Opinion

Why all the secrecy?

Ohio’s Open Meetings Act was created with one primary goal in mind: to insure that the public would be able to monitor the actions of its elected and appointed officials, as well as that of public entities such as the Van Wert County Hospital Commission.

That’s why it’s so distasteful to see the same law subverted by County Prosecutor Charles Kennedy to provide a pretext for not only holding a meeting in secret, but to maintain that secrecy after action was taken on the issue by that public body.

While transparency in government was the main goal of the law, those who created it realized there were a few instances when public entities needed to meet in secret in order to protect the public interest. For instance, to protect the privacy of public employees, some personnel issues are discussed behind closed doors. However, action on personnel items must be taken in public.

There are also reasons why public entities discuss the sale and purchase of property away from public scrutiny. The purchase of property is an exception to the open meetings law so that public bodies can discuss the possible location of a new school, for example, without having to fear that unscrupulous people can attend a school board meeting, find out the location being considered and then buy up the land and raise the price, something that would not be in the public interest.

Mr. Kennedy used the pretext of land purchase – even though the hospital commission is being asked to sell the hospital property, not buy it – so that the discussion of the proposed land transfer could be held in secret.

Furthermore, when the public meeting process is subverted, the question always arises: What do the people involved have to hide, or why do they fear a healthy public discussion of the issue?

One must wonder why the hospital commission and Mr. Kennedy felt that discussing the land transfer agreement in public was a bad thing, or that those who attended the meeting, which included a number of hospital officials, media representatives and just plain folks, didn’t deserve to hear the discussion, or even learn the specifics of the action taken later in the meeting.

 After all, the commission wasn’t discussing the site of a new hospital or anything else that would need to be kept hush-hush, was it? So why the secrecy?

One can only speculate, since none of us were privy to the actual discussion, thanks to Mr. Kennedy’s machinations. Could it be that a healthy, open discussion of the land transfer might have raised points that would have changed the outcome of the discussion? We’ll likely never know.

 One thing is for sure: When someone works as hard as Mr. Kennedy to control the subject matter discussed by a public entity, one must wonder just where his personal interest lies in the matter. That’s especially true when said prosecutor, in his role as private citizen, has already made public statements opposing the transfer agreement, as written.

However, instead of realizing his potential conflict of interest and stepping down as the commission's legal counsel, Mr. Kennedy is apparently doing everything he can to control the decision being made.

If anything, Tuesday night’s travesty of a meeting was an example of how NOT to run a meeting, as well as a primer on why open meetings laws are needed. Both Mr. Kennedy and the hospital commission should be ashamed of their actions, which definitely went against the American custom of open, transparent government.
--Dave Mosier

Hospital trustees address compensation

By Jon Rhoades & Joel Knerr, MD

Co-chairmen

Van Wert County Hospital Board of Trustees

Recent media coverage has drawn the public’s attention to executive compensation.  As Co-Chairmen of the Van Wert County Hospital Association Board of Trustees, We’d like to take this opportunity to share some information about healthcare compensation.  Hospital CEO’s are accountable for their entire organization.  They face unique challenges and their pay reflects the complexity of their job, which is both difficult and demanding.  Attracting qualified candidates for these positions require compensation and incentives commensurate with the job.

Health care institutions are among the most complex to manage.  For example, Van Wert County Hospital’s President and CEO, Mark Minick, manages an array of services beyond the actual hospital, including a multi-specialty physician group, home health care and therapy practices, regional laboratories, nursing homes and a regional cancer center to name just a few.  Van Wert County Hospital’s operating budget along with its collaborations and joint ventures generate revenues over $180 million.     

Health care and hospital management is highly competitive and highly regulated.  Hospital leaders have years of specialized training.  The job requires specific education in health and business administration.  Most administrators have spent more than 25 years in the health field in a variety of management positions.        

The Van Wert County Hospital Association is a not-for-profit corporation organized under IRS code section 501(c)(3) and has a uniform philosophy regarding compensation of executives and physicians.  The compensation policy is in strict accordance of Internal Revenue Service Guidelines and outside consultant recommendations.  As part of that policy the Association’s Board of Trustees has established a Compensation Committee that works with outside consultants to establish policies, guidelines and salary ranges relevant to physician and executive compensation. 

Consultants survey other institutions and healthcare systems based on a number of “like” factors.  Criteria for surveys include consolidated revenues, total number of entities, joint ventures, number of combined employees, total consolidated assets and many other factors. Based on these criteria, a salary range and benefit package are recommended to the Compensation Committee for adoption.  A candidates experience, education, degrees, performance and retention are also factors in determining the specific compensation of an individual.  Other factors may include mobility and geographic considerations.

CEO searches are conducted nationally, even for small hospitals.  The marketplace for executive talent has evolved from a mixture of local/regional/national focuses to an almost exclusively national focus for governing boards and other hiring authorities.  Today, if we needed to search, we would have to consider candidates from across the country.  That would result in a more competitive market with an increased upward pressure on the salary. 

The average tenure of a CEO is between three to four years.  This is a stark contrast to the historical pattern of administrators staying in positions for extended periods, often for virtually their entire careers.  When Mark Minick was hired in 1991, the hospital was facing financial instability, declining market share and an uncertain future.  Today, the Hospital consistently receives high client satisfaction scores, is the second largest employer in Van Wert and an economic driver of this community. 

Hospital CEOs are entrusted with people’s lives and well-being 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Van Wert and the surrounding communities we serve deserve the most capable leader possible, and we fully support Mark Minick’s strong leadership, thoughtful planning, careful management and fiscal responsibility.  His qualities are crucial in these extraordinary times.

Library grateful for program support

To the Editor:

On Friday, August 6, 2010, a golf tournament was held to benefit the Brumback Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. Sponsored by Statewide Ford and First Federal Savings & Loan Association, in conjunction with the fundraising efforts of the Crestview Teachers Association, Lincolnview Teachers Association, the Van Wert Federation of Teachers and the Van Wert County Retired Teachers Association, the tournament raised $1,500.

I cannot emphasize enough the vital role these aforementioned firms, organizations and their members have played in making this year’s program a financial reality. In June and July, many of Van Wert County’s children participated in a wide range of Summer Reading activities designed to promote a love of reading, learning and discovery.

On behalf of the Brumback Library Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers, as well as the program’s 1,893 participants and their families, I wish to express our very special thanks for the collective generosity and support of the county’s teachers associations, First Federal Savings & Loan and Statewide Ford. Their financial assistance, kindness and interest is appreciated more than we can say.

John J. Carr, Director

Brumback Library
8/18

Local resident addresses animal care

To the Editor:

In response to a recent response … to a recent editorial, I would like to clear up several misconceptions. First and foremost there are 2 sides to the recent issues going on in the Ohio livestock community. On June 30, 2010 the Ohio Farm Bureau, Gov. Ted Strickland, and the Humane Society of the U.S. came to an agreement on new guidelines for veal, poultry, and pregnant sows, among a few other animal welfare issues. This is an important step in the right direction for Ohio.

Mr. Schumm, obviously you and I are on different sides of this, and we will most likely never agree. You are naturally defending your livelihood and simply following the trends of your trade. I’m sure that your CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) is run well, and to the best of your ability. I am looking at the bigger picture here, not an individual facility or a “mega-monster” as you would call it. While your facility may be very clean, well run, and all within the guidelines, you are most definitely contributing to a much larger corporate monster.

