City Council
Regular MeetingMartinsville, VA · March 20, 2024
Minutes
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
A Work Session and Briefing to discuss Consent Agenda Items and Quarterly Updates was
held at 5:00 pm on March 20, 2024, in Room 208 Conference Room, Municipal Building. Mayor
Jones, Vice Mayor Rawls, Council Member Lawson, Council Member Pearson, Council Member
Mitchell, City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Chief Operating Officer Edena Reese-Atmore,
Clerk of Council Karen Roberts, Finance Director Mandy McGhee, Assistant Finance Director
Crystal Ferguson, Public Information Officer Kendall Davis, Fire Chief Dan Howell, Utilities
Director Durwin Joyce, and Police Chief Rob Fincher were in attendance.
Discussion was held regarding the City Attorney Executive Search Services being offered by
The Berkley Group.
Fire Chief Dan Howell presented a PowerPoint presentation with updates on the Fire
Department.
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
Utilities Director Durwin Joyce presented a PowerPoint presentation with updates on the
Electric Department.
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
City Council Executive Session began at 6:00 PM. In accordance with the Code of Virginia,
Title 2.2 Chapter 37, Freedom of Information Act to discuss the following: (A) 2.2-3711.A.3:
Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose or 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, concerning amending the former
BB&T Building contract. 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; seconded by Council Member Pearson with the
following 5-0 recorded vote in favor to return to Open Session: Rawls, aye; Lawson, aye; Jones,
aye; Mitchell, aye; and Pearson, aye.
Council Member Lawson made a motion to recess as City Council and convene as the
Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Vice Mayor Rawls seconded the motion with
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
all Council Members voting in favor. Housing Authority Member Lawson made a motion to
approve a Resolution approving the addendum to the amended contract of sale for JRS Realty
Partners, LLC. Housing Authority Member Pearson seconded the motion with the following roll
call vote: Housing Authority Member Mitchell, aye; Housing Authority Member Pearson, aye;
Housing Authority Chair Jones, aye; Housing Authority Vice Chair Rawls, aye; and Housing
Authority Lawson, aye. Lawson made a motion to adjourn as the Housing Authority and
reconvene as City Council. Pearson seconded the motion with all voting in favor.
Call to Order – Mayor Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting, pointing out that agendas
could be found in the back of the room and on the City’s website.
Pledge to the American Flag – Council Member Kathy Lawson led the pledge to the flag;
Shasta Carmichael offered invocation.
Proclamations and Presentations – Council Member Pearson read the Proclamation for
National Library Week and presented it to Margaret Cardwell of the Blue Ridge Regional Library.
Cardwell invited the public to visit one of the five regional libraries and the bookmobile. Cardwell
shared the importance of increased funding for the library with the next city budget.
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
Regular agenda or new business: Council Member Lawson made the motion to approve the
Work Order for the City Attorney Executive Search; Council Member Pearson seconded the
motion, and all Council Members voted in favor.
Budget Workshop Initial Revenue Estimates – City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides spoke
about the Budget Revenue outlook for 2024-25 and shared a PowerPoint detailing the budget
calendar, revenue projection approach, budget outlook, challenges facing the economy, Dr.
Bailey’s key considerations for organizations, an overview of the City Manager’s observations, a
general fund revenue multi-year summary, and general fund budget – revenue.
