Civil service commission says county clerk must sign Standard & Associates contract; requests materials from sheriff’s office

The Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Commission on Jan. 15 was advised that county clerk Kirk Petrucci must be the “principal signer” on legal documents with the recruitment vendor Standard & Associates and that the commission needs materials from the sheriff’s office to prepare promotional exams.

The guidance came from John, Civil Service Secretary, who said he had discussed paperwork with Petrucci and with Jeff Mozzi, deputy legal counsel for Berkeley County. “It would have to be clerk Petrucci would have to be the principal signer because it relates to obligating county funds,” John told commissioners, citing the county clerk’s role in obligating funds. John added that the commission had been working with Mike Thomason, vice president of Standard & Associates, on next steps.

Why it matters: who signs vendor contracts affects who can legally obligate county funds and who may view confidential test materials. Commissioners said deciding the principal signer and who may see exam content are prerequisites to moving forward with promotional testing.

John told the commission Standard & Associates needs direction from the sheriff’s department about which materials to use to craft test questions — for example, whether to extract questions from the department’s policy manual (pursuit policy, evidence collection, etc.) and which sections of West Virginia state code should be included. He also asked the sheriff’s office to indicate how tiers would be treated (which questions are for corporal/sergeant levels vs. lieutenant/captain).

John recounted a concern raised by Thomason about confidentiality: a confidentiality agreement would be required for anyone who could see test content. “He was very uneasy about them being a part of it,” John said, describing Thomason’s reluctance to allow captains access because future promotions (for example, to major) could create inside knowledge of questions.

Commissioners also raised questions about which ranks fall under civil service rules. Chief Burnett and Chief Bryant participated in discussion; John said the commission would research whether the rank of major and aspects of the chief deputy position fall under civil service testing requirements.

No formal vote was recorded on the vendor paperwork at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to send a written request to the sheriff’s department for the materials and to follow up with the vendor’s confidentiality agreement and signatory questions. John said he would send an email request to create a paper trail.

The commission deferred further action until it receives the department’s materials and resolves signatory and confidentiality questions.