Merit board approves promotion pending council approval, removes applicant and OKs claims

The Greenwood Merit Board Commission on March 12 approved several personnel and financial items. The board voted to promote Officer Andrew Buckston to sergeant effective April 1, 2026, contingent on approval by the Board of Works and City Council. The promotion was moved, seconded and approved by verbal vote; the mover and seconder were not recorded in the public transcript.

Chief of Police James E. described the action as creating a sergeant position funded pending outside approvals and said the promotion was needed to cover an open post related to a criminal interdiction assignment. "That would be officer Andrew Buckston," the chief said when naming the proposed appointee.

The board also voted to remove applicant number 10 from the current hiring process after a motion and second; the motion passed on voice vote. The chief asked to begin a hiring process and accept pre-applications starting May 1, but the record shows discussion of the timing rather than a completed formal action to open the process.

On budget items, commissioners approved claims including $333 for Attorney Linda Meyer's services for February and $150 for commissioner meeting pay for that evening. The board made the motion, seconded it, and approved the claims by voice vote.

The commission noted that items discussed in the earlier executive session were limited to those listed on the notice. No additional appointments or funding were finalized at the meeting; the promotion to sergeant is contingent on approvals by the Board of Works and City Council.