City Council

July 25, 2023 Council Meeting A meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia was held on July 25, 2023 in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 7:00 PM with Mayor LC Jones presiding. Other Council Members present included Kathy Lawson, Aaron Rawls, Lawrence Mitchell and Tammy Pearson. Staff present included City Manager Leon Towarnicki, Interim City Manager Glen Adams, Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Paul Jacobson, Attorney for Sands Anderson participating by phone, Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Public Information Officer Kendall Davis, Fire Chief Dan Howell and Deputy Police Chief Chad Rhoads. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and advised Council would go into Closed Session beginning at 3:30 PM. In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Title 2.2 Chapter 37, Freedom of Information Act and upon a motion by Council Member Lawson and seconded by Vice Mayor Rawls with the following 4-0 recorded vote: Vice Mayor Rawls, aye; Council Member Pearson, aye; Mayor Jones, aye; and Council Member Lawson, aye. Council Member Mitchell joined the Closed meeting a few minutes later. Council convened in Closed Session to discuss the following matters: (A) Appointment to Boards and Commissions, as authorized by Subsection 1, (B) Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Subsection 3, and (C) Discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interest of the City of Martinsville would be adversely affected, as authorized by Subsection 6. 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 Council Member Lawson and seconded by Vice Mayor Rawls with the following recorded 5-0 vote: Mayor Jones, aye; Vice Mayor Rawls, aye; Council Member Lawson, aye; Council Member Mitchell, aye; and Council Member Pearson, aye. Discussion was held related to ARPA funds as authorized by Subsection 6 and will be detailed later in the meeting. No other action was taken out of closed session. Pledge to the flag and invocation were led by Council Member Pearson. Mayor Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that agendas could be found in the back of the room and on the City website. Approve minutes from July 11, 2023 Joint Meeting and the July 11, 2023 Council Meeting – Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Council Member Pearson seconded the motion with all Members voting in favor. Consider recognizing retiring City Manager Leon Towarnicki for his service to the staff and citizens of Martinsville – Council Member Lawson read the proclamation which was presented to Towarnicki along with a key to the city. Towarnicki thanked Council and others at the City and shared that he was recognized at the Henry County meeting earlier today. During his career July 25, 2023 Council Meeting at the City, he has been honored to work with outstanding staff and Council Members. It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Martinsville. Former Vice Mayor Chad Martin said Towarnicki is the best (and only) City Manager he’s ever worked for. Martin said he grew to love that Towarnicki would not just answer his questions, but he would provide him history and a better understanding. Towarnicki is the epitome of cooler heads will prevail. Former Mayor Gene Teague shared that he had to talk Towarnicki into applying for the City Manager position back in 2012, he’s a “get it done” guy. Towarnicki rarely took vacation and he is well respected by City employees, County officials and across the state. He’s solution oriented and even keeled, focused and wise. Knowing Leon, retirement is not the end of a career but the beginning of something new. Former Mayor Danny Turner said it was a pleasure to work with Towarnicki over the years. Turner thanked Towarnicki for his years as a public servant. Former Vice Mayor Jennifer Bowles said that Towarnicki’s retirement is bittersweet. His actions will leave a legacy on the City that will shine on for years to come. Bowles thanked Towarnicki for his upmost respect for her as a young Vice Mayor from the beginning. He’s always considered the needs of the most vulnerable among us. Council Member Mitchell congratulated Towarnicki on his retirement. Council Member Lawson shared how she met Towarnicki years ago and how comfortable he made her. He is a true leader and will be terribly missed. Council Member Pearson approached Towarnicki often with questions and requested tons of information and she appreciates that he was willing to work with her and provide her the information she needed in a timely manner. Even in the most dramatic moments, Towarnicki was even keeled and she feels he is a good roll model for the youth of Martinsville. Vice Mayor Rawls said it’s typically uncommon to call the City Manager’s office and reach the City Manager personally on the first ring but that’s never been the case with Towarnicki. Rawls says he is impressed how Towarnicki has tolerated him; he has gained more respect for Towarnicki than any other professional over the past few months. Towarnicki’s dedication to the City is inspiring to the max and he is happy that the City can rely on him to help with current projects going forward. Mayor Jones said Towarnicki and how he handles day-to-day business was inspiring. Towarnicki thanked Council again and shared funny stories of events with Teague and Turner. He thanked everyone for the kind remarks and said that it’s been a true honor to work with the staff and Council and to serve the residents of the City. Kendall Davis, Public Information Officer shared a short video of Leon’s history. July 25, 2023 Council Meeting Conduct a public hearing for the sale of property located at 605 4 th Street, formerly known as the Martinsville Housing Office, to Piedmont Community Services – Postponed to a future meeting Hear an update from the Emergency Housing and Community Support Commission and Recommendations for Warming Shelter Locations – Barbara Seymour, Chairperson of the committee thanked the commission members for their work over the past several months and provided details on the formation and purpose of the commission, stakeholders involved, priorities and timeline, locations excluded from the list, grant proposal information, statistics on people served and information that will be brought back to Council in the future related to the warmer shelter plan. Vice Mayor Rawls provided feedback about Council considering a funding match and he feels it would be a good idea to reach out to the County also to make this a regional enterprise. Rawls would want some criteria added for the warming center. The Police Department experiences the brunt and they are the frontline to helping the homeless which July 25, 2023 Council Meeting takes away from their responsibilities in other parts of the City. Rawls said if someone has a warrant, they can find a warm bed in jail and not in a warming center. Seymour said they need to figure out where people are coming from to successfully move forward with a plan. Council Member Lawson said rules should be in place where as there weren’t any rules before. Consider a Resolution regarding Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority – City Manager Towarnicki summarized the need for the resolution and some history of the Smith River Sports Complex. The shortfall for the Sports Complex to remain sustainable would be around $225-$250,000 with 2/3 County and 1/3 City contributions. By unanimous vote by SVRFA, the park would be run under Henry County Parks and Recreation. Towarnicki feels that is the best option to dissolve the authority and transfer it to the County. Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the resolution; Vice Mayor Rawls seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. July 25, 2023 Council Meeting Hear information related to the City’s Industrial Development Authority – Interim City Manager Glen Adams explained the EDA (Economic Development Authority) and the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) and stated that there is not much difference. The City already has an IDA but board members would need to be appointed. Vice Mayor Rawls encouraged residents to apply for the IDA Board through the City Website then a staff member will reach out to them and request a resume. Council Member Lawson said the verbiage on the form will be revised to reflect that a resume is needed. July 25, 2023 Council Meeting July 25, 2023 Council Meeting July 25, 2023 Council Meeting July 25, 2023 Council Meeting Consider options for use of remaining unspent and uncommitted funds the City received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – Interim City Manager Glen Adams said there are still available funds through ARPA and detailed Councils recommendations for the use of those funds as discussed during closed session. Rawls elaborated on the options of funding for housing and would like to see growth to the housing pipeline. In addition to City owned properties, there are several City owned lots that can be built on. Council Member Lawson made a motion to allocate $300,00 to MiNET, $150,000 to the Comprehensive Plan, $70,000 towards the Branding Campaign, and $200,00 to Housing using ARPA funds. Pearson seconded the motion with all Council Members voting in favor. July 25, 2023 Council Meeting Consider approval of the consent agenda – Council Member Lawson made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented; Vice Mayor Rawls seconded the motion with all Members voting in favor. Business from the Floor – Rico Johnson, owner of Kornna Kitchen plans to bring his existing restaurant from the County to uptown Martinsville. He doesn’t officially have a spot yet but he is excited to open within the City with Council’s support. Patrick Wright of 1201 Spruce Street said he hopes residents can write companies and businesses to bring more lime sherbet to the area. Jennifer Bowles thanked Council for fixing the tree and the hole on her road. Bowles said around the 400 block on Forest Street, there are cones in the road and residents are questioning when that project will be completed. Around the 900 block of Askin Street, there are overgrown trees and shrubbery that need attention and trash on the road. There is a vacant lot at the 900 block also that needs attention. Bowles again requested a written response from Council Members responding to her email from May 21. Tom Sawyer, 1010 B Street spoke on behalf of the warming center, he thanks Council and the Commission for the work they are putting in towards the warming center. He and Arial look forward to working with Council and are designing a pamphlet for those who visit the center. Rawls commends Sawyer on the amount of time they put into the shelter. Comments by members of City Council – Council Member Mitchell commended the Police Department, especially on their bike patrol officers. Council Member Lawson advised citizens that there will be no Zero Sales Tax holiday because of a faux-pa from the general assembly. She’s received appreciation from residents related to the work that has been done by Public Works. She received a thank you from a gentleman on Armstead for the guardrail that has helped deter 4-wheelers. Some Council Members had the opportunity to attend a very productive meeting along with the Chamber, CPEG and others; with some of the issues experienced in the past, it appears the air of animosity has passed and she sees the willingness for those organizations to work closer together. On Thursday, the flags will be out Uptown for National Korean War Armistice Day. Council Member Pearson thanked the Public Works and the Electric Department teams for being so responsive and their quick reaction to concerns. Uptown partnership, CPEG and the Chamber have shared a positive, unified front for the community and she encourages residents to research what being a “Main Street Community” means. Vice July 25, 2023 Council Meeting Mayor Rawls said he received kudos for Interim City Manager Adams and he thanked Adams for his interest in the City. Rawls thanked the Electric Department and their quick response to outages. Rawls gave a special shout out to the Lester Group and said he would love to see a partnership with them. Mayor Jones reiterated Council’s comments and thanked the City crews. There are several Back to School events on August 5 along with a basketball and dodgeball game with first responders and Martinsville alumni to collect supplies for the students. On August 9, the Refuse Temple on Clearview will offer a Step Up 2023 program where school age students can get haircuts, have their nails done and receive school supplies. On August 12, the Head of State organization will host a car show at the Smith River Sports Complex where students can receive school supplies. Comments by City Manager – City Manager Towarnicki said last Monday, the team from Site Collaborative was in town and toured the City parks. They sent a schedule and are looking to set community meetings in late August or early September and will complete their physical assessments with a return to Council later this fall with their findings. The Commissioner of Revenue reported on July 19 that the office issued the 10,000th business license for the City to retired Clerk of Court Ashby Pritchett. Towarnicki welcomed Interim City Manager Glen Adams and wished him well. Kendall Davis shared details about City Night at Hooker Field with City Manager Towarnicki throwing out the first pitch. The Mustangs game will start at 7:00pm with entertainment and music beginning at 5:00pm. There being no further business, Council Member Lawson made a motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:20pm. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council LC Jones, Mayor