SVDH to recruit new CEO
The search for Sierra View District Hospital’s new Chief Executive Officer is on.
In a 5-0 vote, the Sierra View Local Health Care District Board of Directors voted to move forward with the search for the hospital’s next CEO.
The former CEO, Joe Stewart, who began on Jan. 2, 2012, was dismissed in a 3-2 vote — with directors Richard Hatfield, Gaurang Pandya and Kent Sorrells voting to oust him, and Ashok Behl and Jasvir Sidhu voting to keep him — on Jan. 15, 2013.
Sharon Brown, executive director of human resources, presented, to the Board and Senior Management Team, a proposed President/CEO recruitment process.
The information presented included criteria examples from Senior Management and the Board of Directors during the 2011 recruitment.
Brown also presented information, including proposals and background information, on four recruitment firms, calculations for suggested salaries, the CEO job description and two lists indicating a step-by-step process for the selection of the final candidate.
The only difference between the two options is ‘Option 2’ includes onsite interviews of potential CEO candidates by a community panel, in addition to the interviews by a physician panel and Senior Management, listed in ‘Option 1’.
Brown pointed out that Dick Swan, with the Witt/Keifer recruitment firm was ‘a little more expensive’ but very thorough, and was one that was being looked at.
The company’s fee was not known at the time of the meeting, but Brown said she was expecting a quote from the company.
The other three recruitment firms, Executive Healthcare Recruiters, American Recruiters and MRI of Tacoma, had fees of 20 percent of starting salary, 25 percent of base salary, and a flat fee of $28,000., respectively.
Sorrells said he wanted to move to approve to start the selection process and leave it to Human Resources and Senior Management to approve which contract is used.
Several questions followed, including Dr. Sidhu asking who would set up the interviews and Dr. Behl asking about the time frame.
Brown answered interviews Human Resources works with the recruiter and would set up the interviews and that the time frame to get to the final interview would be approximately three months. Questions on the success of the companies and whether or not they guarantee the placement, and if something happens, would they replace the CEO, were also asked.
Brown answered she was looking into obtaining all that information and also mentioned Stewart came with a 90-day guarantee.
Hatfield encouraged the importance of having community input and said he preferred the ‘Option 2’ list.
Also during the meeting, Sorrells praised and thanked Interim CFO Michael McGinnis for his six months of service to Sierra View District Hospital.
McGinnis, who works on contract, is a CFO for other organizations and already has other commitments and can’t extend his contract. His last day is set for Jan. 31.
During his Chairman Report, Sorrells talked about changing the way things are done.
“We need to be fair. We need to be transparent and we need to be accountable,” he said. “That’s very important from the Board’s standpoint.”
He asked board members to put aside whatever happens in private life, including issues and hidden agendas, and to spend all of their energy for the good of the hospital and its patients.
Sorrells also praised Interim CEO Donna Hefner, saying the Board supports her in all of her endeavors.
Earlier in the meeting, during public comment, Joann Eckles, a longtime Springville resident, stood and quoted former board member Brent Gill as saying “To reverse a former decision takes guts.”
She then asked the current board to reconsider the decision made on Jan. 15 dismissing then CEO Joe Stewart.
“I’d like to say to you ‘Reverse this decision today. You have made a horrible mistake. Reverse this decision quickly,’” she said.
Because it was done during the public comment session, no response was offered.
As Sorrells said he was returning to Closed Session, Eckles once again offered a few words.
“You have talked a lot about being transparent,” she said. “Yet you’ve said nothing about why you fired [Joe] Stewart. You’re not off the hook.”
Sorrells voiced her frustration as the Board quietly listened.
The Board then convened to Closed Session to meet with legal counsel regarding threatened litigation. No other information was offered.
The closed session involved information only, there was no action and there was nothing to report when the board returned to open session.
Outside of the Boardroom, Eckles continued to voice her concerns.
“People have been calling me up every day. They are irate,” she said. “They’re talking about recalling the Board and many are thinking Brent Gill might be coming in as the new CEO. The Board is all dancing around this whole CEO search. But it wouldn’t surprise me at all they already have someone in mind. Why can’t they just answer that one question? Why would they fire him? It’s not over. A lot of people are talking about wanting to recall the board.”
Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.
