The Richmond City Board of Commissioners on an evening meeting approved multiple personnel promotions, awarded several construction and equipment contracts, authorized grant administration for a federal CDBG project and approved $50,000 in charitable grants for local nonprofits.

The actions consolidated routine personnel moves with several procurement decisions and grant approvals that the city manager and department heads said will support operations and economic development across Richmond.

Most votes were unanimous. The commission approved promotions in the police and fire departments, hired safety and codes officers, awarded bids for sports-complex equipment and carpentry work, authorized a copier lease, and approved Fahey Consulting to administer a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project. The board also approved a slate of charitable donations totaling $50,000 to local nonprofits.

Key formal actions passed included: Sergeant promotion (Order 25-152) for Daniel Toth; promotions to Master Police Officer (Order 25-155) for four officers; appointment of Patrick Tudor as assistant fire chief (Order 25-158); hiring five safety officers for police parks/security duties (Order 25-154); award of a $120,291.45 bid for soccer goals at the Richmond Regional Sports Complex to Challenger Teamwear (Order 25-145); award of an $84,673.24 carpentry contract for the Fire Training Center to Servpro (Order 25-150); acceptance of a retirement from Serena Wilson in the recycle department (Order 25-151); hiring of a codes enforcement officer (Order 25-153); approval of Fahey Consulting for CDBG administration for the 2025 Richmond Recovery Project (Order 25-156); and approval of $50,000 in charitable grants to named local organizations (Order 25-157). The board also authorized a lease agreement with Toshiba Products for new copy machines (Order 25-159).

Several of the orders included implementation details. The soccer goals purchase will be funded from the Richmond Regional Sports Complex Project Fund, supported by the city's general obligation bond series ordinances 23-47 and 24-30; the Fahey contract specifies application services of $1,500 and administration fees of $10,000 to be paid from the CDBG grant; and the charitable donations list shows individual allocations adding to $50,000.

Not every item required debate; where questions were raised commissioners sought clarifications about funding sources and operational duties. For example, the police safety officers were identified as non‑sworn positions who will receive KLEC-mandated training and be dedicated to parks duties while retaining the ability to respond to other needs. The Fahey Consulting contract was described by staff as a standard grant administration subcontract, contingent on the Department for Local Government releasing funds.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Order 25-152 (Promotion to Sergeant, Daniel Toth): outcome approved; roll-call recorded unanimous yes votes.
- Order 25-155 (Promotions to Master Police Officer): outcome approved; roll-call recorded unanimous yes votes.
- Order 25-158 (Appointment, Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Tudor): outcome approved; roll-call recorded unanimous yes votes.
- Order 25-154 (Hiring safety officers): outcome approved; roll-call recorded unanimous yes votes. Positions are non‑sworn safety officers to be trained locally by RPD’s KLEC instructor.
- Order 25-145 (Soccer goals contract to Challenger Teamwear, $120,291.45): outcome approved; funding from Richmond Regional Sports Complex Project Fund (general obligation bond series).
- Order 25-150 (Carpentry contract for Fire Training Center to Servpro, $84,673.24): outcome approved; funded from fire department capital outlay account 001-2200-5620 for FY26.
- Order 25-156 (CDBG administration contract with Fahey Consulting): outcome approved; application services $1,500, administration $10,000; work contingent on Department for Local Government release of funds.
- Order 25-157 (Charitable grants): outcome approved; $50,000 total allocated with itemized recipients in the adopted order.
- Ordinance 25-25 (amendment to alcohol licensing code): second reading and approved (see separate article).

Several items were ceremonial or for first reading and will return for further action. Ordinance 25-26 (amendment to development fee for blasting permits) was presented as a first reading and will come back for a future vote.

Looking ahead, staff said implementation steps will follow normal procurement and onboarding procedures. The Fahey Consulting contract and the grant-funded Liberty Place project will not proceed with program activities beyond environmental-exempt tasks until the state grants the release of funds.