City Council

January 3, 2023 An organizational meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on January 3, 2023 at 9:00am in City Council Chambers with Interim Circuit Court Clerk Jeanie Nunn, presiding. Council Members present included: Tammy Pearson, Aaron Rawls, Kathy Lawson and LC Jones. Council Member Chad Martin was not in attendance. Staff included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Public Information Officer Kendall Davis and Sheriff Steve Draper. Interim Circuit Court Clerk Nunn called the meeting to order and welcomed Rev. Matthew Brown, Pastor of St. Paul High Street Baptist Church in Martinsville who delivered the invocation. Nunn issued the oath of office to newly-elected Council Members LC Jones and Aaron Rawls. Nunn called for nominations for Mayor. Council Member Pearson nominated Council Member Jones for the position of Mayor; Council Member Lawson seconded the motion and moved that the nomination be closed. Council Member Rawls seconded the motion. Nunn stated that nominations are closed and there is one uncontested nomination for Mayor. Nunn asked City Council move that the candidate be elected by affirmation; Pearson made the motion with Lawson seconding. By show of hands and with a 4-0 vote, all present Council Members voted in favor. Nunn declared LC Jones as the new Mayor of the City of Martinsville and issued the oath of office. Interim Circuit Court Clerk Nunn then turned the meeting over to Mayor Jones who asked for nominations for Vice Mayor. Council Member Pearson nominated Council Member Rawls for the position of Vice Mayor; Council Member Lawson seconded the motion and moved that the nomination be closed. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion. Jones stated that nominations are closed and asked that City Council move that candidate be elected by affirmation; With a 4-0 vote, all present Council Members voted in favor. Jones declared Rawls as the new Vice Mayor of the City of Martinsville. Nunn issued the oath of office. Council Member Lawson expressed the desire to continue the current meeting schedule twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday beginning at 7:00pm. All Council Members were in agreement. Mayor Jones then invited remarks from Council Members. Council Member Pearson said she is excited for the new year. She notes that change can be difficult but with honorable intentions, commitment to excellence, fortitude and consistent impact, and feedback from the citizens, she feels that change will be positive. Pearson said that she is excited and proud to be part of City Council and by working together, they can make the City shine. Pearson thanked the voters for the opportunity to serve them on City Council. January 3, 2023 Council Member Lawson says they have the opportunity every two years to start with new beginnings. Lawson is pleased that LC Jones is the new Mayor and she looks forward to working with him and with Vice Mayor Rawls to move forward with positivity and grow on things that have been established in the past. Vice Mayor Rawls said he is excited and he and Mayor Jones have basically been working a fulltime job since the election on November 8. Thank you to those who want to participate in the future of Martinsville and have already reached out. Rawls encourages others who want to play a part in Martinsville’s success to reach out to him as well. Mayor Jones thanked God for carrying him through tough times allowing him to be where he is today. Jones thanked his mother, family, friends, coworkers and Martinsville students. He stands with the citizens today and is humbled and honored by the trust bestowed on him. He appreciates his fellow Council Members who have paved the way for them to be sitting here today. He knows it’s not realistic for Council members to agree on everything but he hopes that they can all agree on a more prosperous, vibrant and successful Martinsville City. City Manager Towarnicki appreciates Jones and Rawls serving on Council. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember they are all on the same team. There is a lot of great things going on in Martinsville and he feels confident that they can all work together to continue to move the City forward. Towarnicki explained that in the past, he has met weekly with the Mayor and Vice Mayor to discuss issues throughout the City so he will need to get with Jones and Rawls to set up a schedule convenient for them. Congratulations to Mayor Jones and Vice Mayor Rawls and he looks forward to working with everyone. There being no further business to come before Council during their organizational meeting, Interim Clerk of Court Jeanie Nunn requested a motion to adjourn. Mayor Jones made the motion to adjourn; Council Member Pearson seconded the motion. Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 9:15am. _______________________________ __________________________ Karen Roberts L. C. Jones Clerk of Council Mayor