Hospital board opts for time

At a special meeting Thursday night of the Sonoma Valley Health Care District, the board members discussed when to launch another bond measure and whether to secure the Carinalli property. After active public discussion, the members agreed that they need more time to study the financial projections, the various strategic options and the extent and nature of the community’s support.
Board chair Dick Kirk expressed his commitment to improving hospital services in this valley. “I believe we need to listen to the community, evaluate the business plan and then make a decision about another bond measure.” Public comments covered a wide spectrum of opinion, ranging from agreeing that organizing volunteers in November will be difficult, to caution that people’s finances are going to be in worse shape the longer they wait, and to assertions that the bond will pass only if it’s about refurbishing the current property, not purchasing any other piece of land.
Stanley Cohen said the timing of the bond measure will come down to finances. “We have to look at the finances to see if the money will hold till next year.” Norman Gilroy argued against going for a bond in November, citing the distraction of the presidential election, the fact that volunteers would be busy, plus they’re already burned out. In addition, he said, at that time, there will be board seats up for election, too. “I’m concerned we’re focused on politics instead of health care,” he said. Kirk nodded his head. Gilroy mentioned that he and others are working hard to secure funding, and they need time to do that.
Peggy Bair, co-chair of the recent failed campaign, said she agreed with Gilroy, but said, “I’d add one thing. Those of us who worked on this campaign became exceedingly clear that other than the time period, we never found how to come together as a community. How do we get this community to shift in its attitude toward this hospital? A lot of us are willing to work on it, but it can’t be done by November.” Some emphatic accusations by hospital neighbors, including shouting out of turn and slamming doors, indicated that such work still needs to be done.
Carl Rogge, a resident of 32 years, said ”Why do we support the hospital? We need an emergency room. Why else? It’s our civic duty! I think most of us believe that we don’t expect the fire department or hospital or schools to make money. But we expect to support them.” He described Prop A, in 1992, to build an expensive new high school, which failed. “It went down to defeat in June of ‘92 garnering only 38 percent of the votes. Did that mean the people here were against supporting our schools? Of course not.” He said a more modest proposal was then put before the voters, and it passed with 78 percent. “I think there’s a lesson there for all of us,” he said. “The trouble, dear board members, lies not with the voters, but with the options they have been given so far.” With that, he sat down, and applause rose up around him.
Big project, small project, land, no land – the bottom line remains the bottom line. Hospital CEO Carl Gerlach said, “I need to be able to finish the budget. That will tell you how long you can go.” The decision to opt for time rested with these two unknowns: what will the community at large support and how long can the hospital hold out. They plan to decide at the next board meeting.