City Council

May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session A budget work session of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, was held on May 10, 2023, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 6:00PM with Mayor LC Jones presiding. Other Council Members present included Vice Mayor Rawls, Council Member Lawson, Council Member Pearson and Council Member Mitchell. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Assistant Finance Director Crystal Ferguson, and Lane Shively of the Garage. School Superintendent Zeb Talley and Travis Clemons, Executive Director of Administrative Services were also present. Mayor Jones opened the meeting. Dr. Zeb Talley and Travis Clemmons shared a PowerPoint with Council detailing Martinsville City Schools mission statement and core values, division goals, revenue, budget requests, etc. Council Member Lawson asked about personnel positions that would not be charged back to ESSR. Clemmons explained how ESSR funds could be used. May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session Amy Rice, DSS Director updated Council on the services they provide and the funding available from federal, state and local funds, being 15.5% matched between Martinsville and Henry County. MHC is #2 in the state for CPS complaints so they have been approved for two additional workers. There is a significant amount of staff turnover in the local office which is a terrible loss of experience. DSS is required to provide child and adult protective services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless if they have adequate staffing or not so they are requesting a Family Services Manager position to assist, manage and provide stability. May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session Compared to seven other agencies’ CPS case-to-worker ratio, MHC DSS has a considerably higher caseload per staff member. Bonnie Covington, Office manager explained that DSS pays the City directly for rent, water, sewer, and telephone totaling over $90,000 last year. MHC DSS is asking for a budget increase of $50,080. Tierra Dillard, Director of the Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center shared details about new hires in 2022 to become fully staffed, although some employees are still in training. This past year, the 911 center answered over 133,000 calls with 73,500 dispatched to emergency services. 31% of those calls were from the City with 69% from the County. Dillard detailed the request for a $7,000 tracking software budget increase. Outside of that, the only increases to the budget were the vendors at 5%. Rick Ward, Director of the Blue Ridge Regional Library Board said the library requests level funding. Leandio Gravely, Program Coordinator shared some of the events and options offered through the library. May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session Vice Mayor Rawls questioned why the Health Department did not submit a request. City Manager Towarnicki explained that it was not unusual to not receive that request, however the City is still contractually obligated to include them in the budget even though their budget has decreased dramatically over the years. City Manager Towarnicki directed Council to the budget book and to the breakdown of the City’s contribution to all outside agencies. May 10, 2023 Budget Work Session Towarnicki directed Council to the meals tax tab in the budget book and explained those line items and how those costs are related to the capital fund. Towarnicki said school debt services are the City obligations that must be paid from the meals tax. Vice Mayor Rawls questioned the General Expense Reduction line which Towarnicki explained. Rawls requested a more detail description of capital requests and the need for specific items, Towarnicki said typically in the past, Council has not gotten involved in the specifics for each individual capital request. Council Member Pearson questioned the software expense and the inspections/property maintenance programs; Towarnicki explained that since the City no longer had an in-house employee capable of writing programs, that some programs have become outdated and new software would be required which would include implementing and maintenance costs. Towarnicki touched on additional capital requests including replacement trucks, an x-ray machine at the front door, the heating/cooling system in the municipal building, etc. Rawls questioned the cost for the employee time-keeping program and inspections department program. Council Member Lawson suggested that the cost of the time-keeping program be allocated to individual departments. Council discussed the ambulance request for EMS. Towarnicki said the City is working hard to sell vehicles when they purchase a new vehicle with good results on GovDeals. Mayor Jones asked about take- home vehicles for the Police Department to save miles on the patrol cars. Pearson asked about a new truck for the refuse department; Towarnicki explained that it would need to be a 4-door and 4-wheel drive to accommodate job duties. Council discussed the option and any incentives for electric vehicles. Rawls said he would like to invite the EDC as a potential outside agency. Pearson questioned CPEG, Martinsville Uptown Association, and Uptown Partnership budget costs. Rawls said across the board, they are looking at a 13-14% pay increase for personnel. Lawson explained that a 5% increase would add $1million to the budget so not having that exact total from the state could affect the budget dramatically. City Manager Towarnicki reminded Council of the next work sessions scheduled next week for May 16 and 17 beginning at 6:00pm an encouraged Council to reach out to him or to Finance with any questions. There being no further questions or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:00pm. _______________________________________ ________________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council LC Jones, Mayor