Communications from Visitors / Business from the Floor – Mike Scaffidi, representative of
the local AMVETs and Retired Army and Vietnam Veteran Carl Wright, provided information on
the services that AMVETS provides to the community. AMVETs would like to inform the City
Council of their desire to acquire the National Armory property to combine all local AMVETS
branches in a single location and allow members to service veterans and their families in various
ways. They have the support of other veteran organizations; the AMVETS is the top contributor
to veterans in the state. Wright said it's obvious that the City Council and the City Manager do
not want AMVETS to have the armory for some reason. Anthony Bryant, 716 Windsor Lane and
Retired Sergeant of the Army, spoke, sharing that veterans are a different breed, and they serve
a lifelong connection with fellow veterans. He found Post 35 and, after a single visit, signed up
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
as a lifetime member. Bryant asked if Council was aware of any services in Martinsville or Henry
County that provided services to veterans before tonight. Only 5% of Veterans in the area are a
member of AMVETS; they are lost and not getting the benefits they deserve, and most do not
realize the services available. Bryant shared some of the services that the local veterans provide
and organizations that they’ve supported. Many of the local organizations do not have post
homes and meet at other businesses like Wright’s Funeral Home. With the support of the city
and county, the armory could become a great asset to the AMVETS, local veterans, and their
families. Doug Coates, Mt Olivette Road, was a solder and now a disabled vet. He gave Council
Members each a $1 bill; Council bought the armory for $1, and the veterans fought for their
freedom with their blood. Coates asked Council to take a moment to consider that. Sam Phillips,
Retired Army for 30 years. Thank you for allowing the AMVETS to speak. The armory is
accessible to staff and for office spaces. Shawn O’Leary, an AMVETS rider, shared that 22
soldiers commit suicide on a daily average. Having a place for them to go and talk to others who
have experienced what they have is vital in saving lives. David Niblett, 77 Warren Road, Bassett,
a Navy veteran, said his wife worked in DC for the Veterans Administration, and she brought
home stories of how veterans were treated; they have no place to go to talk and no services to
receive treatments. The word needs to get out there about veteran suicides, and a place needs
to be made available for those in need.
Ural Harris, 217 Stuart Street, stated that Vice Mayor Rawls said the 5:00 meeting would
be televised, but it was not; Harris asked that it be fixed for the next meeting.
Mayor Jones thanked the veterans for attending and expressing their needs; it was
educational and humbling for him, and he thanked them for sharing that information. There is
an outreach VA program to help communities put together assistance, trade programs, and job
skills. Jones commits that if veterans are willing to work with him, the armory will be short-
sighted and serve its purpose, but he feels that the veterans deserve better, and he will search
for a place even in the county to support those veterans. Continue to communicate with the
council so that a plan can be put into place.
Comments by Members of City Council – Council Member Mitchell thanked the veterans for
attending. A year ago, Alberta Wilson was honored for her 100th birthday; she passed away last
week, so Mitchell offered condolences to her family. Council Member Pearson thanked the
veterans for attending and sharing information; no words can express her gratitude for their
service. Council Member Lawson echoed the mayor’s words; she understands what the veterans
have spoken about, and she looks forward to moving forward and working with AMVETS.
Hazardous Waste Day is April 13 at the PSA warehouse in Bassett; this is a free service for
Martinsville and Henry County citizens. Vice Mayor Rawls let the veterans know that the armory
includes a gym and 10 offices and needs a lot of work on the heating and air system. Rawls
hopes to work with the county to identify locations that could be better for the AMVETS. Mayor
Jones shared details about a budget survey for residents to complete online regarding the budget
March 20, 2024 Council Meeting
process and a big opportunity for citizens to get involved. Police Chief Fincher is looking for new
officers for the department and highlighted recruiting steps to find new officers from various
backgrounds; that’s what makes a good department, Jones said being a police officer is the best
job he's ever had, and no experience is necessary to apply. The Fire Department is hiring also.
Communications – City Manager Ferrall-Benavides attended a play in Apex on the history
of Apex and it spoke highly of Martinsville history through the Baldwin Family. The Mayor of
Apex suggested a sister neighborhood relationship with Martinsville. Ferrell-Benavides thanked
the veterans for attending; because there is a current RFP process, it is important that she works
with the City Attorney’s so that they don’t do anything to go against those processes. It is
important to work towards a solution.
