Hospital report points to parcel tax; CEO defers (most of) her raise; campaign shots fired; and more

If you’re among the critics of Sonoma Valley Hospital who complain that CEO Kelly Mather makes too much money, don’t up your meds just yet. Yes she just got a raise, but is passing much of that back to the bottom line. Mather, explains Board Chair Joshua Rymer, “asked that her salary increase be used toward increases for deserving hospital leaders and staff members, and that she would accept only the standard two percent cost-of-living increase.” The board is adamant that Mather’s compensation package is on par with CEO’s at comparably-sized hospitals. In all, a glowing review. “The board is united in its belief that our hospital has an excellent CEO in Kelly Mather. Making decisions at the nexus of balancing saving lives with making difficult business decisions is challenging, and Kelly has shown she handles the responsibilities especially well. We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber.”

Rymer was also positive about an independent, deep-dive report on the hospital’s general financial health delivered by three respected Sonomans: Steve Pease, Gary Nelson and Bob Edwards, all of whom have hospital governance experience. (Read their report at svhobservations.org.) They delivered their findings at a public SVH board meeting, and like concerned patients waiting for test results, Rymer and company were grateful for the benign results. For Rymer, who called it “a fair and accurate assessment,” there were three key observations: “That our community needs an Emergency Department simply because, without it, lives would be unnecessarily lost and injuries would be unnecessarily made worse. Second, the government so dramatically underpays for services we provide to around 75 percent of our patients with Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage.” And the unanimous diagnosis that “ it is inconceivable that the hospital would be able to survive without the continuing support from a parcel tax for the foreseeable future.”… Rymer’s stint as chair ends next month after two years. He’ll stay on the board, which will elect his successor in January.

The field is set for the First District (Sonoma Valley) Sonoma County Supervisor race: incumbent Susan Gorin and lone challenger David Cook, a Sonoma City Council member. Cook is in full campaign mode in advance of the March 3 primary, where one candidate can win the seat outright with 50%-plus of the vote. An emerging theme of Cook’s aggressive rhetoric is the implication that Gorin’s, and the County’s, response to the wildfires was inadequate. “We have lost lives, homes, and businesses,” he says. “I was a firefighter for many years. We need water for fire flow to hydrants. We need preplanned fire roads. I know how to get that done. We have pot holes in the roads. I am a licensed contractor. I know how to fix pavement.” Cook, the founder of a vineyard management company, says he “has become famous for his empathy to the plight of the common voter and his practice of fiscal responsibility.”

The County’s Department of Emergency Management is certainly happy with Sonoma, awarding to City Manager and staff the Louis “Pete” Peterka Emergency Management Award, Cited were the city’s supporting response to the Kincade Fire and the PG&E shutdowns. “Your city quickly mobilized your community charging center, and prepared the center for care and shelter,” commended the DEM’s Jeff DuVal. “Your efforts towards and during response, mitigation, recovery, and overall collaboration should be commended. You have served as an example towards other cities.” Congrats, and hang that certificate by a window, so you can see it when and if the lights go out again. 

— Val Robichaud, [email protected]