City Council

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA Special Meeting of City Council Tuesday, November 18, 2025 1. Call to Order. The Special Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kochuba at 6:00 P.M. 2. Roll Call. Present: Councilwoman Elizabeth G. Luck Councilwoman Tricia L. Palmer Councilman Craig R. Skalak Councilman Brad E. Slaybaugh Vice Mayor John E. Piotrowski Mayor T. Gregory Kochuba Absent: Councilman John T. Wood Also Present: Mr. Douglas E. Smith, City Manager Mr. Andrew A Meyer, City Attorney Mrs. Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk 3. Declarations of Personal Interest There were none. The Clerk announced the purpose of the closed meeting. 4. Closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provisions:  Paragraph A.3 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the City’s disposition of an approximate 1983-acre parcel of publicly held real property, zoned Industrial, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.  Paragraph A.7 of Section 2.2-3711, to consult with legal counsel and be briefed by staff members pertaining to possible litigation concerning the code enforcement actions involving a property on Hamilton Avenue, where consultation or briefing in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. A motion to convene in a closed meeting was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mrs. Luck. Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 2 Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 5. Vote to come back into open meeting. A motion to reconvene in open session was made by Mayor Kochuba, seconded by Mrs. Palmer, and carried unanimously on roll call vote at 7:38 P.M. Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS As stated by the Clerk, the Council was in a closed meeting pursuant to the Code of Virginia in accordance with the following provisions:  Paragraph A.3 of Section 2.2-3711, to discuss or consider the City’s disposition of an approximate 1983-acre parcel of publicly held real property, zoned Industrial, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.  Paragraph A.7 of Section 2.2-3711, to consult with legal counsel and be briefed by staff members pertaining to possible litigation concerning the code enforcement actions involving a property on Hamilton Avenue, where consultation or briefing in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. Consideration of the following certification: Each member will now certify that to the best of the member’s knowledge (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the act and (ii) only Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 3 such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the meeting by the public body. Any member who believes there was a departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii), shall so state prior to the vote, indicating the substance of the departure that, in his judgment, has taken place. Council members approved this certification without any stating departure from the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) by the following roll call vote: Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 6. Advertised Public Hearings A. AN ORDINANCE NO. 25-20 (Second Reading) To adopt a revised General pay Pan Class and Salary Range that removes the Code Enforcement Supervisor position; adds Code Enforcement Inspector to Grade 14; adds Radio System Specialist to the list of Part-time/Seasonal/Temporary positions; and adopts the corresponding job descriptions and class specifications for such new positions. Mr. Smith recalled Council’s previous discussion relative to the proposed ordinance and advised that staff was unable to secure employment for the Radio System Specialist; however, the recruitment process will continue in the near future. Public Comments: None Council Comments: At the request of Mr. Slaybaugh, Mr. Smith provided information on the reasons the employee under consideration was not hired. Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 4 Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: Wood Absent: None Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS B. AN ORDINANCE NO. 25-23 (First Reading) To adopt a revised General Pay Plan Class and Salary Range that increases the hourly rate and range of certain part-time positions by $0.27 pursuant to the new minimum wage effective January 1, 2026. A motion to approve was made by Mrs. Luck, seconded by Mrs. Skalak. Mr. Smith advised that the proposed ordinance provides for a minor adjustment to hourly, part-time wages. There was no discussion by the public or the Council. Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba No: None Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion UNANIMOUS PASS 7. A Work Session on the following items: A. AN ORDINANCE NO. 25-FIN-16 (First Reading) To amend the General Fund Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026, by appropriating $3,802 in donations to Public Safety and to Miscellaneous. To amend the Capital Projects Fund budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by appropriating $946,182, consisting of funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation to Intergovernmental Revenue and to SGR Boulevard paving ($264,182) and to Appomattox River Greenway Trail Phase VI ($682,000). Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 5 A motion to approve was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak. Mr. Smith provided brief comments on the donations listed in the proposed ordinance, as well as additional comments on VDOT Funding and the Appomattox River Greenway Trail Phase VI funding. Continuing, Mr. Barnes, Public Works Director, provided information defining the extent of the Boulevard paving funding. Vice-Mayor Piotrowski expressed concern about the existing brick paver crosswalks and the missing bricks. After brief discussion, Mr. Smith suggested obtaining a cost estimate for stamped concrete overlay to replace the existing brick paver crosswalks. Addressing Mr. Skalak’s question concerning the exact location of Phase VI of the Appomattox River Trail, Mr. Barnes stated it will begin at Appomatuck Park and extend to Virginia State University. Mayor Kochuba requested an estimate for both paving and stamped concrete for crosswalks. There being no further comments or questions, Mayor Kochuba called for the vote. Vote: 6-0 Yes: Luck Palmer Skalak Slaybaugh Vice-Mayor Piotrowski Mayor No: Slaybaugh Piotrowski Kochuba Absent: Wood Abstained: None Motion: UNANIMOUS PASS B. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement In accordance with requirements in the Code of Virginia §15.2-2511, if a locality ’s audit is not completed as required by this statute, the locality must promptly post a statement on its website with the following information: o That the required audit is pending, o The reasons for the delay, o And the estimated date of completion. City of Colonial Heights Audit Statement Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 6 The City of Colonial Heights audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 is pending. The major factor for the delay of the audit is: delay in completion of the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 resulting in significant delay in the year-end close and audit work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Our estimated date of completion for the audit report is February 10 , 2026. C. Audit Statement Update Mr. Smith introduced Tina Sadler, Finance Director, and Tomeka Morgan, a private financial consultant who has been brought on board to assist the Finance Department with completing the city audit. Mrs. Sadler provided information identifying specific areas that have led to the current financial situation, requiring the continuation of the City’s audit. The leading proponent is the difficulty in implementing the new financial system. Other components have been the frequent turnover in finance directors and finance staffing. At the conclusion of Mrs. Sadler’s comments, Ms. Morgan advised that approximately 75% of audit items have been completed or submitted, with 47.2% accepted by auditors and 27.8% awaiting review. The remaining 25% has been divided into detailed tasks with set timelines to ensure deadlines are met. If all outstanding items are submitted by December 31, auditors plan to begin onsite work in January and issue the final audit by February 10, 2026. Staff and auditors continue coordinating closely to meet the December 31 goal and support a smooth review. Addressing Mr. Slaybaugh’s question, Ms. Sadler was confident the audit would be completed by February 10, particularly with full financial staffing, including an additional accountant. Continuing, Mrs. Sadler addressed Mayor Kochuba’s question, advising that staff was working to implement the collection of delinquent taxes through the Munis system. D. Proposed City Seal Presentation At the request of Mr. Smith, Dr. Caballero presented the updated City Seal as previously requested. It was the consensus of Council to implement the following regarding the City seal and logo:  Smooth outline around the seal instead of intermittent dots  The center of the Seal to read “Established 1948” (Mrs. Palmer was the only dissenting vote)  The City logo as previously presented  The City logo will be painted on the City water tower E. Economic Development Update Dr. Caballero presented the following:  Opening of Atlantic Union Bank  Opening of Hot Pot 757  Preliminary design submission for a convenience center (gas pumps) at Wal-Mart Special Meeting Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 7  Destination Church has paused a temporary opening; however, it has proposed an August 2027 opening  Kroger project is still moving forward and moving forward on the final stage to secure funding for a 2027 opening. 8. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn the Special Meeting was made by Mrs. Palmer, seconded by Mr. Skalak, and carried unanimously on voice vote at 8:42 P.M. APPROVED: ____________________________________ T. Gregory Kochuba, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________________ Pamela B. Wallace, City Clerk