Adjournment – Council Member Mitchell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:00pm
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Karen Roberts, Clerk of Council LC Jones, Mayor
Agenda
AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA
Council Chambers – Municipal Building
5:00pm Work Session 6:00pm Executive Session 7:00pm Regular Session
Wednesday March 20, 2024
5:00 pm – WORK SESSION / BRIEFING
1. Discuss Consent Agenda Items
A. City Attorney Executive Search Services
2. Briefings and Presentations
A. City Revenue Update
B. Quarterly Department Updates:
A. Fire Department
B. Electric Department
6:00 pm – EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. 2.2-3711.A.3: Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public
purpose or 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,
concerning amending the former BB&T Building contract located at One Ellsworth.
7:00 pm - Regular Session
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge to the American Flag - Council Member Kathy Lawson
3. Invocation – Council Member Kathy Lawson
4. Proclamations and Presentations
A. National Library Week Proclamation
5. Consent Agenda
A. Minutes
B. Items Previously Discussed
1. City Attorney Executive Search Services
2. BB&T Contract Amendment
6. Budget Workshop Initial Revenue Estimates
7. Communications from Visitors / Business from the Floor
The public comment portion of the Council meeting provides citizens with the opportunity to discuss matters
relevant to the operation of the City, which are not listed on the printed agenda. Citizens who wish to
participate in a meeting’s public comment period may do so by emailing their comments to Karen Roberts,
Clerk of Council, at kroberts@ci.martinsville.va.us, calling in their comments to 276-403-5182, faxing
comments to 276-403-5280, or mailing comments to the City of Martinsville, attn.: Karen Roberts, P.O.
Drawer 1112, Martinsville, VA 24114. Comments must be received by 12:00noon March 19, 2024. Citizens
may also request to speak at the Council meeting in the same manner. Comments, or a request to speak,
must be received by noon the day before a Council meeting for consideration by Council at the meeting. Any
person submitting comments or requesting to speak must identify themselves by name and address, including
zip code, limit their remarks to 3 minutes or less (as read aloud), address a topic of City business, and refrain
from making any personal references or accusations of a factually false and/or malicious nature. Priority for
comments AGENDA--CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA Council Chambers – Municipal
Building 5:00pm Work Session 7:00pm Regular Session DATE is given to City residents, taxpayers, and
business owners. Speakers may not yield time. Groups of speakers on the same topic must designate a single
representative. Comments violating these rules may not be presented at the Council meeting. Any speaker
violating these rules may be removed from the podium or from the Council chamber. This policy does not
apply to public hearings, at which any citizen of Martinsville may appear and speak on the subject of the
public hearing.
8. Comments by Members of City Council (5 mins)
9. Communications
A. City Manager
B. City Attorney
C. Deputy City Clerk
D.Monthly Financial Update
10. Adjournment
City of Martinsville
Martinsville Fire & EMS
February 13, 2024 – City Council Update
A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS
Departmental Divisions
• Fire and EMS Divisions
City of Martinsville
• Administrative Personnel – 3
Daily Staffing
• Operational Shifts – 24 (2 – Vacancies)
• FF/ALS – 22
E-1 – 2-3 Personnel
• FF/BLS – 2 M-1/L-1 (ALS)– 2 Personnel
• Part-Time Firefighters - 5 M-3/E-3 (ALS)– 2 Personnel
• Fire Marshal’s Office
• Fire Marshal - 1
• Part-Time Fire Marshals – 2
• Non-Emergency Transport Division
• EMT’s – 2 (1 – Vacancy)
• Emergency Management and Safety Division
• Emergency Management Coordinator – 1
• Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator – 1
• Community Health Worker
• Grant funded
• Currently vacant. Using grant funds to pay personnel to handle referrals
• Grant terminates at the end of June 2024
