City Council
Regular MeetingMartinsville, VA · June 23, 2020
Minutes
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on June
23, 2020 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:30 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson
presiding. Other Council Members present included Jim Woods, Danny Turner, Jennifer
Bowles and Chad Martin. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant
City Manager/City Attorney Eric Monday, Finance Director Linda Conover, Assistant Finance
Director Mandy McGhee, Community Development Director Mark McCaskill and Deputy Police
Chief Rob Fincher.
Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed
Session beginning at 5:45 PM. In accordance with section 2.1-344 (A) Code of Virginia (1950,
and as amended) and upon a motion by Council Member Woods and seconded by Council
Member Turner with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member
Turner, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye. Council Member Bowles
arrives for closed session at 6:45pm. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the
following matters: (A) Appointments to boards and commissions, as authorized by Subsection
1, (B) Discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds,
including interviews 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 (C)
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 Council Member Woods, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to
Open Session: Mayor Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye;
Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Woods.
Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order.
Out of Closed Session, Vice Mayor Martin made a motion to appoint Jacovia Hairston to
the Planning Commission for a 4-year term ending June 30, 2024. Council Member Woods
seconded the motion with all Council voting in favor.
Council Member Bowles made a motion to reappoint Donna Dillard to the School Board for
a 3-year term ending June 30, 2023. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all
Council voting in favor.
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
Council Member Woods made a motion to appoint Tony Jones to the School Board for a 3-
year term ending June 30, 2023. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council
voting in favor.
Council Member Bowles made a motion to appoint Wayne Draper to the Board of Appeals
for a 5-year term ending June 23, 2025. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all
Council voting in favor. There was no additional action taken in Closed Session.
Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Vice Mayor Martin, Lawson
welcomed everyone to the meeting. Lawson explained that the meeting would follow COVID
guidelines, allowing Council Members plus ten others in attendance and recognizing social
distancing recommendations.
Approve minutes for the May 26, 2020 Council Meeting, May 27, 2020 Work Session, June
2, 2020 Work Session and the June 4, 2020 Work Session – Council Member Bowles
requested a change to the June 4 minutes. Council Member Woods made a motion to approve
the minutes as amended. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all Council
Members voting in favor.
Hear an update on Martinsville Mustangs Baseball – City Manager Towarnicki shared that
the Martinsville Mustangs would begin their season soon under COVID restrictions. Greg
Suire, Managing Partner of the Mustangs was in attendance to share details on the opening
and the steps taken to protect the fans and to make the field look even better than before.
Martinsville will be the first City in the state to host a college or minor league baseball game
with 28 home games on the schedule this season. Every player has to test negative for
COVID. Every morning their temperature is taken when arriving at the park for practice. The
old clubhouse has been remodeled to separate players, only allowing a minimum amount of
players in at a given time to allow social distancing. There will be two entrances and two exits
to allow social distancing for fans attending. Martinsville tripled host families in the past year.
The season will be longer lasting until August 16.
Hear a presentation from the Police Department regarding their 2019 Annual Report –
Police Chief Eddie Cassady and Lieutenant Sandy Hines presented the Annual Report.
Investigative Secretary and Crime Analyst Hannah Boyd was also in attendance. Cassady said
he could not thank the men and women who work for him enough and he is thankful for the
relationship his department has with the City residents.
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
Consider approval on second reading Ordinance 2020-2 establishing a local tax exemption
for real estate owned by Theater Works Community Players, Inc. – City Attorney Monday
explained the need for the ordinance. Monday explained that Council Member Woods is on the
Theater Works but is not compensated so therefore would not present a conflict of interest.
Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading. Council
Member Woods seconded the motion with the following roll call vote: Lawson, aye; Martin,
aye; Bowles, aye; Turner, aye; and Woods, aye.
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
Consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2020-U-3 on second reading – City Manager
Towarnicki briefly summarized the budget presented and changes made for FY20-21. Turner
asked that the electric rate increase not go into effect until August 31 and at that time, anyone
delinquent would have a year to get caught up. Turner does not want to see mass shut-offs.
Towarnicki confirmed there has been discussion on extending the cut-offs for 2 months until
September and payment plans are being offered to customers. He also noted that delaying the
rate adjustment would require changes to the electric budget since that would affect revenue
coming in. A motion was made by Council member Bowles, seconded by Council member
Woods to approve Budget Ordinance 2020-U-3 as presented. Council member Turner offered
a substitute motion to delay the electric rate increase until September 1, but that motion died
due to lack of a second. Roll call vote: Lawson, aye; Martin, aye; Bowles, aye; Turner, nay;
and Woods, aye. The budget ordinance was approved 4-1.
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
Consider approval of ordinance concerning Uptown refuse collection – City Attorney
Monday corrected the ordinance number, which should be Ordinance 2020-3. The issue of
uptown trash collection has been an issue for a number of years with businesses setting out
their trash the night before or the Friday for Monday pickup. Sometimes trash is not properly
bagged or scattered due to animals or weather. This ordinance will be enforced if Council
passes it as a Class 1 misdemeanor but could significantly improve the appearance in uptown
Martinsville. There would be a first offense warning. Council Member Woods made a motion to
adopt the ordinance. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with the following roll call vote:
Lawson, aye; Martin, aye; Bowles, aye; Turner, aye; and Woods, aye.
June 23, 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. Council Members asked questions about the COVID Care
funding.
June 23, 2020 Council Meeting
Business from the Floor – No comments from the public received
Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner asked if some of the COVID Care
funds could be used to benefit the Martinsville Mustangs. Vice Mayor Martin encouraged
residents to complete the census. Council Member Woods is looking forward to the opening of
Hooker Field and the Mustangs season. Theater Works will offer another live stream on July 2
with an online piano bar presentation. Council Member Bowles that the Healthy Food Hub
feasibility study will be held June 25 from 5:30-6:30 to collect resident opinions and share
options on a healthy food center on the west end. Mayor Lawson expressed congratulations to
Hannah Boyd in the Police Department for her certification. Saturday is Hazardous Waste
Day from 7am-10am.
Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki discussed the Cares funding,
sharing information on the committee that was organized to review the applications every
Tuesday. Of the 36 applications so far, financial assistance awards have been given to 21
small businesses totaling $69,494. The application can be accessed through the City website.
The City is in the process of applying for a new grant for a sewer project. It has been
discovered that there is another interceptor line at Jones Creek area that will need
approximately $3.75million in repairs, the grant could cover up to 80% of those repairs. The
City has received two proposals for the BB&T building.
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 9:15pm.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson
Clerk of Council Mayor
Agenda
AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL -- CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA
Council Chambers – Municipal Building
5:45pm Closed Session 7:30pm Regular Session
Tuesday June 23, 2020
5:45 pm - Closed Session
Items to be considered in Closed Session, in accordance with the Code of Virginia, Title 2.2,
Chapter 37—Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3711(A)—Closed Meetings, the
following:
A. Appointments to boards and commissions, as authorized by Subsection 1.
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.
7:30 pm - Regular Session
Pledge to the American Flag and Invocation by Vice Mayor Martin
1. Approve minutes for the May 26, 2020 Council Meeting, May 27, 2020 Work Session,
June 2, 2020 Work Session and the June 4, 2020 Work Session (5 mins)
2. Hear an update on Martinsville Mustangs Baseball. (15 mins)
3. Hear a presentation from the Police Department regarding their 2019 Annual Report.
(15 mins)
4. Consider approval on second reading Ordinance 2020-2 establishing a local tax
exemption for real estate owned by Theater Works Community Players, Inc.. (10 mins)
5. Consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2020-U-3 on second reading. (10 mins)
6. Consider approval of ordinance concerning Uptown refuse collection. (10 mins)
7. Consider approval of consent agenda (2 mins)
8. Business from the Floor - CANCELLED
As a result of COVID-19 issues, business from the floor will not occur at City Council meetings until further notice. Citizens
desiring to present comments for Council’s consideration may do so by emailing the comments to Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council
at kroberts@ci.martinsville.va.us, calling in the comments to 276-403-5182, faxing comments to 276-403-5280, or mailing
comments to City of Martinsville, attn.: Karen Roberts, P.O. Drawer 1112, Martinsville, VA 24114. Comments must be received by
noon, May 26 for consideration by Council at this meeting.
9. Comments by members of City Council. (5 minutes)
10. Comments by City Manager and City Attorney. (5 minutes)
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Item No: 1.
Department: Clerk of Council
Issue: Consider approval of minutes
Summary: None
Attachments: May 26, 2020 Council Meeting
May 27, 2020 Work Session
June 2, 2020 Work Session
June 4, 2020 Work Session
Recommendations: Motion to approve minutes as presented.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Item No: 2.
Department: City Manager
Issue: Hear an update on Martinsville Mustangs Baseball.
Summary: Information will be presented regarding the upcoming 2020
Coastal Plain League baseball season and how the Covid 19 pandemic is causing
changes to both scheduling and operations. The City’s management partner for
operation of the Martinsville Mustangs for the 2020 season, Mr. Greg Suire, is
planning on attending the meeting and providing the update.
Attachment: None
Recommendation: No action needed – presented for information purposes.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Date: June 23, 2020
Item No:
Department: Police
Issue: Hear a presentation from the Police Department regarding their
2019 Annual Report.
Summary: The Police Department has compiled information regarding
departmental activities for calendar year 2019 into an annual report format
and will present the information at the June 23 Council meeting.
Attachments: None. Information will be presented at the meeting.
Recommendations: This item is being presented for Council and public
information purposes. No Council action is required.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Item No: 4.
Department: City Attorney, Commissioner of the Revenue
Issue: Consider approval on second reading Ordinance 2020-2 establishing
a local tax exemption for real estate owned by Theater Works Community Players,
Inc.
Summary: Council approved a BPOL and personal property exemption
for Theaterworks in 2012. They have since acquired real estate, and now seek
exemption for that as well: Theater Works Community Players, Inc., holding real
estate at 44 Franklin Street, with a total current assessed value of $143,200; real
property taxes thereon are $1,520.93. Council conducted a public hearing at the
June 9 meeting and hearing no opposition to the request, voted to approve
Ordinance 2020-2 on first reading.
Attachments: Exemption Ordinance 2020-2.
Recommendation: Consider approval on second reading by roll call vote.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Ordinance 2020-2
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in regular session held on
June 23, 2020 and pursuant to Section 58.1-3651 of the Code of Virginia, that Section 21-12,
specifically subsection (k)(2), of the City Code be amended as follows:
________________________________________________________ _____ ________________ _
(k) Taxation exemption for Theatre Works Community Players. After convening a duly
advertised public hearing and considering the factors set forth in Code of Virginia §
58.1-3651(B), the city council of Martinsville, Virginia hereby ordains the following:
1. Theatre Works Community Players, a nonprofit organization, is hereby classified
and designated as a cultural organization within the context of Section 6(a)(6) of
Article X of the Constitution of Virginia.
2. BPOL Gross revenue, together with real and personal property owned by Theatre
Works Community Players, and used exclusively for cultural purposes on a
nonprofit basis, as set forth in subsection (1) of this section, is hereby determined
to be exempt from local BPOL, real and personal property taxation.
3. Continuance of the exemption shall be contingent on the continued use of the
property in accordance with the purpose for which the organization is classified or
designated.
********
Attest:
________________________________
Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: June 23, 2020
Item No: 5.
Department: City Council
Issue: Consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2020-U-3 on second
reading.
Summary: The City’s proposed FY21 Budget was presented to Council at
the May 26, 2020 meeting. Work sessions were held on Wednesday, May 27th
with Schools and outside agency discussion; Tuesday, June 2nd with Social
Services, several City departments, the Sheriff, and capital discussion; and
Thursday, June 4 to cover questions from prior work sessions.
Council conducted a public hearing at their last meeting on June 9th and after
discussion, voted (4 – 1) to approve Budget Ordinance 2020-U-3 on first reading.
Attachments: Ordinance 2020 –U-3, outlining fund details of the proposed
City’s FY20-21 Budget.
Recommendations: Approve on second reading (roll call vote), subject to
changes or modifications Council desires to make.
Ordinance 2020-U-3
The Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in regular session assembled June
23, 2020, that the following sums of money be and hereby are appropriated — by specific Fund — for the
City's fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, from the following Fund sources of estimated revenue:
______________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF BUDGET ESTIMATES
2020-2021
PROJECTED BUDGETED CHANGES
FUND
FUND REVENUES EXPENDITURES BALANCE
General $31,051,819 $32,658,074 ($1,606,255)
Meals Tax $2,081,930 $2,081,930 $0
Capital Reserve $500,488 $501,095 ($607)
Refuse $2,266,600 $4,328,401 ($2,061,801)
Telecommunications $2,295,365 $2,255,311 $40,054
Water $4,091,165 $3,420,389 $670,776
Sewer $4,604,012 $5,241,248 ($637,236)
Electric $20,132,524 $21,150,059 ($1,017,535)
Cafeteria* $1,627,447 $1,714,660 ($87,213)
School Operating* $21,866,116 $21,866,116 $0
CDBG $22,666 $1,436 $21,230
TOTALS: $90,540,132 $95,218,719 ($4,678,587)
*Provided by School Personnel
Tax Rates (unchanged):
Real Estate: $1.0621 per $100 assessed value
Personal Property: $2.30 per $100 assessed value
Machinery & Tools: $1.85 per $100 assessed value
Proposed for Water:
Increase in monthly bill of $1.50
Proposed for Electric:
Increase in PCA of 2.5%
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by said Council that this Ordinance shall be effective on and after July 1,
2020.
