Martinsville Mayor LC Jones directed City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides to work with the city attorney to launch a proposed investigation into the actions of city officials regarding unethical practices, neglect, and misuse of office.
Jones said the investigation would include council members, city employees, constitutional officers, public safety, as well as volunteers who are members of boards and commissions.
“All city operations,” he said.
An investigation is needed, he said, “in light of the persistent and unfounded slander and defamation all to undermine my character and integrity but along with other council members and employees.” Jones instructed Ferrell-Benavides to reach out to the attorneys to “investigate the actions of council members in regards to unethical practices, neglect, and misuse of office” and to “get some direction on what that would look like for us to move forward, to launch an investigation.”
Following the meeting, Jones said in a Facebook post that these attacks have come not only from certain members of city council but also from city employees and other elected officials.
“Such cowardly actions are devoid of evidence and rely solely on baseless allegations, often amplified by local media that has chosen to participate in this discrediting campaign without substantiating facts,” he said.
Jones said he believes the city must embrace transparency as its guiding principle.
“I believe it is the right of every citizen to be informed and engaged throughout this process. Those making these accusations should welcome the opportunity for scrutiny, as should all council members and city employees. Together, we can navigate this political landscape riddled with falsehoods and reveal the documented truth. I eagerly anticipate that day,” Jones said in the post.
Vice Mayor Kathy Lawson said her view is that if someone is going to accuse another or make negative comments, then there should be proof.
“If this is just someone making a ‘Negative Nelly’ comment about somebody that has no proof or no factual basis other than just someone making a statement, then those type of statements need to stop,” she said.
Lawson said she needs more information regarding the logistics of the investigation and who would conduct it before she would commit to supporting it.
“I don’t know the answers to the questions. I need more information just like you do. I am neutral at this point. I would like for the name-calling to stop, and if this stops the name-calling, then yes, that’s good. I just need more information,” she said.
Lawson also said she does not know when more information about the proposed investigation would be available.
“I would say you need to ask the mayor. I didn’t make the statement, he did,” she said.
Lawson described the call for a potential investigation as both surprising and unsurprising.
“It was one of those things that was like, ‘Oh.’ Not surprising, but ‘Oh,’” she said.
Council member Aaron Rawls said he doesn’t think much of Jones’ directive.
“I don’t mean to make so light of it — I mean, it’s ridiculous and it’s absurd — but also I have to feel for my city employees and also my citizens. It is actually kind of scary that the mayor of a city is basically talking about doing an inquisition on people,” he said.
Rawls said that against the backdrop of a significant undercurrent of whistleblowers and city employees making protective disclosures, Jones seems aligned with bad actors.
“For whatever reason, he will just not accept he’s doing bad stuff in a public government, and he will not stop and look around himself and say, ‘oh wait, I’m part of the problem,’” Rawls said, and added that he believes the investigation will ultimately backfire and implicate Jones, other council members, and members of city administration.
“I mean, it’s an all-time backfire,” he said. “But I also can’t say that, because maybe next time it is more serious, and then I just said, ‘okay, government inquisition is okay in a free society,’ and it’s not okay.”
“It’s a weird situation that I’m taking more lightly than I probably should,” Rawls said. “It’s a serious thing to a lot of people, and in fairness for the city employees, they’re probably not laughing about this at all. They’re probably terrified.”
While Rawls said he doesn’t know the specifics of what Jones means by an investigation, he speculates it may be related to senior-level staff who have reached out to state agencies, elected officials, and attorneys to figure out how to protect themselves.
He said employees are “being asked to do fraudulent things or unethical things” that go against their profession’s code of ethics and could cost them their licenses.
“So, it’s not just things that are shady. It’s things that would cost them their careers. They want to start getting on the record to protect themselves,” he said.
Rawls said he believes the investigation could be an attempt by some to get ahead of the situation.
“Some of these people have already committed their findings and sent them to legal counsel, so him doing this is not going to protect them from retaliation claims. It is fact that there are senior employees at the City of Martinsville that have — let’s call it whistleblowing — who have raised concerns about unethical or fraudulent behavior or being asked to do those things. That’s fact. That’s happened. That is written record. The speculation is why they’re doing all of this,” he said.
Rawls added that a single member of council cannot unilaterally call for an investigation.
“Also, this guy is not Saddam Hussein. Like, I don’t know who he thinks he is, but you cannot just send inquisitors to people’s doors and say, ‘give me your phone and we’re going to go through your text messages and we’re going to read all your emails.’ That’s not going to happen,” he said.
He said he is confident the city’s attorneys will give Jones the same advice, if they haven’t already.
In a Facebook post, council member Julian Mei apologized to anyone within or outside the city for the turmoil occurring within city government.
“No one should have to live, serve, or work in a climate of fear, resentment, or retribution, and the irresponsibility of public servants perpetuating this is a poor reflection of the many good and decent people who work tirelessly to make our home a wonderful place to live,” he said in the post.
Council member Rayshaun Gravely did not return a call for comment, nor had he made a social media post at press time.
In other matters, the council:
*Heard a presentation on the proposed capital projects for fiscal year 2025-2026.
*Discussed the 1 Ellsworth lease option.
*Discussed the allocation of funds for the development of the Commonwealth waterline.
*Approved a resolution approving lease purchase financing with Bank of America Public Capital Corp – Direct Bank loan to acquire equipment.
*Approved updates to the joint dispatch center by-laws.
*Approved the receipt and expense for the awarded Operation Ceasefire Grant.
*Heard community announcements from Public Information Officer Kendall Davis.
*Proclaimed April 25 as National Arbor Day.
*Proclaimed April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
*Proclaimed April as National Autism Awareness Month.
*Proclaimed the week of April 4-10 as National Corrections Officers and Employees Week.
*Approved the April 1, April 7, and April 14 meeting minutes.
*Approved the Feb. 28 facilitator-provided retreat minutes.
