Residents press council on Virginia American Water rate case, HRA spending and neighborhood safety

Several residents used the communications-from-citizens period to press council on utilities, housing authority spending and neighborhood safety.

Mark Burroughs (Ward 3) criticized council handling of public-comment restrictions and warned of legal action if he believes officials are improperly silencing residents. In remarks that drew an admonition from the chair about abusive language, Burroughs told council he would "strip you of your qualified immunity as an elected official in the state of Virginia" if he believed his free-speech rights were improperly curtailed.

Laura Greenwood (Ward 6) urged council members to attend the State Corporation Commission evidentiary hearing about a proposed rate increase for Virginia American Water and said the rise would be a particular hardship for seniors on fixed incomes. "I hope you all go to the meeting tomorrow night and represent your constituents because that is a lot of money," Greenwood said.

Darlene Thompson (Ward 6) raised questions about the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority, asking why the city budgeted $391,000 for a forensic audit and asserting that council lacks direct authority over HRA operations while pressing for accountability: "You all have no authority over HRA, and I'm wondering why we can spend $391,000 to do their forensic audit."

Other speakers raised neighborhood-watch activity, requests for traffic-safety measures near schools, concerns about feral cat control and maintenance problems inside HRA units (peeling paint, mildew, mold). Staff and council acknowledged the concerns and noted paths for follow-up; the meeting’s rules on three-minute limits and decorum were enforced by the chair.