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Richmond commissioners approve hires, promotions and new Whitehall curator position
Summary
The City of Richmond Board of Commissioners cleared a package of personnel actions: appointment of an assistant fire chief, multiple fire‑department promotions, a Section 8 hire and the adoption of new job descriptions that include a Whitehall historic‑site curator. All orders passed unanimously.
The City of Richmond Board of Commissioners on a unanimous vote approved a set of personnel orders that included the appointment of an assistant fire chief, multiple promotions in the fire department, the hiring of a Section 8 administrative assistant and adoption of new job descriptions that create a curator post for the Whitehall historic site.
By formal order, the commission appointed David Kaufman as assistant fire chief. The order detailed Kaufman’s tenure with the department and listed an effective payroll date. The board moved, seconded and recorded unanimous approval.
City Manager introduced the adoption of job descriptions — Order 26‑02 — noting the package included a new Whitehall Historic Site curator (pay grade 4) and a fire department training officer (pay grade 5). "The Whitehall curator position is a new position and with that transition coming down the road probably in February, early March, we'll probably post this position tomorrow once you sign off on it, mayor," the City Manager said.
The commission also approved Order 26‑03 to hire Caitlin Sessions as Administrative Assistant I for the Section 8 housing department, effective as stated in the order and subject to the city's pre‑employment requirements and a one‑year probationary period.
Order 26‑04 promoted several fire department members, including Nicholas Stevens to Firefighter 3 and Wesley Wright and Cody Blair to higher firefighter classifications. The order tied the promotions to the city's approved fire pay scale for the FY 2025‑26 budget.
The board accepted a resignation from Cheryl Richardson in the finance department, effective 01/30/2026, and thanked her for service since 2015.
All personnel items were presented in writing in the meeting packet, moved to the floor, and approved by roll call with each commissioner recorded as voting "yes." The commission paused after the assistant‑chief appointment for a brief recognition and ceremonial initiation in the chambers.
What’s next: The city manager said the Whitehall posting and related curation work will proceed in the coming weeks, and the administration will follow the normal advertising and hiring processes for the new curator position.
