City Council
Regular MeetingMartinsville, VA · January 11, 2022
Minutes
January 11, 2022 Council Meeting
The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on January
11, 2022 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson
presiding. Other Council Members present included Danny Turner, Chad Martin and Tammy
Pearson. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager and
City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Utilities Director Durwin Joyce, and
Deputy Police Chief Rob Fincher.
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 Council Member Turner, seconded by Council Member Martin
with the following 4-0 recorded vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Council
Member Turner, aye; and Council Member Martin, aye.
City Attorney Monday explained that Vice Mayor Bowles was not feeling well and was unable
to attend the meeting. Monday referenced Virginia Code 2.2-3708.2 which would give Vice Mayor
Bowles the option to participate in the Council meeting by phone. Council Member Pearson
made a motion to allow Bowles to participate telephonically; Council Member Martin seconded
the motion with the following 4-0 roll call vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Turner,
aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; and Council Member Martin, aye.
Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) Appointments to
boards and commissions, as authorized by Subsection 1, and (B) Consultation with legal counsel
and briefings by staff members, attorneys or consultant 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 specifically related to reversion. 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: Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Council Member
Martin, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye.
Council Member Pearson made a motion to reappoint Karen Garrett to the Anchor Group
Home Commission for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2025; Council Member Turner
seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor.
Council Member Martin made a motion to appoint Sharon Shepherd to the Architectural
Review Board for a 3-year term ending March 31, 2025; Council Member Pearson seconded the
motion with all Council Members voting in favor.
Council Member Martin made a motion to appoint Jewell Drewery to the Patrick Henry
Community College Board for an unexpired 4-year term ending June 30, 2023; Council Member
Turner seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor.
January 11, 2022 Council Meeting
Council Member Turner made a motion to reappoint Kris Shrader to the Western Virginia
Emergency Medical Services Council for a 3-year term ending December 31, 2024; Council
Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor.
Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer, Senior
Pastor of First Baptist Church Martinsville, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Approve minutes from the December 14, 2021 Council Meeting – Council Member Pearson
made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Council Member Martin seconded the
motion with all Council Members voting in favor.
Recognize City Employees who are eligible for Service Awards for the period October 1 –
December 31, 2021 – City Manager Towarnicki recognized City employee milestones and
thanked them for their years of dedication to the City.
Hear an update from the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services on their
CarePortal Project – Assistant Director of Services April Evans shared a brief description and a
video on the CarePortal Project and how it works with local churches, organizations and
community members. Evans shared the Live Impact map related to the children assisted by the
CarePortal project throughout the state and the country. The goal is to let families know that
they are not alone and there are support systems for them. Council Member Pearson appreciates
that CarePortal encourages personal support beyond material needs. Evans explained that they
work closely with Grace Network and the Salvation Army to ensure that services are not being
duplicated.
Hear an update from Electric Department Director Durwin Joyce on City Electric Department
operations and projects – Electric Dept. Director Durwin Joyce shared a PowerPoint updating
Council on the Electric Department revenue and expenditures, local rate comparison, outage
causes and duration, and current projects including a new call system. Joyce shared details on
proactive measures to prevent outages but noted that unfortunately, not all outages can be
prevented.
January 11, 2022 Council Meeting
January 11, 2022 Council Meeting
Consider approval of consent agenda – Council Member Turner made a motion to approve
the consent agenda as presented. Council Member Martin seconded the motion with all Council
Members voting in favor.
Business from the Floor – none
Comments by City Council – Council Member Martin shared his condolences to Tamon
Niblett whose father passed away and to the Williams family, Martin’s family on his mother’s
side for the passing of his Uncle Matthew. Council Member Turner thanked Scott Norman and
others who assisted with Richard’s Dinner and those who assisted in putting wreaths on local
veteran graves. Turner received a call requesting an update on the Dick & Willie trail extension.
City Manager Towarnicki said he would look into that. Vice Mayor Bowles thanked Council for
January 11, 2022 Council Meeting
allowing her to participate by phone.
Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki shared that Monday is a holiday
so the City Municipal building and offices will be closed.
There being no further business, 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 8:30pm.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Kathy Lawson, Mayor
Agenda
AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA
Council Chambers – Municipal Building
6:30pm Closed Session 7:00pm Regular Session
Tuesday January 11, 2022
6:30 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.
