City Council

June 8, 2021 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on June 8, 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, 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 6:00 PM. In accordance with section 2.1-344 (A) Code of Virginia (1950, and as amended) and upon a motion by Vice Mayor Bowles, seconded by Council Member Pearson with the following 5-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Martin, aye; Council Member Pearson 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, (B) Discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interest of the governmental unit would be adversely affected, as authorized by Subsection 6, 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 meeting. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Bowles; seconded by Council Member Pearson, with the following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Mayor Lawson, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Martin, aye and Council Member Pearson, aye. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to appoint Katina Dalton to the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority for a 4-year term ending October 31, 2024. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Council Member Martin made a motion to reappoint Mary Rives Brown to the Architectural Review Board for a 3-year term ending March 31, 2024. Council Member Pearson second the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. No other action was taken out of Closed Session. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Pearson, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mayor Lawson explained that the meeting would follow COVID guidelines, allowing limited attendance and recognizing social distancing recommendations. Approve minutes from the May 25, 2021 Council Meeting, and the May 26 Joint Work Sessions – Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. June 8, 2021 Council Meeting Conduct a public hearing for the purpose of receiving names of citizens interested in appointments for two 3-year terms ending June 30, 2024 on the Martinsville City School Board – City Manager Towarnicki explained the need for the public hearing, stating that there are two terms that will be available on the School Board. Only those citizens whose names mentioned at the meeting can be considered for those positions. Mayor Lawson shared Yvonne Givens name. Vice Mayor Bowles named Jay Dickens, Michael Williamson, and L.C. Jones as interested parties. No other names were mentioned. Hear an update from Uptown Partnership – Kathy Deacon, newly appointed Executive Director of Uptown Partnership, President Natalie Hodge and former Interim Director Jeff Sadler provided information and updates on Uptown Partnership and how they are assisting new and existing businesses in uptown Martinsville. June 8, 2021 Council Meeting June 8, 2021 Council Meeting Consider approval of Budget Ordinance 2021-U-1 on second reading – City Manager Towarnicki provided a quick summary of the steps leading up to the final reading. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading; Council Member Turner seconded the motion with the following roll call: Martin, aye; Pearson, aye; Turner, aye; Bowles, aye; and Lawson, aye. Mayor Lawson requested a footnote be documented that in the school budget under the capital improvement list, there are five items under the Food Services June 8, 2021 Council Meeting category that the school system could purchase immediately from their cafeteria funds. Consider approval of an ordinance authorizing amendments to water and sewer revenue bond regarding financing for the Beaver Creek Reservoir Dam repair project – City Manger Towarnicki reminded Council that they had approved funding for repairs at the Reservoir last July up to $2.5million in bonds. Nearing the end of the project, it was discovered that additional repairs are needed and in order to fund those repairs, amendments to the original documents and additional paperwork is required. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the ordinance; Council Member Martin seconded the motion with the following roll call vote: – Lawson, aye; Bowles, aye; Martin, aye; Pearson, aye; and Turner, aye. June 8, 2021 Council Meeting Consider setting a public hearing for Council’s June 22, 2021 meeting regarding proposed amendments to certain sections of the City’s Comprehensive Plan – Community Development Director Mark McCaskill explained that the public hearing and proposed amendments are June 8, 2021 Council Meeting necessary to remain eligible for VDOT funding such as Smart Scale. Also, the State Code requires Council look at the Comprehensive Plan every five years. Council Member Turner made a motion to set the public hearing for June 22, 2021; Vice Mayor Bowles seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Mayor Lawson and City Manager Towarnicki explained that documents were in Council’s Drobox for review. Business from the Floor - None Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner said July 4 is always a special day; he would like to celebrate July 4th with an event in Uptown Martinsville to honor local veterans. Council Member Pearson said Uptown Partnership is a great opportunity for Martinsville business owners. This Sunday is Father’s Day and she wished a Happy Father’s Day to the fathers, grandfathers and those men who step into the roll of father. Vice Mayor Bowles recommends residents research June-teeth and celebrate. Mayor Lawson commented about the informational insert in last month’s utility bill, stating that the information can also be found on the City’s website and Facebook page. Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki stated that Friday June 18th is a state holiday and City Hall will be closed. The City has several vacancies on Boards and Commissions, he encourages residents to review those vacancies and information on the City website and apply. 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 8:05pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts Kathy Lawson Clerk of Council Mayor