The Hamilton County Commission isn’t required to approve Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s appointment to head the county Health Department but will vote anyway, according to a memo from County Attorney Janie Varnell to commissioners last week.
“After consultation with the mayor, since this has already been placed on the agenda, we are prepared to proceed as planned with the vote on Wednesday,” Varnell’s memo said. “Our constituents are expecting a discussion and a vote, so we move forward as usual.”
The memo, provided to the Chattanooga Times Free Press by a spokesperson for Wamp, was sent to the commission days after questions were raised publicly about whether Wamp could appoint the position without first having it confirmed with the state commissioner of health, as the law governing the position states.
(READ MORE: Wamp announces key Hamilton County health appointment)
Varnell — who recently replaced a county attorney with decades of experience who left with almost all his staff — told commissioners Wednesday that she would get back to them with answers after Commissioner David Sharpe, D-Red Bank, asked if state law was being followed, considering the fact that the state commissioner had not yet confirmed the appointment.