• We have secured grant funds through June of 2025
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Departmental Statistics
Fire Division
City of Martinsville
Activity Type 2023 2024 YTD
Fire Dispatches 415 72
Fire Mutual-Aid Provided 7 5
Fire Mutual-Aid Received 17 5
EMS Dispatches 3104 664
EMS Mutual-Aid Provided 151 24
EMS Mutual-Aid Received 67 18
Community Health Worker 144 13
Non-Emergency Transports 776 168
Total Responses 4295 917
Non-Response Activities 2023 2024 YTD
Total Shift Training Hours - Fire and EMS 5220 1,226.5
Station Tours/Individuals 187 0
Off-Site Public Education/Individuals 4285 0
Child Safety Seat Installations 50 6
Smoke Detectors Installed 952 81
Pre-Plans/Walk Throughs Conducted 44 9
Confined Space Stand-By 0 2
Fire Safety Inspections 217 54
Fire Investigations 6 3
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Departmental Responses
City of Martinsville
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Geographical Distribution of Responses - 2024
City of Martinsville
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Fire Incident Types Through January 2024
City of Martinsville
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EMS Responses - 2024
City of Martinsville
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Budget – Fiscal Year 2024
City of Martinsville
Revenues
Transport Type FY 2023 FY 2024
Emergency Transport $ 555,363.79 $ 424,984.11
Non-Emergency Transport $ 161,128.14 $ 79,253.52
Total $ 716,491.93 $ 504,237.63
Expenses
FY 2024
Division Name FYTD
Budgeted
Fire $ 2,783,740.00 $ 1,707,806.48
EMS $ 285,445.00 $ 211,958.55
Non-Emergency Transport $ 161,472.00 $ 96,983.66
Emergency Management $ 238,301.00 $ 194,687.00
Total $ 3,468,958.00 $ 2,211,435.69
Percentage Used (Target is 66%) 64%
A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS 8
Non-Emergency Transport Program
• Started in 2021 at the request of the
City of Martinsville
hospital.
• Performs non-emergency BLS discharges
for the hospital.
• Original contract signed in July of 2021.
• Started running calls in November of
2021.
• Runs Monday through Friday 10:00 –
18:00. (40 hours a week)
• The hospital requested an expansion in
February of 2023 to 12 hours a day and 7
days a week. (84 hours a week)
• No agreement has been reached on the
expansion.
• No new contracts have been signed since
July 2021.
A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS 9
Questions?
City of Martinsville
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0
Martinsville Electric Department Update City of Martinsville
March 19, 2024
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Responsibilities
City of Martinsville
• Martinsville Electric Department was established in 1904 to provide electric service to Martinsville's residents,
businesses and industries.
• Over 120 years later, the department is still at work. It purchases wholesale power from American Municipal
Power INC to meet the city's peak demand of 42 megawatts. The city also operates and maintains our dam on the
Smith River and a peak-shaving natural gas generator at our closed landfill.
• The electric department has 17 employees and at least one on-call crew prepared to respond to emergencies.
Our line crews operate and maintain approximately 95 miles of overhead and underground lines, 10,000 poles,
3800 streetlights and 7600 meters.
• The Substation/Metering Crew maintains commercial and residential metering and responds to customer meter
complaints. The meter crew also monitors, controls, and repairs substation equipment and schedules and
supervises hydro plant and landfill generator operations. The Substation Crew operates the Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisitions System (SCADA), which allows for control and monitoring of voltage level, grid current,
number of operations of the circuit breakers, and many other features that help provide reliable electric service.
• The Electric Department is an active member of the Blue Ridge Power Agency, the Municipal Electric Power
Association of Virginia, and the American Public Power Association. The Electric Department has been actively
participating in Federal and State regulatory concerns that impact our costs through these agencies.
