; and Council Member Bowles Land Bank Member Bowles made a motion to approve the donation of property at 201 and 209 Aaron Street to Aaron Street Lofts, LLC subject to receipt by the City of a signed deed conveying same property to the Land Bank Authority and contingent upon Aaron Street Lofts LLC receiving an award of Low Income Housing Tax Credits from Virginia Housing and Development Authority. Vice Chairman Martin seconded the motion with the March 10, 2020 Council Meeting following roll-call vote: Land Bank Member Bowles, aye; Vice Chairman Martin, aye; Land Bank Member Woods, aye; Land Bank Member Turner, aye; and Chairman Lawson, aye. Land Bank Member Bowles made a motion to recess as Land Bank Authority and reconvene as City Council. Land Bank Member Turner seconded the motion with all members voting in favor. Business from the Floor – None Comments by Members of City Council – Council Member Woods explained that the last 2 weekends in March, he will be participating in the local presentation Of Mice and Men and invited residents to attend. Woods offered condolences to the family of Dr. Marshall who recently passed away; Marshall was the first physician to admit an African-American patient to Martinsville Hospital. Council Member Bowles shared that New Heights has partnered with Christ Church where they will revitalize the old Christian School at 1425 Spruce Street; they need volunteers to clean and move supplies. Council Member Turner will be attending a funeral at Arlington and will be placing a wreath at the gravesite of Sandy Christman who was instrumental with the Mustangs. Vice Mayor Martin thanked City Attorney Monday who joined him at Virginia Natural Resources Institute in Danville, everyone enjoyed Monday’s presentation on the history of Martinsville. Thank you to Mayor Lawson; this year marks the 100th year of women’s suffrage. Mayor Lawson and other local women will be on a platform at March 10, 2020 Council Meeting Danville Community College March 28. Mayor Lawson asked Council Members to review “If I Were Mayor” 7th grade essays, pick their top two and return to the Clerk of Council. The top three will be picked from those. Each Council Member will contribute $10 each towards a reward. Lawson wished a Happy Birthday to Martinsville resident Midge Huddle who turned 100 years old on March 12. Comments by City Manager – Congratulations to the Chamber of Commerce on another successful Trade Show last week, which was one of the better shows he has attended in a while. Towarnicki reminded Council about the neighborhood tour on Monday March 23 and the Neighborhood meeting at Chatham Heights Church. The budget will presented at the next Council meeting and three work sessions have been scheduled. The intersection at Moss and Market is being reviewed after a pedestrian fatality at the request of that resident’s family. Towarnicki is working with VDOT to come up with a solution. There have been a couple of studies on that intersection related to potential signals, lighting or signage, however this intersection did not meet any criteria in those previous studies. The City is looking at other options for this location. Towarnicki said there are a lot of questions related to the Coronavirus. In the municipal building, there is signage about hand washing and encouraged staff to stay home if they do not feel well. EMS are participating in frequent informational calls with the State on processes to help prevent the spread of the virus. There has been discussion about contingency plans if there is an outbreak and if the City is required to work with a skeleton crew. The City is working closely with the Health Department. 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 9:45pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor