City Council

January 12, 2021 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on January 12, 2021 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included Danny Turner, Jennifer Bowles, Tammy Pearson and Chad Martin. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager/City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, 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 Vice Mayor Bowles and seconded by Council Member Martin with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Council Member Martin, 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 Vice Mayor Bowles; seconded by Council Member Martin, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Mayor Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Council Member Martin, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Pearson. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order. Out of Closed Session, Council Member Turner made a motion to appoint DeShanta Hairston to the Planning Commission for a 4-year term ending June 30, 2024. Vice Mayor Bowles seconded the motion with all Council voting in favor. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to reappoint Kathy Lawson to the West Piedmont Planning District Board of Commissioners for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2024. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with four Council Members voting in favor; Mayor Lawson abstained. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Mayor Lawson, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Lawson explained that the meeting would follow COVID guidelines, allowing limited attendance and recognizing social distancing recommendations. Hear an update regarding CARES Act funding the City has received along with relevant COVID-19 issues – Dale Alward, CEO of Sovah Health Martinsville and Dr. Sheranda Gunn- Nolan, Internal Medicine Specialist, were present to update Council on the COVID team at the hospital, new cases and vaccine distribution. Alward shared that there had been an uptick of cases at the hospital. He feels this increase is due to recent holidays and family gatherings. The hospital is in good shape in terms of managing all patients with a separate unit for COVID January 12, 2021 Council Meeting patients and deep cleaning procedures. The hospital has started vaccinations and will be administering those in 3 stages. Those receiving vaccinations do not appear to be experiencing any serious side effects. They are working to put together vaccination sites for when the Health Department releases them to go forward. Dr. Gunn-Nolan updated Council on the vaccine and shared the history and procedure of vaccine storage and distribution. The public fear should be for COVID and not for the vaccine side effects. The vaccine will keep the recipient from forming a reaction to the virus but it does not stop them from contracting it and spreading it to others; wearing masks is still a priority. Antibodies may be present in some people for a little while, but not long term so everyone should receive the vaccine. Antibodies are not solid protection, residents can get COVID more than once. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines work basically the same and both require a series of 2 shots. Martinsville has not thrown away any vaccines like some larger cities. There is no need to premedicate because not everyone has side effects, Gunn-Nolan recommends medication as treatment only if symptoms occur. Alward explained that it would be hard to give a timeline of when the vaccine would be available to the general public but he expects category B to go live in the next few days. Nursing staff at the hospital have been dealing with COVID patients for 10 months and they are exhausted but this vaccine has given them a glimmer of hope. The second strain of COVID is easier to catch and the symptoms appear to be more severe. Residents are waiting at home too long before seeking medical attention for other medical emergencies because they are scared to visit the hospital. All admissions to the hospital get tested for COVID. Rapid tests are being done at commercial pharmacies and should be completed only if the person is exhibiting symptoms; cost depends on the location. Alward encourages residents to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing and please do not delay seeking medical care. Nancy Bell of the Martinsville-Henry County Health Department shared details on a PowerPoint via phone. Bell thanked the hospital for partnering with the Health Department so they can quickly distribute the vaccines. According to the distribution overview, 4million people need to be vaccinated before the general public qualifies. The Health Department focus is on residents 75 years of age and older. Bell explained that updates would be shared on their Facebook page on how to register for vaccinations when their level is due. There is an online complaint form through VDH to report any businesses not following COVID restrictions. Contract tracers are behind on contacting those exposed because of the current surge but they are making contacts every day from 8:00am-8:00pm. There are other elements to the job description besides making calls including arranging lodging for positive cases away from family, meals to families, animals left behind, etc. City Manager Towarnicki shared information provided by Phil Wenkstern of the United Way regarding a food distribution and emergency child care program. Towarnicki shared details about the CARES grant funds, having received about $2.2million and how that was distributed along with details on two other grants received for January 12, 2021 Council Meeting Broadband expansion and utility assistance. Towarnicki shared details on how residents can get wireless connection within the city. Bowles asked Towarnicki to get a number on how many utility accounts are still delinquent. A donation of 10,000 masks and sanitizer bottles are being distributed throughout the lower income areas of Martinsville. The City is working with Social Services, the Senior Center, the courts and several churches. He’s expecting more masks and sanitizers to be delivered soon. Mayor Lawson suggested drive-thru distribution at the fire dept. January 12, 2021 Council Meeting Hear an update from Lisa Watkins of the M-HC Chamber of Commerce regarding activities related to the City/C-PEG Small Business Development contract – Lisa Watkins shared updates on Chamber activities and economic development. Watkins commended her staff and their work with the Chamber. Social media is vital when it comes to promoting information. Watkins shared details about the farmers market and the effects of COVID on how that was handled in 2020, including online ordering and food bank donations. SNAP transactions almost tripled this past year. The farmers market hosted 42 vendors this year which was an all-time high along with 10k customers. Watkins touched on the annual tree lighting event which coincided with Holidays at the Market. The chamber was awarded a DHCD affiliate grant. Watkins shared information on Merry and Bright coupons. Watkins said it was the community efforts which made it possible to open and expand during a pandemic; Eight new businesses opened and two businesses were able to expand. The Chamber awarded 2 small business grants to Martinsville Glass and Southern Virginia Properties. Watkins highlighted Startup/Grow MHC program, stating that they have a large waiting list for the 2021 course. The Incubator is 99% occupied. Retail development activity has continued with six active prospects, four of which are food and beverage related. The business concept survey got 283 January 12, 2021 Council Meeting responses which gave them an overview of what residents are looking for. Watkins also shared details on small business funding assistance. They have reached out to over 400 business by phone since March, assisting 120 businesses with funding so far. January 12, 2021 Council Meeting January 12, 2021 Council Meeting Approve minutes from the November 10, 2020, December 8, 2020 and January 4, 2021 Council Meetings – Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the November 10 and December 8, 2020 minutes as presented. Council Member Martin seconded the motion with four Council Members voting in favor. Pearson did not vote since she was not in office at that time. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes for January 4, 2021 as presented. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider setting public hearings for Council’s January 26 and March 9, 2021 meetings regarding a Community Development Block Grant application for the Pine Hall Road area – Community Development Director Mark McCaskill said he hopes the third time is the charm for applying for this grant. Staff will organize neighborhood meetings, possibly by teleconference to accommodate COVID protocol. The grant application is due March 26. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to set the public hearings for January 26 and March 9. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider approval of consent agenda – Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. January 12, 2021 Council Meeting Business from the Floor – none Comments by City Council – Council Member Pearson reference the Martinsville Bulletin article dated January 3 regarding unanswered questions about reversion. Pearson asked at the next City Council meeting that they talk about the next steps to reversion; she wants to keep the citizens updated on what’s going on. She asked for an update from Commissioner of Revenue Ruth Easley regarding tax implications from reversion. Council Member Turner asked if Easley could discuss those issues with Council in a closed session first. Pearson thanked Mike Scaffidi for doing a tremendous job with MiNET, ensuring that the students in Martinsville are able to receive the virtual learning they need. She would like to know more about the antennas and where MiNET stands on getting all students enabled. Pearson thanked the City residents and Council Members for giving her the opportunity to serve. Vice Mayor Bowles hopes everyone had a great Christmas and New Year’s holiday and wished everyone a happy Martin Luther King, JR day. Congratulations Katie Adkins, employee of Bassett High School for being chosen to serve on the state-level Advisory Committee of Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Education Practices. Council Member Turner expressed concern about the local post office sending letters to specific areas giving notice that they want mailboxes installed and will be halting front-door delivery. He has contacted Congressman Griffith and the City Police Department. He feels that this is a cost savings step for the post office and not fair to some of the residents. Turner offered condolences to the family of Freddie Martin. Council Member Martin shared that the show American Pickers will be in Caswell County soon and are looking January 12, 2021 Council Meeting for large rare collections, he encouraged Martinsville residents to participate. Martin will partner with Averett University and others on January 17 from 3:00-430pm for MLK day. Comments by the City Manager – Towarnicki pointed out that there is a new big chair uptown and emphasized that no city tax payer money was put towards that; it was all handled thru the EDC and Department of Tourism. There being no further business, Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Martin with all Council Members voting in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:46pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor