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During its organizational meeting, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously reelected Garland Hamlett Jr. as the board’s Chairman on a motion by Supervisor Gary Walker.

New board member Will Garnet who represents the Bacon/Saxe District, was absent.

This is Hamlett’s second time serving as Chairman and fifth term as supervisor.

Hamlett, who has been on the board since 2002, when he filled the Drakes Brach District seat left vacant by the late Harris Hall, said there are many things that the BOS needs to focus on this year.

“The budget will be coming up soon, and that’s always a contentious issue,” said Hamlett.” We will relook at our goals we had last year to see what we need to do to ensure we’re still on track.”

County Seat Supervisor Gary Walker was elected vice chairman in a 4 to 2 vote, but not before Wylliesburg/Red Oak Supervisor Kay Pierantoni made a substitute motion to elect Aspen/Phenix Supervisor Donna Fore as the vice chairman.

Pierantoni’s motion failed with a tie 3-3 vote causing the vote to go back to the original motion of electing Walker as Vice Chairman.

The motion to elect Walker was made by Keysville District Supervisor Robert Shook Jr.

Supervisor Pierantoni and Fore cast the only no votes against Walker.

Vice-Chairman Walker has been on the BOS for 24 years and has served as both chairman and vice-chairman in the past.

“It is always an honor to be selected by your peers to lead,” said Walker. “I have always tried to run the meeting efficiently and effectively and give everyone a chance to be heard but keep things focused and be diplomatic.”

Walker continued to say that the BOS has some big items ahead and hoped that they could work together as a board for the entire county and not just individual districts.

The BOS also voted to move its meeting days from Wednesday to Monday.

Newly elected Cullen/Red House Supervisor Tony Reeves requested meeting days, “any day but Wednesdays” because he attends church.

Supervisor Fore made a motion to hold meetings once a month, but at night, stating that the 2019 meetings were too confusing for citizens due to alternating times every other month.

Fore’s motion failed with a tie vote.

On a motion by Walker to hold meetings on Mondays once a month alternating day and night every other month, the motion passed 4 to 2 with Fore and Pierantoni voting no.

BOS meetings will now be held the second Monday of each month beginning in February at 6 p.m. The March meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m.