Commissioners remove 911 mayoral appointments from agenda after debate about mayoral authority

During agenda approval the Coffee County Commission voted to remove mayoral appointments to the countywide 911 board from tonight’s agenda, after commissioners debated whether municipal leaders should have input.

Commissioner Benton Brown said he wanted Manchester to “have a chance to go over and have a say so on who gets put on the committee.” Brown moved to remove the appointments; Commissioner Hodge seconded the motion. After discussion and an opportunity to comment from other commissioners, the amendment carried 11 yes to 5 no.

Commissioner Hodge raised the legal question, saying he had reviewed the applicable law and the county’s resolution: “TCA specifically says it's a mayoral appointment, and this is a countywide authority that was set up in 1987. And nowhere in TCA or the resolution to set this up does it say that either city has recommendation authority for this board.” He indicated his concern was legal clarity rather than opposition to municipal input.

Other commissioners who supported delaying the vote framed it as a matter of courtesy and collaboration with Manchester’s leadership. The chairman called the roll and announced the tally; the clerk recorded 11 yes and 5 no on the amendment. As a result, the mayoral appointments to the 911 board were not voted on at this meeting and will return to the commission at a later date after mayoral input is sought.

The removal of the 911 appointments occurred alongside another procedural amendment to remove a personnel-separation policy item (10f) from the agenda and send it to the legislative committee for review.