Hamilton County Commissioner Boyd sets agenda for finance committee

Honestly, there are too many big egos on the County Commission.

In his inaugural meeting as the Hamilton County Commission's finance committee chairman, Tim Boyd presented fellow commissioners with a list of items he wants reviewed in the coming months.

Boyd plans for the three-member committee to be "investigative" and do more than just review resolutions each week, touting his four years of experience on the panel.

Commission Chairman Chester Bankston appointed Boyd chairman of the Finance and Insurance Committee weeks ago. He also named Sabrena Smedley and Randy Fairbanks to serve with him.

Boyd presented the commissioners - many voluntarily attended the meeting since they aren't serving on the committee - a list of eight agencies and policies he wants examined. He said it's the finance committee's responsibility to question the continuation of funding and to examine if existing policies need to be changed.

But many commissioners questioned Boyd's intentions in calling the meeting and challenged his motivation to investigate certain items.

During the meeting, Boyd specifically focused on the Read 20 program, the commission's policy on discretionary spending and communication with the mayor.

Questioning Read 20 funding, Boyd cited the state comptroller's decision earlier this year that said it is illegal for commissioners to spend their discretionary funds on public education.

But after the meeting, County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said funding for the Read 20 program is legal, citing that it is a public-private partnership that serves all children in Hamilton County and not just public school students.

Boyd also defended discretionary spending, which the commission has been debating for weeks, saying that he has personally seen it "change people's lives."

And Boyd missed no opportunity to take a jab at County Mayor Jim Coppinger, repeatedly mentioning a "gap in communication" he says exists.

As Boyd finished his nearly 40-minute presentation, Fairbanks affirmed the committee's role to be investigators, and said he doesn't want the mayor's office to take offense to this approach as it is part of the committee's responsibility.

"If a policy is a strong policy and should be in place it will withstand scrutiny," Fairbanks said.

Bankston agreed, saying there is nothing wrong with reviewing programs, and Smedley agreed, clarifying she doesn't want this to look like a "witch hunt" and that with "some of these issues we are going to have to ask the hard questions."

But commissioners Marty Haynes, Warren Mackey, Greg Beck and Joe Graham voiced disagreement with Boyd's presentation. Jim Fields was the only commissioner not present.

Graham, who previously served on the committee, went through each of Boyd's items questioning his accuracy and his reasoning behind the selection of issues. He mentioned how many of the questions Boyd raised had previously been answered.

"I heard a lot of I and I heard a lot of me and I heard a lot of finance chair," Graham said of Boyd's presentation, which he said he felt came from Boyd's personal agenda.

Beck echoed many of Graham's sentiments, telling Boyd it sounded like he wanted to be chairman of the commission.

"I fail to see how some of this has to do with the finance department," Beck said. " Most of [these issues] have come out of the mayor's office."

Beck reminded Boyd that action can't be taken on many of these issues without Coppinger, who was not present at the meeting. He said it is not in the jurisdiction of the finance committee to take up whatever topics it wants for consideration.

Beck also challenged the communication gap Boyd described. Each commissioner present agreed, saying they have good communication with the mayor and find him and his office to be very responsive.

Haynes smiled as he said, "If I have any more communication with [the mayor's] office I think I'll die," noting his calls, texts and emails are always returned by Coppinger.

After the meeting, Coppinger said he is proud of the working relationship he has with most of the commissioners and finds communication to be a 50/50 split.

"Boyd rarely, rarely calls," Coppinger said. " The relationship I have with him is much less than the one I have with other commissioners."

Coppinger declined comment on other issues brought up by Boyd, as he was not present at the meeting.

Near the conclusion of Boyd's meeting Mackey questioned the lack of trust commissioners have from their constituents, saying recent media attention has cast a negative light on the commissioners, specifically in regard to their bickering.

"Honestly, there are too many big egos on the County Commission," Mackey said. "This work is not about you and me trying to be in the news, it's about us trying to serve Hamilton County."

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.