Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civil Service Testing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Berkeley civil service plans new promotional tests, increases outreach and training budget
Summary
County civil service commissioners approved switching to a commercial testing vendor for promotional exams, budgeted for study materials, outreach advertising and additional testing costs, and scheduled promotional testing for March 8.
Berkeley County’s civil service office told commissioners on Feb. 18 it will use a commercial testing vendor for promotional examinations, add modest study‑guide purchases for test takers and increase outreach and advertising to recruit applicants.
County Clerk Tony Petrucci and civil service staff described planned changes to the promotional testing program for sheriff’s office ranks. The civil service is proposing to purchase study guides and to use Standard and Associates — a third‑party provider — to deliver modernized promotional tests for first‑line supervisors (corporal/sergeant) and for lieutenants/captains.
John Alderton, who spoke for civil service, said the earlier state‑provided promotional test offers no study guide and has not been modernized in decades. Under the vendor arrangement, Alderton said each promotional test costs about $100–$125 and a study guide (to show which sections of policy and law to study) costs roughly $10; full study‑book sets are optional and would be shared if candidates pool resources. He said the civil service received approval from the West Virginia Division of Personnel on Dec. 6 to use an outside vendor for promotions.
Petrucci told the commission the civil service office will increase advertising and outreach to recruit candidates beyond the county, noting the department plans targeted outreach into neighboring states and on social media. He said Apple Valley/partner channels and county social media will be used for recruitment.
The commission heard the schedule for testing and recruitment: applications due Feb. 26, 2025 at 5 p.m.; physical agility and written testing are scheduled for March 8 at Martinsburg High School (physical agility begins at 9 a.m., followed by a timed written exam). Staff said eligible veterans and previously certified officers receive statutory point preferences on promotional examinations.
Commissioners discussed training, recruitment and the cost of ads in local newspapers. County legal staff reviewed the plan and advised seeking the state Personnel Division’s signoff, which Alderton said the civil service had obtained. No formal roll‑call vote was recorded; staff said the commission would consider related budget items in the clerk’s proposed budget.
