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Berkeley County approves multiple step increases, promotions and a job reclassification
Summary
The Berkeley County Commission accepted change-of-status forms recording step increases and promotions across the sheriff’s office and fire department and approved a budget-neutral reclassification in animal control.
The Berkeley County Commission on July 8 accepted a package of personnel change-of-status forms that recorded step increases and promotions in the sheriff’s office and fire department and approved a budget-neutral reclassification in animal control.
The changes, submitted by Martin Roberts, fire chief, and by Hon. Rob Blair, sheriff, include step increases for firefighters and deputies and several promotions. The commission approved the consent agenda, which included all the listed status changes.
The filings shown to the commission include, among others, these salary changes and effective dates as presented at the meeting: Firefighter Richard Petri (Firefighter 4) from $80,801 to $83,225 effective July 1, 2025; Firefighter John Graham (Firefighter 3) from $67,496 to $69,205 effective July 1, 2025; Lieutenant Stephen Sawyer from $84,784 to $87,169 effective July 1, 2025. Sheriff’s office changes included Joshua Shockey, Corporal, from $70,756 to $74,043 effective July 30, 2025; Chelsea McBee, Corporal, from $70,756 to $74,043 effective July 30, 2025; Sean Donegan, Deputy 3, from $67,668 to $70,801 effective July 30, 2025; Chad Jones, Deputy 3, from $76,205 to $77,629 effective July 31, 2025; Lawrence Meeks promoted from Deputy 2 to Corporal with salary change from $59,446 to $70,756 effective June 26, 2025; Amber Weidman, Deputy 3, from $70,802 to $72,775 effective July 1, 2025; Andrew Peck promoted from Deputy 3 to Corporal from $69,045 to $74,045 effective July 1, 2025.
Commission members raised a question during the meeting about the size of one promotion-related jump in pay. A commissioner asked whether the promotion from Deputy 2 to Corporal — which produced an increase of more than $11,000 in annual pay in the instance discussed — represented a double-step promotion. County staff explained that the sheriff’s pay scale can result in a jump across a full salary band when an employee qualifies by testing or other criteria; in the instance cited the employee tested high enough to be placed at the higher band.
The sheriff’s office also reported a reclassification request for animal control staffing: the county will reclassify an existing part-time animal control officer position to a kennel attendant, at the same salary, for up to about 20 hours per week; the county stated this change is budget neutral and that recruitment for the reclassified position is underway.
Several letters of resignation were included in the personnel report: a resignation from Chad Weinbrenner (deputy account administrator) and resignations affecting the emergency communications and circuit clerk offices, including Jennifer Swisher, director of emergency communications, Thomas Jones, telecommunicator, and Sandra Bittner, deputy clerk; the meeting record lists the effective dates as presented.
The consent agenda motion that included the personnel items passed by voice vote.
The commission did not take additional separate votes on individual personnel items beyond including them in the consent agenda.
Clarifying details on individual hires, test scores used for promotions, and any related personnel files were not presented at the meeting and were not specified in the record provided.