*********
Attest:
________________________________
Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council
City Council
Agenda Summary
Date: June 23, 2020
Item No: 6.
Department: City Attorney
Issue: Consider adoption of Ordinance 2020-1 concerning Uptown refuse
collection.
Summary: For years, there has been an issue with Uptown business
owners putting out trash the evening before, or sometimes, the Friday before, the
Uptown trash collection—which occurs daily, M-F. The City sends the truck
around mid-morning, which would allow business owners to put trash out the
morning of—but in a few persistent cases, this simply is not happening. We
receive many complaints from the majority of business owners who do comply,
and from citizens, that the bags obstruct the sidewalks, look terrible—often over
the entire weekend, and sometimes get ripped open and the contents scattered.
The attached draft ordinance reflects comments and suggestions from uptown
businesses and residents. The proposed 9:30 a.m. cut-off for placement is the
latest the City could realistically set, to ensure same-day collection.
Violation of any refuse ordinances is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Attachments: Draft Ordinance 2020-1, enacting § 18-18.1.
Recommended Action: Adopt on first reading, roll-call vote.
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-1
COLLECTION OF REFUSE IN UPTOWN
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in Regular Session held
on June 23, 2020 that Section 18-18.1 of the City Code is hereby enacted, to read as follows:
______________________________________________________________________________
Sec. 18-18.1. – Collection of refuse in Uptown.
In the Uptown Martinsville Historic District, refuse shall be placed on the curb for collection
no earlier than 5:00 a.m., and no later than 9:30 a.m., on any designated day of collection. No
refuse shall be placed on the curb between the hours of 9:30 a.m. of any Friday and 5:00 a.m.
of any Monday, nor shall it placed on the curb during any holiday designated by the City on
which refuse collection has been suspended.
Charter reference— Authority of city to collect and dispose of garbage and other waste, Ch. 1, § 2(19).
*********
Attest:
________________________________
Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: July 23, 2020
Item No: 7.
Department: Finance
Issue: Consider approval of the consent agenda
Summary:
Item #1:
The attachment amends the FY20 budget with appropriations in the following
fund:
General: $ 41,382 – Grants; Forfeited Assets
Item #2:
The attachment appropriates CARES Act funds received in the following funds:
General: $ 27,342 – Replacement of lost revenue for Ambulance Services
CARES: $1,095,288 – CARES Act funds from Federal Government
Attachments: Consent Agenda – 6-23-20; Consent Agenda – 6-23-20 CARES
Recommendations: Approve.
BUDGET ADDITIONS FOR 6/23/20
ORG OBJECT DESCRIPTION DEBIT CREDIT
BUDGET ADDITIONS
FY2020
General Fund:
01101918 443407 State Grants ‐ DHCD Daycare Assessment 31,500
01913250 503140 General Expense ‐ Eng & Arch 31,500
DHCD grant ‐ Daycare needs/site evaluation
01101917 442401 Categorical Other State ‐ Confiscated Assets ‐ PD 749
01101917 442402 Categorical Other State ‐ Confiscated Assets ‐ CA 173
01311085 506078 Police Dept ‐ State Asset Forfeitures 749
01221082 506105 Commonwealth's Atty ‐ State Asset Forfeitures 173
Forfeited assets from Commonwealth
01102926 405555 Brownfields Grant ‐ EPA 9,410
01812247 503136 Brownfields ‐ Hazardous ‐ Consultant 7,384
01812249 503136 Brownfields ‐ Petroleum ‐ Consultant 2,026
Requisition #5
Total General Fund: 41,832 41,832
BUDGET ADDITIONS FOR 6/23/20
ORG OBJECT DESCRIPTION DEBIT CREDIT
BUDGET ADDITIONS
FY2020
General Fund:
01102926 442305 Categorical/Federal ‐ CARES Act fund (EMS) 27,342
01322105 506146 Emergency Med Services ‐ CARES Act supplement 27,342
Replacement of lost revenue ‐ ambulance services
Total General Fund: 27,342 27,342
CARES ACT Fund:
17102926 442305 Categorical/Federal ‐ CARES Act Funds 1,095,288
17913250 506146 General Expense ‐ CARES Act Funds 845,288
17812242 503600 Community Dev ‐ Small Business Grants 250,000
CARES Act funds received from Federal Government
Total CARES Act Fund 1,095,288 1,095,288
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