Hamilton County Commissioners add chief of staff to Erlanger board

Aerial view of Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Photo by Doug Strickland /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved adding the Erlanger Health System chief of staff to the hospital’s board of trustees, bringing the board’s total positions to 12.

The commission’s vote affirmed an amendment to a state act passed earlier this year by the Tennessee General Assembly.

Last week, the commission’s Legal Committee members expressed concern about making the board an even number without a tie-breaking provision. But committee Chairman Jim Fields said Wednesday that “after our agenda session, we received quite a bit of information from folks.”

Members of the state legislative delegation told commissioners they plan to make major amendments to the board of trustees next year, Fields said.

Commissioner Fred Skillern said he’s not concerned about creating an even-numbered board.

“I think the county would have been better served if they’d had some ties,” he said.

In other business, commissioners approved the appointment of Dr. Bruce H. Wainer to the county’s associate medical examiner position.

Longtime medical examiner Dr. Frank King, who is now the county’s forensic pathologist, is resigning this month.