City Council

January 25, 2022 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on January 25, 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 Jennifer Bowles. Council Member Pearson participated by phone. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager and City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Community Development Director Mark McCaskill, Finance Director Mandy McGhee and Deputy Police Chief Rob Fincher. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order and advised that Council would not have Closed Session as originally posted on the agenda. City Attorney Monday explained that Council Member Pearson was unable to attend the meeting. Monday referenced Virginia Code 2.2-3708.2 which would give Pearson the option to participate in the Council meeting by phone. Council Member Turner made a motion to allow Pearson to participate telephonically; Vice Mayor Bowles seconded the motion with the following 4-0 roll call vote: Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Turner, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; and Council Member Martin, aye. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Mayor Lawson, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Approve minutes from the January 11, 2022 Council Meeting – Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Council Member Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Read a Proclamation acknowledging February 2022 as Black History Month – Vice Mayor Bowles read the proclamation which was presented to Naomi Hodge-Muse, President of the local NAACP. Hodge-Muse expressed her appreciation. Hear information on a project to update and expand the Martinsville Historic District - Community Development Director Mark McCaskill introduced Kayla Halberg, Project Manager for Commonwealth Preservation Group. Halberg presented a PowerPoint updating Council on the history of the company including projects in the Martinsville area. Mike Pulice, Western Region Architectural Historian and Caitlyn Sylvester, Grant Project Coordinator participated by Zoom and continued with the PowerPoint related to ESHPF Disaster Assistance Grants for Historic Resources, Historic District update/boundary increase project background, Martinsville Historic District Boundary Increase Map, examples of resources, the survey and analysis work schedule. Pulice continued to share information on community benefits, economic benefits and personal benefits. Pulice explained the historic resources survey and what would be included outside of buildings and homes. Halberg explained that they will begin surveying tomorrow. Council Member Turner asked that Oakwood Cemetery be considered as a potential survey site. City Attorney Monday explained that the City Engineering Department has mapped the entire City and flagged specific properties that could qualify for the survey. Pulice said while tomorrow’s survey would be of preselected locations, he would be happy to meet with Turner to look at Oakwood Cemetery and that there are January 25, 2022 Council Meeting several “pots of money” that they would be happy to work with the City on procuring additional funds. January 25, 2022 Council Meeting January 25, 2022 Council Meeting January 25, 2022 Council Meeting Hear a presentation of a recent needs assessment study for eviction in Henry County and Martinsville – Phil Wenkstern, Executive Director of the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville participated by Zoom, sharing a PowerPoint on the eviction prevention needs assessment for Martinsville and Henry County. Wenkstern was joined by Cali Slepin of National Housing Trust who thanked community members for engaging with them during the project study. Slepin explained the study process and shared the findings of the study and how those were determined. Challenges were identified, processed and recommended approaches were identified including systems, community and programs change solutions. January 25, 2022 Council Meeting Wenkstern detailed the next steps related to a grant from DHCD implemented and provided to United Way and how those funds would be used. (61 page PowerPoint is on file) Hear an update on operations of the Blue Ridge Regional Library – Rick Ward, Director of Blue Ridge Regional Library presented a PowerPoint updating Council on the library during the pandemic. Staff provided PPE kits to visitors of the library. Ward detailed virtual library projects, curbside pick-up programs, summer reading program with prizes, the summer feeding program, a drive-thru trunk-or-treat program, Holiday Cheer drive-thru food giveaway, curbside concierge. Ward shared that Oculus Quest 2 systems are coming soon to provide virtual reality experiences. The library hopes to provide their staff a 5% raise in the next budget year. The library has been open normal hours since June 2021. Ward introduced Board Chairperson Betsy Haskins, Board Member Margaret Caldwell and Martinsville Branch Manager Tammy Cope. Caldwell explained that there are 10,000 visits per month and the library staff are deserving of a raise which they have not received in some time. Caldwell explained that local libraries were established to be supported by localities, not the state. Council Member Martin asked if ARPA money could go towards funding the library. Martin thanked the library staff for providing for the community. Ward shared information about the Blue Ridge Regional Library Foundation. January 25, 2022 Council Meeting Consider approval of the quarterly finance report – Finance Director Mandy McGhee summarized the finance report. Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the finance report as presented; Council Member Martin seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Consider adoption on first reading, Ordinance No. 2022-U- 1 authorizing contested reversion - City Attorney Monday detailed the need for the ordinance which was prepared by the City’s reversion attorney. This ordinance is another step to activate a 3-judge panel and January 25, 2022 Council Meeting proceed with the contested reversion. The City worked closely with Henry County for 18 months in good faith on reversion negotiations until the County voted against the Voluntary Settlement Agreement. It’s the City’s position that all matters related to the County’s breach of obligation will become part of the hearing once assigned to the 3-judge panel. This ordinance is a statutory requirement for Council to ask the Supreme Court of Virginia to appoint the 3-judge panel. Council Member Turner made the motion to adopt the ordinance on first reading. Vice Mayor Bowles seconded the motion. Council Member Martin asked about the amount of money invested on the studies and in negotiations with the County; would the City be able to reclaim that money back? The City will file with the arbitrator requesting the City be awarded all funds expended since the County agreed to begin reversion negotiations from September 2020 to December 2021. The County is lobbying to change the legislative structure that governs reversion which is also a violation of the VSA that they signed. It would be the City’s position that any funds the City is currently having to expend to fight that effort in the General Assembly is also recoverable. Council Member Pearson asked if the Ordinance required a public hearing; Monday verified that it does not. Turner said that it is obvious that the County has participated in stall tactics to get to the General Assembly session to the point that they are trying to interfere in City Council elections. There was a 4-1 roll call vote: Council Member Turner, aye; Council Member Pearson, nay; Council Member Martin, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; and Mayor Lawson, aye. Monday explained that there will be a special meeting held on Thursday January 27, 2022 to vote on the second reading of the ordinance. January 25, 2022 Council Meeting Business from the Floor – none Comments by City Council – Council Member Martin wants to let citizens know that Council Members are human beings and are paid less than staff at fast food restaurants. Martinsville City Council Members get complaint calls at 2:00am regarding missed trash and get called out January 25, 2022 Council Meeting on Facebook. Martin asked residents to reach out to Council with concerns but to have some respect. Council Member Turner pointed out that the Lester Group has cleared property and leveled that area to replant and create a more aesthetically pleasing location. Vice Mayor Bowles agreed with Martin’s statement. She loves to hear from residents but please don’t yell at her or be rude. Bowles asked residents to support Piedmont Arts and to come watch her participate in Dancing with the Arts. The Public Works department does an excellent job especially during inclement weather. There will be COVID testing at the Armory Wednesday from 1230-4:00pm, free for the first 100 people, first come first serve. Bowles thanked Council for allowing her to participate by phone at the previous meeting. Mayor Lawson recognized City Attorney Monday who was inducted to the Virginia Law Foundation Fellowship. The Virginia Law Foundation Fellowship program recognizes the top 1% of lawyers practicing in Virginia. Lawson zoomed with 7th graders at Martinsville Middle School and stated that the kids asked some tough questions for about 2 hours as a preface for writing the If I Were Mayor essays. Lawson thanked the Public Works and Electric departments, they have had their hands full the past 3 weeks with the weather. Some mailboxes were damaged but Public Works has a list and those are being repaired. Lawson reminded Council to turn in their Statement of Economic Interest forms due by February 1. Comments by the City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki recognized the Public Works department which has a number of new employees, and stated they did a great job working around the clock. Towarnicki explained that there is also a COVID issue in the department so they worked short staff. Turner asked for an update of the Dick and Willie trail at the last meeting; Towarnicki explained tentative plans for that project are scheduled for February or March. Temperatures are colder and utility bills are higher; he reminds citizens that the Utility Billing department is willing to work on a payment plan but residents must call to arrange that before the bill is past due. Towarnicki welcomed Kendall Davis who will be serving as the new Public Information Officer. There being no further business, Turner made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:50pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Kathy Lawson, Mayor