PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles City Council members returned after the new year to take their new seats — literally.
The city purchased brand new chairs for the seven council members, which they used for the first time Tuesday.
Teresa Pierce, city spokeswoman, said the high-back, leather, executive chairs were purchased for $450 each, for a total cost of $3,150, from Pacific Office Equipment in Port Angeles.
They have a retail value of $725, she said.
“They were the only chairs we could find under $800 of that type of style and durability,” Pierce said.
She said the older chairs, which had been used since City Hall was built about 24 years ago, needed to be replaced because they were losing their support.
“The bottoms were kind of disappearing,” Pierce said.
“When you sat in a chair, it was like sitting in a bowl.”
Deputy Mayor Brad Collins thanked the staff Tuesday for the new chairs.
“I have a bad back, and these chairs are much better,” he said.
Councilman Pat Downie said he is less likely to fall backward with the new chairs but otherwise didn’t notice much of a difference.
“On a couple of occasions, I leaned back, and I felt I was going to” fall backward, he said, referring to the old chairs.
“The mechanics of it were probably worn, I suspect.”
The city’s Planning Commission also uses the chairs.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.