By PETER HUSSMANN
The Skiff Medical Center Board of Trustees accepted the resignations of board members Gary Kahn and John Lee and voted to appoint board-elect members Dr. Gary Richardson and Lois Vogel to fill their unexpired terms until the two officially take office in January.
Kahn and Lee tendered their resignations, effective immediately, in letters presented to the board at today's special meeting.
Lee, acting as chair at the meeting due to Kahn's absence, first noted Kahn's dedication and service to Skiff over the past 17 years he's served on the board.
"Whether you agree with him or not, that service and dedication needs to be recognized," Lee said of Kahn's tenure on the board. "He's given more hours to this hospital than anyone in this room."
Lee then read from a prepared statement on the reasons behind his early departure.
"First of all, it has been an absolute privilege to serve Skiff Medical Center and the community of Newton," Lee said. "This institution is very dear to me. As a business person I realize how important this hospital is to the community of Newton and Jasper County."
Lee went on to note that his decision to step aside before his term expires will allow the city-owned hospital to begin the "healing process."
"Hindsight will always be twenty-twenty, but I have no regrets about the decisions I have made while sitting on this board and while some may have criticized those decisions they were made with careful thought, consideration and more recently, prayer," he said.
"I still do not agree with the conduct of some members of this board, as well as some of the stakeholders of this hospital, but there is one thing I believe we all agree on that is that this institution desperately needs to start the healing process. I believe my stepping aside just one month before my term expires will allow that healing to begin to happen."
Lee noted the tough work that lies ahead for the Skiff board.
"It is with complete sincerity I wish the new board all the best," he said. "You have a very tough job ahead and I trust you will carefully, thoughtfully and prayerfully consider every option and all of the people involved in the decision that is in front of you. Thank you for allowing me to serve."
Board member Dan Skokan thanked Kahn and Lee for their service.
"I would like to publicly recognize and thank both Gary and John for their service to Skiff over the past years," Skokan said. "Although there has been much controversy, I know they had Skiff's best interest in their hearts. We are all here to lead Skiff into the next chapter of success. It is a treasured community asset and we must not lose sight of our mission of providing compassionate and personalized health care services. Let the healing begin."
After accepting the resignations, the three remaining members voted to make Deb Pence chair of the board until January. Jeff King was appointed vice chair.
"The ultimate goal is to heal the organization," Pence said.
After the meeting, the board members were asked about the CEO search process. The three members said Monday's session with the three candidates - one dropped out - went well, with good input from the doctors and directors.
"The goal is to have something in place by Jan. 1," King said.