Misconception 1 – The recent agreement that was reached between the Humane Society, and the Ohio Farm bureau, was pushed through by a group of Ohioans called, “Ohioans for Humane Farms.” The group is endorsed by several animal welfare charities, Ohio businesses, and restaurants, Ohio faith leaders, prominent individuals and authors including: Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, and Robert Lawrence, director of the John Hopkins Center For a Livable Future, a long list of Ohio animal hospitals, and well respected Ohio Veterinarians including our own Tom Wilkin, DVM, owner of Animal Clinic of Van Wert, several family farms and farming organizations including United Farm Workers, and Farm Forward, and at least 500,000 registered Ohio voters who signed the petitions. My point is that this is not a bunch of wacked out, crazy, tree hugging, out of state extremists that the Ohio Farm Bureau would like to make people believe. The idea that their ultimate goal is to take away meat, milk, and eggs, is ridiculous. This is not only a lie, but a major insult. This is in fact a group of people who see this as a step towards a better future for the health and well being of people, animals, and the planet.

Misconception 2 – The term “family farm” is commonly used to describe the smaller more traditional farms. When someone says, “Oh look honey … it’s a family farm!” We automatically imagine a big red barn with chickens walking around pecking through the grass, cows grazing the rolling hill pasture, and little Frankie, carrying a water bucket out to the goat that wears a bell around its neck. The line that separates the traditional farmer from the factory farmer can sometimes be blurred. Today there are many different types of farming, or many different methods being used. Some traditional, and some more modern. Some on a smaller scale, and some on a much larger one. Some that focus on quality, and others that focus on quantity. Some that are sustainable, and others that are not. The majority of the farms in the U.S. are run by families. So, with that being said, a sixth generation farm family can very well be running an animal factory. Don’t be confused by this. The important difference is what farming methods are being used.

Misconception 3 – Production practices of yesteryear are not meeting some of today’s health and safety standards… is a load of malarkey. I would say the same about the modern industrialized farming and processing methods being used today by large operations. 76 million people become ill from their food every year. Several hundreds of thousands of pounds of just beef alone have been recalled in the U.S. in 2010 because of E Coli 0157:H7 contamination. Not to mention the 25 million pounds of antibiotics fed to livestock annually. I would love to hear an explanation of why it is necessary to routinely administer low doses of antibiotics to livestock living in a CAFO. It’s obviously to mask stress and disease, but I’d still love to hear a factory farmer explain that one. There is an emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria that should be a concern for everyone. I could go on and on about food safety. I think pretty much most everyone reading this has been told at some point that our “western diet” is unhealthy and is causing some of the chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Take a look around. It seems like we are all in denial.

It’s so hard to keep these letters short, as this is a complicated issue. It’s not as simple as some try to make it seem: Farmers make food for us to eat. No, there’s much more to it than that. Factory farming methods are unsustainable and they are going to destroy our rivers and lakes. I refuse to contribute to them. Everyone draws their own lines in different places. Educate yourself, please. It’s your food, your body, and your health. The good news is that there are some very hopeful signs. There is a resurgence of more sensible farming methods returning. More and more people are making themselves aware of the food industry, and demanding something better. Retailers are joining the market driven demand. Walmart’s private label, “Great Value” is using cage-free organic eggs. Thank you, Walmart! There are things you can do to help job growth in agriculture in our local and regional economies, things that will bring fresher, healthful food to our communities.

What you can do:

*Educate yourself!

*Refuse to purchase things that come from a factory farm.

*Shop at farmers markets.

*Buy food directly from a local farmer whose methods are traditional, organic, or humane and sustainable.

*Cut back on the “McGarbage,” and eat more foods that don’t come wrapped in a package.

*Go visit a “pick your own” farm with your family … it’s fun!

If you want to get more involved, contact a group that is involved in fighting factory farming and supporting the smaller family and traditional farms, such as: Farm Aid, The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and the Land Stewardship Project. These are all huge groups that are promoting federal sustainable agriculture policies and trying to bring about change in federal policy.

We are at the beginning of change. It’s slow, but it’s definitely happening. We are turning this around by making better food choices. We need to help bring back the ethical farming heritage that generations before us labored to build, so that we are leaving behind a better place for generations to come. As we reject factory farm products, we help create a market for the smaller family farms. They cannot prosper without us. It’s your choice- 3 times a day!

Lisa Stemen

Convoy

via email