Today’s Nfld News: Hospital Board meetings likely broke law. "Hospital officials likely broke open meeting laws by routinely closing meetings to the public to discuss executive departures from the city-owned enterprise…" In mid-August, Northfield Hospital‘s Bobbi Jenkins contacted me about posting a news release (see below) from the search committee "seeking input from the community regarding the most important qualities for candidates for the President/CEO position." (continued)
I responded that instead, I wanted to have an online discussion about the issue with participation from a couple members of the committee and asked to contact them to explain. She forwarded an email reply from John Lundblad, CEO Search Committee Chair, who declined. I asked for his email address and was told that I he prefers to be called. I’ve not called him yet.
My rationale for wanting something other than members of the public submitting suggestions privately is that A) no one benefits from anyone else’s suggestions; B) no one gets to observe how members of the search committee respond. The St. Paul School Board has a special section of their website on their search for the next superintendent and held a public input session on Sept. 17 asking:
What are the most important qualities for the next permanent superintendent of the capitol city’s public school district? Now is your chance let Saint Paul Public Schools know your list of priorities at a Public Input Session.
What would be the problem with doing something similar for our hospital CEO search?
Aug. 20 Hospital news release:
The Northfield Hospital & Clinics Board of Directors is commencing a search for a new President and CEO. A Search Committee has been appointed by the Board to lead this effort and includes the following members:
- John M. Lundblad, Board & Committee Chair
- Dixon Bond, Board & Committee Vice Chair
- James Schlichting, Board Member
- Randy Reister, M.D. & Board Member
- Rodney Christensen, M.D.
- Robert Shepley, M.D.
- Mary Quinn Crow, Administration
- Mary Rossing, Northfield Mayor
- Jim Blaha, Community Action Center
- Karen Gervais, League of Women Voters Member
The Search Committee is in the process of developing a position profile and is interested in what the community believes are the most important qualities for candidates for the President/CEO position. If you are interested in providing input about these qualities, please contact the Search Committee by e-mail at: searchcommittee@northfieldhospital.org
In addition, telephone input can be given through voice mail by calling 507-646-6792 or through regular mail sent to John M. Lundblad, Search Committee Chair, 200 Division Street, #340, Northfield, MN 55057
Sept. 18 Nfld News: In time of health care reform, hospital seeks flexible CEO
In today’s Nfld News: Open meeting laws need to be tightened.
Today’s Nfld News: Hospital Board votes to release redacted closed meeting minutes.
BTW, kudos to the Northfield News for drawing attention to the inappropriately closed meetings.