City Council

November 10, 2020 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on November 10, 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, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Linda Conover, Assistant Finance Director Mandy McGhee, 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 Woods and seconded by Council Member Bowles with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: A. 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 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 Closed Session. 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: Mayor Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Woods. No action was taken out of the Closed Session Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Vice Mayor Martin, Mayor Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. She explained that the meeting would follow COVID guidelines and recognized social distancing recommendations. Addendum - Hear information related to a possible redevelopment project at the City- owned building located at 62 Fayette Street - City Manager Towarnicki updated Council on the history of the building and introduced them to potential investors that are considering the building for a craft brewery location. Jason Alley and Michelle Jones detailed their plans for the location with the possibility of opening a restaurant and brewery. They shared information on their history with similar businesses in other locations. Vice Mayor Martin thanked them for considering the area and keeping the history alive. Council Member Bowles supports the November 10, 2020 Council Meeting project and is excited to see it come to fruition. Council Member Woods made a motion to recess as Council and convene as the Martinsville Redevelopment & Housing Authority. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Housing Authority Member Bowles made the motion to execute a letter of intent granting Jones Alley Consulting an exclusive 120-day due diligence period, after which a lease-purchase agreement will be developed for consideration/approval by MRHA. Housing Authority Vice Chairman Martin seconded the motion with all members voting in favor. Housing Authority Member Woods made a motion to recess the Martinsville Redevelopment & Housing Authority and reconvene as City Council. Authority Member Bowles seconded the motion with all members voting in favor. Approve minutes for the October 27, 2020 Meeting – Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider adoption on second reading an Ordinance allowing law enforcement to discharge firearms to kill coyotes – City Attorney Monday recapped the information from the previous meeting, stating that numerous residents have heard and seen coyotes within the City. Police Chief Cassady said that they were in the process of writing the policy, stating that the action taken will be on a case-to-case basis with safety as the priority. Council Member Woods made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading, Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with the following roll call vote: Council Member Woods, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye and Council Member Turner, aye. November 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider adoption on first reading, Ordinance 2020-6, adding Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court to Section 1-16 of the City Code regarding charging courthouse security fees – City Attorney Monday reminded Council that they previously approved these fees for the other two courts, but the J&DR court was not included nor have they been for years. Council Member Bowles made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading, Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with the following roll call vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Bowles, aye; Council Member Woods, aye; Vice Mayor Martin, aye and Council Member Turner, aye. November 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider information related to the 2021 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) list – Community Development Director Mark McCaskill explained that this copy is like a first reading, offering Council the opportunity to discuss and make changes to the list that will be voted on in December. The primary purpose of the list is to have a general list of project ideas in case of available grants or funding. Mayor Lawson asked Council to review and anything that needs to be added or adjusted, to please email McCaskill so that the list can be updated prior to the next meeting. November 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider information related to the City’s proposed 2021 Legislative Agenda – City Attorney Monday explained that there is no action required at tonight’s meeting. Staff makes no recommendations for changes or deletions but he asks Council if they have any changes to please let him know. He also noted that now is the time for citizens to offer suggestions for this list, and also by contacting Delegate Les Adams or Senator Bill Stanley, both are whom are very responsive to their constituents. Council will approve the list at the next meeting. Turner suggested that Council ask the General Assembly to make a Charter change to remove the provision for selling a utility that requires a referendum with only people who own property November 10, 2020 Council Meeting being allowed to vote. Monday explained that the Charter provision did not restrict voting to only those who own property but requires a super majority of voters in which a majority of property owners vote. Turner stated that he didn’t feel that it was fair, referencing the Jim Crow laws that were put into place to limit poor people. No one seconded Councilman Turner’s request but Council Member Bowles requested further discussion and consideration. Bowles said resource officers do an excellent job and she would like to add to the Legislative Agenda that the City supports keeping the funding for those resource officers. Vice Mayor Martin seconded Bowles request. November 10, 2020 Council Meeting Consider remaining Council meeting dates in calendar 2020 – City Manager Towarnicki explained that in 2019, Council opted to cancel the meeting during the week of Thanksgiving. Looking ahead, there are only 2 items on future Council agendas that are time sensitive the CEDS list and Legislative Agenda. Council will meet again on December 8 and could make final decisions on those time sensitive items. Council Member Bowles suggested canceling out of respect to City staff if there is no pressing business with all Council members in consensus that the meeting would be cancelled but could be called if necessary. Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Woods made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Vice Mayor Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. November 10, 2020 Council Meeting Business from the Floor – No requests for comment were received Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner reminded residents that tomorrow is Veterans Day. The City will honor two local veterans at Druid Hills School beginning at 11:00am; he will be joined by Mayor Lawson, Senator Stanley and Congressman Griffith. BTW will broadcast LIVE since there is a 15-person limit at this event. Other events have been cancelled due to forecasted heavy rains. Vice Mayor Martin congratulated Tammy Pearson on her win for City Council. Council Member Bowles congratulated Mayor Lawson and Vice Mayor Martin on their reelection and Pearson on her win; Bowles looks forward to working with them all. Bowles said it takes courage to step up for your community and she’s learned a lot from Council Member Woods since he joined Council. Bowles said that it has been an honor and pleasure to have worked with Woods and he is a wonderful role-model for local youth. Mayor Lawson extend appreciation to the Registrar and election officials on their long hours and diligence during the recent election. Christmas Cheer is accepting applications through Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Lawson said that there will be a Christmas parade but it will be a drive thru and a little different this year; Lawson called it a “reverse” event to be held on December 4 along with the City tree lighting. Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki reminded Council and residents that Veteran’s Day is a holiday so municipal building will be closed. He shared details on utility cutoffs; 2 weeks ago, there were 30 disconnects, 233 new payment arrangements, and 225 DSS customers claiming $88,000 in funding. This past week there have been 34 disconnects, 258 customers have applied for DSS funding claiming $100,068 in assistance to help with utility bills. There are still numerous delinquent accounts but the list is gradually coming down. The Chief Tassell building project is underway and interior demolition has begun. The City has partnered with Nationwide Homes on a housing project; through a half- November 10, 2020 Council Meeting million-dollar housing grant, there will be townhomes and multifamily units built on Church Street. These units will be in the $120-$140,000 price range. This new project allows the City to use vacant property and it allows a $4 million new residential investment which also contributes additional revenue in utilities and taxes. This project also allows Nationwide Homes to showcase their products. Grading and utilities will begin on this project next week. They hope to set 5 homes in that area by the end of 2020. There will be a ground-breaking event set for November 18. The Aaron Street project is moving forward; a demolition contract has been executed and will begin the week after Thanksgiving. Landmark is still discussing the option to begin their housing project once demolition is complete. The auditors will be here December 8 for their annual audit presentation; Council will meet with them prior to the Council meeting with questions. Kris Bridges shared details of the 702 Mulberry home which was listed on the demolition list; the contractor has been working diligently on that property and it’s becoming a stunning location. They now have a certificate of occupancy and the property has been sold. City Attorney Monday explained that at the last session of the General Assembly, they created a Commission of 23 people around the state to plan commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Monday was offered a position on the commission and has accepted this 7-year long commitment to serve. He noted “the Revolution was more than white guys in wigs, it involved women and African Americans.” Several years ago Monday proposal a bill to Senator Stanley to change the laws to recognize every single revolutionary war veteran in Virginia, including native American, African-Americans, and females. The bill became law and Virginia is the only state in the Union that recognizes the graves of all patriots. Monday is the only person south of Richmond and west of Tidewater to be appointed to the Commission. 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 8:40pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor