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Berkeley County Commission approves budget adjustments, hires and board reappointments
Summary
At its April 9 meeting the Berkeley County Commission approved several internal budget transfers, confirmed multiple personnel actions, reappointed two board members, and approved a funding agreement for the extension office; commissioners also authorized applying for a justice-assistance grant for body armor plates and recessed for an executive session on legal matters with no action taken.
The Berkeley County Commission on April 9 approved a package of internal budget transfers, personnel changes and board reappointments and authorized county staff to pursue federal grant funding for deputy body armor plates.
The commission voted to approve the agenda at the start of the meeting and then heard a series of staff presentations. A county staff member outlined internal budget moves including a $5,000 transfer from insurance to overtime in Department 428, a $500 shift from materials and supplies to travel for a federal grants account, $6,000 and $7,000 transfers within state grant accounts, and smaller adjustments to communications and central garage line items. The transfers were presented as housekeeping to keep line items balanced and were accepted as part of the consent routine.
Commissioners recorded several personnel actions. The commission received hiring recommendations for Timothy Owens as IT Specialist II at an annual salary of $54,943 (effective 4/13/26) and for Hope Freeze as an emergency management specialist at $66,412. A Community Corrections employee, Brett Hitchcock, was moved from recovery coach to case manager with a salary adjustment to $50,676. A step increase for a deputy court marshal was listed as an administrative personnel action.
The commission also received multiple resignation letters from deputies and other staff and approved the April 2 meeting minutes, noting Commissioner Whitaker’s abstention due to absence.
On appointments, the commission approved reappointments of Ian Gingell to the Eastern Panhandle Home Consortium Board and Daniel Kelly II to the Roundhouse Authority by voice vote after motions were made and seconded.
The body also approved the extension office annual funding agreement. Staff summarized county contributions that mirror last year’s allocation — funding two administrative assistant positions and modest operating costs — totaling $140,332; the commission authorized the president to sign the agreement.
During the consent and agenda items, staff informed the commission of a planned application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to purchase ballistic plates for deputy vests. Staff said the grant requires no local match and identified the county’s contribution estimate relevant to equipment purchases. Commissioners discussed plate expirations and vest replacement cycles as part of the procurement conversation.
The meeting ended after the commission moved into an executive session for legal matters and later reconvened to say no action was taken. Commissioners then recessed.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: motion approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda (including budget transfers and personnel items): motion approved by voice vote. - Reappointment, Ian Gingell: motion approved by voice vote. - Reappointment, Daniel Kelly II: motion approved by voice vote. - Extension office funding agreement: motion approved by voice vote. - Executive session: entered for legal matters; upon return the commission stated no action was taken.
The meeting record contains the listed motions and voice votes; no roll-call tallies were read into the record.
