Coppinger, Hamilton County Commission face off over furniture

photo Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger speaks in this file photo.

Democracy was served in abundance at the Hamilton County Commission's agenda session Wednesday. And the result of a spirited, hourlong debate between commissioners, Mayor Jim Coppinger and county staff is that Hamilton County Criminal Court may have to wait to replace its decades-old courtroom furniture.

The commission's finance committee voted to reject a 2-week-old resolution to spend $59,000 with CWC Office Furnishings to replace 144 chairs in three courtrooms.

Finance Committee Chairman Joe Graham said he had independently researched reupholstering the chairs, and he said the county could cut the average $400-per-chair cost by more than half.

The finance committee passed the resolution as written two weeks ago but pulled it from the commission's agenda last week because Graham said it deserved more discussion.

Coppinger bristled at the move to pull the item last week, and called Graham's explanation Wednesday "a filibuster." He said the committee should leave purchasing processes to the county's purchasing department, saying that experts vet resolutions before the commission sees them.

"There's nobody more conscious of [saving money] than this staff, or myself. Anything that's brought before this commission is vetted. It's vetted by professionals," Coppinger said. "Anything I bring to you, say yes or no. If you don't agree with it, just say no to me."

Graham said he was simply doing his homework.

"As a financial body, should we not do our due diligence, or our homework?" Graham asked.

Commissioner Tim Boyd did as Coppinger asked -- after more discussion.

Boyd took issue with restrictions on the bidding process that called for the chair suppliers to be within 45 miles of Hamilton County and restricted the selection to two specific brands.

"The way this resolution's written up, the mayor asked us to give a yes or no, and this commissioner's giving a no," Boyd said.

Graham at the end of the finance meeting said the committee would not recommend approving the resolution and recommended the county remove the two bid restrictions.

Commissioners will meet next week for their regular voting meeting.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

Upcoming Events