A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS
Benefits of Public Power
City of Martinsville
• Electric Rate Stability
• Locally owned = locally controlled = lower cost to citizens
• Serves the community and Martinsville's priorities
• Provides long-term value and financial support for local government
functions
• Faster response time
• Reliable customer service
• Highly trained staff
• Investment in our Community
• Generated income remains in Martinsville
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Typical Customer Calls
December - February
City of Martinsville
• Calls - 107 during work hours, 104 after-
hours
• 753 calls during large outages, during and
after work hours
• Trouble calls include power outages, partial
power, flickering lights, streetlights, trees
and limbs on lines, accidents, structure
fires, damaged poles, low and downed
wires, and equipment damage.
• Meeting with contractors and homeowners
to discuss new and upgraded services and
address customer concerns.
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Typical Scheduled Work
City of Martinsville
Long and short-term
projects and system When possible, work is
improvement. completed without
interruption to service.
Oversight of outside Customer-driven jobs
contractors and joint-use including underground
pole attachments. service installation,
Transmission, upgrades, generator
distribution, and installs, and other work
substation maintenance requiring department
and testing. coordination.
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Recent and Ongoing Projects
City of Martinsville
• Tie-line for the northside at Oneida and
Inman Streets will allow alternate feed for
all underground switchgear.
• Continue with adding additional reclosers,
prioritizing worse-performing circuits
• Replacing fused switches with Trip Savers at
strategic locations
• System-wide pole testing to determine
deficient poles, change out of structurally
deficient poles
• Infrastructure to support customer-added
load
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CY 2023 Outage causes
City of Martinsville
• Trees and vehicle accidents
cause most large outages,
leading to the most
customer outage minutes.
• Wildlife and equipment
damage typically affects one
or less than 5 customers.
• Exceptions during the last
year were damaged and
worn-out substation
equipment.
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Current and Future Challenges
City of Martinsville
• Long lead times for material and equipment
• Price increases for all materials, examples below –
2020 2023
$905 25 KVA Pole Mount Transformer $2,458
$344 45-foot class 3 pole $595
$2.08 350 MCM underground wire $6.86
• Employee Retainment
• Annual double-digit increases in transmission rates will continue to affect
our ability to make system improvements while maintaining competitive
rates.
A CITY WITHOUT LIMITS 8
CY 2023 Energy – Market and Resources
City of Martinsville
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PROCLAMATION
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
April 7-13, 2024
Whereas, our nation's libraries are modern community resources for education,
information, culture and entertainment, and play a vital role in providing millions of
people with the resources they need to live, learn and work in the 21st century; and
Whereas, libraries are dynamic places and librarians are the ultimate search engine,
helping people of all ages find the information they need in print and online; and
Whereas, in times of economic instability, Americans rely heavily on their public
libraries; and
Whereas, libraries give access to nearly everything on the Web or in print and offer
personal service and assistance in finding it; and
Whereas, libraries offer free access to information and resources; and
Whereas, libraries provide services and programs to children and realize they are our
future; and
Whereas, libraries and library supporters across America are celebrating National
Library Week with @ your library, The Campaign for America’s Libraries.
Now, Therefore, I, LC Jones, Mayor of the City of Martinsville, do hereby proclaim
April 7-13, 2024, as National Library Week in the City of Martinsville and encourage
all residents to support and use the Blue Ridge Regional Library and discover or
rediscover the wealth of resources available there.
_________________________________
LC Jones, Mayor
STAFF REPORT
MEETINGS: March 19, 2024
TITLE: Minutes
STAFF RESPONSIBLE Clerk of Council
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
POLICY EXPLANATION
Minutes from Council meetings must be approved by Council members before they are posted to
the website and added to the minute book.
FISCAL IMPACT/FUNDING SOURCE
No fiscal impact is associated with this action.
AVAILABLE BUDGET PURCHASE AMOUNT
No budget effect N/A
ACTION REQUESTED/ALTERNATIVES:
1. Consider approval of minutes
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Minutes from October 24, 2023 Council Meeting, November 18, 2023 Work Session, November
28, 2023 Council Meeting, December 12, 2023 Council Meeting, and December 19, 2023
Council Meeting
1
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