Council wrestles with diversity in contracts

Nearly two years after the Chattanooga City Council tabled a diversity study proposal, Councilman John “Duke” Franklin Jr. said the city should revisit the issue of awarding contracts because minorities may not be receiving a fair share.

“There will be statistical information that will show that we can do better, and it’s not a finger-pointing (or) a name-calling scenario,” he said.

Councilman Manny Rico said such a study could lead to quotas mandating that the city contract with certain types of businesses.

“We know there are disparities, but there are laws against it, and we have ways to make things right with everybody,” he said. “I don’t see what this study is going to prove.”

In 2006, the city’s Office of Multicultural Affairs proposed a diversity study, but council members asserted the $450,000 cost was too high.

Bobby Adamson, president of a local minority contractors group, said the city has delayed doing a diversity study for 10 to 12 years.

“I think it has been put off to hold minorities at bay (and) to keep them from advancing and moving forward,” he said.

Mayor Ron Littlefield said he would support “the right kind of study with a specific purpose.”

“I think we can assume that there are disparities,” Mr. Littlefield said. “It’s what we do about those disparities that’s really the bigger question.”

Mr. Adamson, a general contractor and developer who lives in Ooltewah, said he’s not too hopeful that a study will be done now.

The Rev. Bernie Miller, a local pastor and chairman of the Tennessee advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said the lack of minorities being awarded municipal contracts goes beyond Chattanooga and reaches across America.

He said a diversity study is needed to back up some assertions.

“We keep saying there’s disparity. Well, how do we know it?” Mr. Miller said. “We don’t have the cold, hard facts. … We need the facts to justify the suspicions.”

Council Chairman Dan Page, who did not support the diversity study in 2006, said he is not sure the end product would be worth the expense.

“I think the information perhaps is already available and what you’d be paying for is putting that information together … in one book,” he said.

Councilman Jack Benson said he opposed the study in 2006 partially because he feared that it was directed solely at the hiring of black businesses and not truly multicultural. However, he said he could support the study now if the price isn’t too high and the scope is broader.

“If there’s a diversity problem, I want to see what’s causing those problems,” he said.

Paul Page, the city’s director of general services, said projects paid for with city money are awarded to the lowest and best bidders. City officials do not consider race or gender in this process, he said.

The city advertises projects in several minority publications in Tennessee, he said.

Mr. Page said his department later this year is expected to change an existing contracting policy to match the policy governing contracts involving federal money. The new city policy would require general contractors to try to get women and minority-owned businesses to do a certain amount of their subcontracting work. If general contractors cannot get this type of work, they would be required to document why not, he said.

Mr. Littlefield said he would like to see a new director hired for the Office of Multicultural Affairs before a study is pursued. He said it will take at least four months to replace recently departed office head Jacqueline Strong Moss.

Mr. Franklin said he will keep educating fellow council members on the importance of a diversity study, which he said would be broader than the minority contracting issue and also would entail hiring and promotions policies.

“I’m just going to continue to make the public and our council aware of the need,” he said.