City Council

February 22, 2022 Council Meeting The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on February 22, 2022 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor Kathy Lawson presiding. Other Council Members present included Danny Turner, Chad Martin, Tammy Pearson and Jennifer Bowles. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Assistant City Manager and City Attorney Eric Monday, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, and Deputy Police Chief Rob Fincher. Mayor Lawson called the meeting to order. Following the Pledge to the American Flag and invocation by Council Member Martin, Lawson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Approve minutes from the January 25, 2022 Council Meeting and the January 27, 2022 Special Session – Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Council Member Turner seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. Read a Proclamation acknowledging March 2022 as Women’s History Month – Council Member Martin read the proclamation. Consider adoption on first reading, Ordinance 2022-1 repealing City disguise and mask restrictions – City Attorney Monday summarized the need to update the ordinance related to disguise and masks. This restriction has been in place since 1971 and there is no longer a need for this in the City Code. Council Member Pearson made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2022- 1 repealing the restrictions on first reading; Vice Mayor Bowles seconded the motion with the following roll call vote: Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Council Member Martin, aye; and Council Member Turner, aye. February 22, 2022 Council Meeting Consider adoption on first reading, Ordinance 2022-2 amending the allowable height of uncut grass – City Attorney Monday explained that the current City code states “applicable growth should be cut to a height of 18 inches. The Property Inspections policy states grass should be no higher than 10 inches. Amending the ordinance would allow those two policies to match. Vice Mayor Bowles made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2022-2 on first reading, amending the allowable height of uncut grass; Council Member Martin seconded the motion. Council discussed property maintenance guidelines and policies. The ordinance was approved on first reading with the following roll call vote: Council Member Pearson, aye; Council Member Martin, aye; Vice Mayor Bowles, aye; Mayor Lawson, aye; and Council Member Turner, aye. February 22, 2022 Council Meeting Consider information related to ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funds the City is receiving and potential use of those funds – City Manager Towarnicki summarized the proposed projects to be addressed using the ARPA funds. The City was approved for $15,463,451 with February 22, 2022 Council Meeting half of the funds received in June 2021 and remaining funds expected to be received in June 2022. Funds must be used by 2024 and specific guidelines that must be followed. Of the $15million awarded, $10million can be used towards lost revenue if the City decides to do so. Towarnicki explained that the totals on the project list are approximate and would vary depending on contractor bids. City Attorney Monday explained that water line repairs typically qualify for grants while other projects on the list do not. Mayor Lawson explained that the City is being proactive and has purchased a camera to inspect sewer lines. Council Member Pearson would like to see the City do surveys and public meetings to get public input on which projects would be most important. She would like to see a process that would gain more public input and more detailed plans along with return investment on the projects. Pearson shared details from other localities Mayor Lawson asked Pearson to share the information she’s researched with Council Members, the City Manger and the City Attorney so they can use that information to move forward. All Council Members agree that the Summit View project needs immediate attention and that the project should move forward to accept bids. Consider a review and possible update to the City’s Strategic Plan – City Manager Towarnicki explained that the Strategic Plan was last updated in 2017. The last time an update was done, work sessions were held with a facilitator. There are several categories that need “freshening up” while others would not need to be updated at this time because of the ongoing reversion process. Towarnicki explained that Council could do a series of evening sessions working on a few sections at a time or they could meet on a weekend and address the entire plan. Mayor Lawson explained that department heads have had the opportunity to update the strategic plan but most have let it fall to the wayside the past few years. Council asked Towarnicki to look into facilitators and the cost involved. Council’s consensus is to do the meetings on weeknights instead of a weekend. February 22, 2022 Council Meeting Consider a proposed schedule for the FY22-23 budget process – City Manager Towarnicki shared the dates for the budget process with the budget being presented to Council on April 26 and final adoption scheduled for May 24. Towarnicki suggested possible dates for the budget work sessions and Council shared their preferences. Consider approval of the 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. Business from the Floor – Council Member Martin shared a letter dated February 21 from residents on Smith Lake Road regarding the condition of the road. The patchwork and potholes are causing hazardous conditions and repairs should be made to avoid accidents or potential fatalities. Vice Mayor Bowles questioned the date of the last paving and felt that it has been paved since the 1980s as the letter states. Public Works is aware, they plan to patch this Spring once the plants open back up along with repaving soon after. Comments by City Council – Council Member Turner invited everyone to a Ribbon Cutting at Uptown Bella Salon at 6pm on Friday. The Lester Group plans to use a recently cleared lot to plant trees and possibly make a walking trail. Vice Mayor Bowles wished residents a happy Black History Month. Today is her Mothers heavenly birthday and her god-daughters 12th birthday. On February 28 in Fayette Square at 11am, there will be an unveiling of the new street banners. Mayor Lawson explains that there is a portal on the website with a list of scholarships for Martinsville students. Lawson thanked Vice Mayor Bowles for her social media posts for recognizing residents and local businesses during Black History month. Vice Mayor Bowles is participating in Dancing with the Stars on March 5 at 4:00pm at Piedmont Arts; since this is a fundraiser, Lawson encouraged residents to vote for their favorite. This past Saturday night, Lawson went to the open house at Uptown Bella Salon. Lawson wishes the owner of Uptown Bella luck in her new business as well as her brother who will be opening a business across the street from the municipal building. Lawson received a complaint regarding no security lighting, overgrown trees and an overabundance of trash at the Liberty Fair Mall. Since they are serving the City, managers of that location should be required to turn those lights and clean up the mess. Comments by the City Manager – Towarnicki is getting calls about high power bills received in February for January services. The electric rates have not been increased since July 2020. The utility bill includes all utilities, not just the electric bill. January was an excessively cold month so the total bill would be higher. The Utility Billing department can work with residents on payment plans and potential grant money. Vice Mayor Bowles asked if there could be a presentation at an upcoming meeting about peak periods, audits, etc. There are resources for residents depending on the circumstances. Mayor Lawson encouraged residents to contact the City Electric Department about payment plans before the bill becomes delinquent. Towarnicki February 22, 2022 Council Meeting encouraged any resident with a bill higher than $500 to contact the City, no single-family home should have a bill that high under normal circumstances. There being no further business, Vice Mayor Bowles made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council Kathy Lawson, Mayor