New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger attended his first board meeting Thursday afternoon since his arrest last December on impaired driving charges.
Berger, who is three months into a year’s worth of court-ordered supervised probation, took his seat beside Commissioner Tom Wolfe at the board’s regularly scheduled agenda review session.
It was the first time Berger has been seen at a county meeting since before his December arrest, when he was charged with impaired driving and felony possession of a controlled substance after he was found slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of Masonboro Loop Road.
Berger appeared in court in early February, agreeing to a plea deal in which the felony charge and a prior impaired driving charge were dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on the more recent impaired driving charge. He was sentenced to 120 days suspended on that charge and 12 months supervised probation on the reduced drug charge.
Berger was also ordered to obtain a substance abuse assessment, pay a $200 fine and court costs, perform community service and report back to the court on Feb. 3, 2015.
Related story: Berger receives supervised probation in DWI case; felony charge reduced
Since that court appearance, Berger has kept a low profile. Thursday’s meeting was the first he has attended in six months.
During a staff presentation on the county’s legislative agenda, Berger asked for an update on the Head Start program—a topic he has inquired about often since his election in late 2010. Legislative affairs liaison Carey Ricks said she did not have that information available, as Head Start was not included in the agenda she was presenting, but County Manager Chris Coudriet later offered a response, telling Berger the county school system is going to become the program’s administrator.
The rest of the half-hour meeting continued with updates from staff on an employee pay and classification study and potential presentations from companies proposing to privatize the county’s trash collection services.
The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. for its regular meeting, which will feature presentations on the school system’s bond plan, items regarding shoreline stabilization efforts at Kure Beach and Carolina Beach, a contract for renovations to the 320 Chestnut St. building, and recommendations to improve collaboration between the health and social services departments.
The agenda can be viewed in full via this link. Monday’s meeting will be held at the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse.
Previous stories:
- Commissioner Berger arrested on DWI, drug charges
- From county board meeting to detention center, a stark contrast for Berger in 24 hours
- Judge restores Berger to New Hanover County Board of Commissioners
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
