City Council

September 8, 2020 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on September 8, 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, and Police Captain Chad Rhoads. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 7:00PM. In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Title 2.2, Chapter 37 Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3711 (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: Council Member Bowles, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) appointments to boards and commissions, as authorized by Subsection 1. 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 Woods seconded by Council Member Bowles, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Woods, aye. Mayor Lawson stated that no action was taken out of Closed Session. Council Member Turner made a motion to appoint Mack Evans to the Planning Commission for a 4-year term ending June 30, 2024; Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council members voting in favor. Council Member Bowles made a motion to appoint Lisa Watkins to the Planning Commission for a 4-year term ending June 30, 2024; Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council members voting in favor. Council Member Bowles made a motion to appoint Stephanie Tucker to the Comprehensive Services Act Community Policy and Management Team as the Primary Private Provider; Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council members voting in favor. Vice Mayor Martin made a motion to appoint Jean Odachowski to the Comprehensive Services Act Community Policy and Management Team as the Alternate Private Provider; Council Member Woods seconded the motion with all Council members voting in favor. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Bowles, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Lawson explained that the meeting would follow COVID guidelines and recognizing social distancing recommendations. September 8, 2020 Hear an update from West Piedmont Workforce Development Board – Natalie Hodge was in attendance on behalf of Tyler Freeman, Executive Director. Hodge explained the WPWDB covers Martinsville, Henry County, Danville, Pittsylvania County and Patrick County and detailed various ways the WPWDB assists residents in those areas. Hodge shared hiring and personnel changes within the agency. Since July, 2019 the Martinsville Center has served more than 15,000 customers. A large portion of those customers came to them during the pandemic. Hodge shared the training funding outline for 2020-21 as well as available programs for adults, dislocated workers, and out-of-school and in-school youth. September 8, 2020 Hear an update from Martinsville-Henry County Family YMCA regarding the City/YMCA contract for services related to City parks and recreation programs – Executive Director Brad Kinkema updated Council on the youth football, basketball and baseball programs as well as adult volleyball and slow-pitch teams. They are looking at other potential programs like frisbee golf. The YMCA has received PPP funding and funding towards childcare, however memberships are down 40%. Hear an update from Southside Survivor Response Center – Executive Director Shawan Barr thanked the Mayor for inviting her to update Council. SSRC provides emergency services with a 24/7 contact line and emergency shelter and housing. They offer community-based advocate services providing furniture, clothes, and utility payment assistance, and they work across the region to build collaborative relationships. Barr shared details about a proposed response center in the near future and provided contact information for residents needing assistance. They have seen an increase in homeless members and an increase in residents subjected to violence since the pandemic began. Consider approval of a 5-year extension to the transfer station contract between the City and First Piedmont Corporation – City Manager Towarnicki explained the need for the contract renewal approval. The City Landfill closed in 2005 at which time the City entered a contract with First Piedmont for the construction and operation of the transfer station. The first 10- year contract has ended and the second 5-year renewal is almost over, requiring approval for the next 5-year extension. Each year there is an adjustment to the tipping fee and with this next renewal there will be a cap on the tipping fee increase that will save the City around $150,000 over the 5-year period. The transfer station property at the landfill is leased to First Piedmont and the City receives a host fee per ton of waste brought into the landfill. Council Member Woods made a motion to approve the extension; Vice Martin seconded the motion with all Council voting in favor. Business from the Floor – City Manager Towarnicki read from a letter from a resident on Forrest Street who expressed concerns on how the utility bills and disconnects are being handled. He works hard to pay his bills and he feels that it’s unfair for others to ignore their utility responsibilities. He feels it is unfair that those are the people who are getting the September 8, 2020 assistance instead of residents like himself who are living check-to-check and he questions if those unpaid utilities will ultimately cause his bill to increase in the future. Vice Mayor Martin and Council Member Bowles said they had residents reach out to them with the same concerns. Towarnicki details how residents can set up a payment plan and how that can qualify them for additional financial assistance through Social Services. Mayor Lawson shared a property maintenance concern within the City. The resident questioned if there were any City ordinances on rental properties. This resident’s mother is elderly and cannot sit on her porch because of the stench coming from the adjoining property. There is trash in the back yard and scattered at the road. Lawson turned this information over to Mark Price in Inspections who followed up with the property owners. City Attorney Monday explained that there are nuisance ordinances and rental property ordinances that may be enforced in this situation to address the trash in the backyard. Mayor Lawson encourages residents to report property maintenance concerns without fear of retaliation. Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner said Wood Brothers Racing was very appreciative of recognition provided by Council. Turner has found two more World War II veterans in the City who will be honored in upcoming events. Council Member Bowles recognized two former classmates who had passes away and asked residents to keep the families in their prayers. Bowles received a call about a house on Roundabout Road which needs attention from the Property Maintenance department. Vice Mayor Martin shared that the New College Institute has a new program connected to Amazon; it’s a 12-week program from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday where residents can receive AWS certification and employment assistance. The program is free. September is the last month for the Census, Martin encourages residents to complete the census to help the City. Only 64% of City residents have completed the survey. Mayor Lawson reminded residents that it is illegal to blow grass clippings into the street, it is a danger to motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians but also clogs up the storm drains. The Mustangs are doing well and will play again this coming weekend. Yesterday was Labor Day and the flags were out in the City. Flags will also be out on the 11th for Patriot’s Day and the 15th for Constitution Day. Lawson thanked Turner, Martin and Woods for helping take the flags down. Comments by the City Manager and City Attorney – City Manager Towarnicki reminded residents that in addition to grass, it is illegal to blow leaves into the street. Leah Manning of West Piedmont Planning District Commission has retired; she has been of great assistance to the City and he wishes her the best in her future endeavors. September 8, 2020 There being no further business, Council Member Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Turner with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor