Richland County commissioners confirm two short suspensions after executive session

After meeting in executive session to discuss a personnel matter, the Richland County Board of Commissioners approved two short suspensions for a county employee, county officials said.

Human Resources presented two motions on returning from executive session: a one-day suspension for a third policy violation and a five-day suspension for a sixth tardy. Both motions were seconded and the board recorded affirmative votes to carry the actions.

Why it matters: disciplinary actions involving county employees are formal personnel decisions that the board may approve following an executive session. The meeting record indicates the board followed that process and voted to impose the short suspensions described by HR.

What the board did
- Executive session: The board moved to an executive session to discuss discipline of a county employee and recessed the public meeting for that purpose.
- Personnel actions: On reconvening, HR presented motions to impose a one-day suspension for a third policy violation and a five-day suspension for a sixth tardy. The motions were seconded and approved by the board.

Procedure and limits: The transcript records the motions and that they were seconded and approved; the employee's name and other personnel file details were not disclosed in the public transcript. The record does not provide the specific statute or personnel policy citation beyond the HR description of the violations.

Ending: The board completed the personnel votes and continued with its reorganization and other agenda items.