7:00 pm - Regular Session
Pledge to the American Flag and Invocation by Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer, Senior Pastor of
First Baptist Church, 23 Starling Avenue in Martinsville
1. Approve minutes from the December 14, 2021 Council Meeting. (5 mins)
2. Recognize City Employees who are eligible for Service Awards for the period October 1 –
December 31, 2021. (5 mins)
3. Hear an update from the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services on their
CarePortal Project. (20 mins)
4. Electric Department Director Durwin Joyce will present an update on City Electric
Department operations and projects. (20 mins)
5. Consider approval of consent agenda. (5 mins)
6. Business from the Floor -
The public comment portion of the Council meeting provides citizens the opportunity to discuss matters relevant to the operation of
the City, which are not listed on the printed agenda.
Citizens who wish to participate in a meeting’s public comment period may do so by emailing their comments to Karen Roberts,
Clerk of Council, at kroberts@ci.martinsville.va.us, calling in their 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 12:00noon Monday January 10. Citizens may also request to speak at the Council meeting in the same
manner. Comments, or a request to speak, must be received by noon the day before a Council meeting for consideration by Council
at the meeting.
Any person submitting comments or requesting to speak must identify themselves by name and address, including zip code, limit
their remarks to 3 minutes or less (as read aloud), address a topic of City business, and refrain from making any personal
references or accusations of a factually false and/or malicious nature. Priority for comments is given to City residents, taxpayers,
and business owners. Speakers may not yield time. Groups of speakers on the same topic must designate a single
representative. Comments violating these rules may not be presented at the Council meeting. Any speaker violating these rules
may be removed from the podium or from the Council chamber.
This policy does not apply to public hearings, at which any citizen of Martinsville may appear and speak on the subject of the public
hearing.
7. Comments by members of City Council. (5 minutes)
8. Comments by City Manager and City Attorney. (5 minutes)
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: January 11, 2022
Item No: 1.
Department: Clerk of Council
Issue: Consider approval of minutes
Summary: None
Attachments: December 14, 2021 Council Meeting
Recommendations: Motion to approve minutes as presented.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: January 11, 2022
Item No: 2.
Department: Human Resources
Issue: Recognize City Employees who are eligible for Service Awards for the
period October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021.
Summary: The Service Award Program is designed to build individual morale and
show appreciation to the long-service employee for their faithful service to the City
of Martinsville.
SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
FOURTH QUARTER - FISCAL YEAR 21-22
FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2021
Years of
First Name Last Name Location Desc Service
CHRISTOPHER SIGMAN REFUSE COLLECTION 5
JAYME CLARK POLICE DEPT. 5
JOSHUA LAWSON WASTEWATER PLANT 5
EMILY TONGUE UTILITY BILLING 5
BRIAN MAYS CENTRAL GARAGE 5
DAVID KOGER POLICE DEPT. 5
RODNEY PRITCHETT SHERIFF DEPT. 5
ASHLEY DUNCAN SHERIFF DEPT. 5
WAYNE MOORE WASTEWATER PLANT 10
JAMES HOPKINS FIRE DEPT. 20
Attachment: None
Recommendation: The Mayor will read the list.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: January 11, 2022
Item No: 3.
Department: City Manager
Issue: Hear an update from the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social
Services on their CarePortal Project.
Summary: A representative from the Henry-Martinsville DSS will present
information on their new CarePortal Project and how it will impact the delivery of
needed resources in our community.
Attachments: None
Recommendations: Presented for information purposes – no Council action is
necessary.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Date: January 11, 2022
Item No: 4.
Department: Electric
Issue: Hear an update on City Electric operations.
Summary: Electric Department Director Durwin Joyce will present an update
on City Electric Department operations and projects.
Attachments: Presentation materials
Recommendations: Presented for information purposes. No Council action
needed.
City Council
Agenda Summary
Meeting Date: January 11, 2022
Item No: 5.
Department: Finance
Issue: Consider approval of the consent agenda.
Summary:
The attachment amends the FY22 budget with appropriations in the following
fund:
FY22
General: $ 78,775 – Prior Year Accumulated Funds
Attachments: Consent Agenda – 1-11-2022
Recommendations: Approve
BUDGET ADDITIONS FOR 1/11/2022
ORG OBJECT DESCRIPTION DEBIT CREDIT
FY2022
General Fund
01103938 462101 Contribution from Fund Balance 78,103
01311085 506078 State Asset Foreitures 78,103
Prior Accumulated Funds thru FY20
01103938 462101 Contribution from Fund Balance 672
01311085 506078 State Asset Foreitures 672
Sale of Equipment - GOV Deals
Total General Fund: 78,775 78,775
Get email alerts for Martinsville
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.