By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: Board Chair Cynthia Comparin, Carol Roehrig, and Vicky Terehani submitted letters of resignation more than a week ago, on March 30th. The letters only came to light yesterday, when Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher tried to understand why the members quit.
Margaret Keliher, Dallas County Judge: I was surprised. I thought the board was moving forward and getting changes they wanted to make, and were getting information they needed and so I was surprised.
Zeeble: Long-time board member John Aughinbaugh added his resignation yesterday. In the letter obtained by the Dallas Morning News, he complained of a breakdown in governance and criticized commissioners for not backing the board. Chairperson Cynthia Comparin and Carol Roehrig jointly signed a two-page letter that didn't mention Parkland CEO Ron Anderson by name, but criticized a CEO who isn't open with the board. The pair also blamed administrators for lacking urgency in collecting $33 million owed to Parkland by neighboring counties. Anderson refuted the accusation.
Ron Anderson, CEO, Parkland Hospital: It's interesting to be accused of lack of urgency when in 1982, I sued five counties and we won the suits. We've been working on this issue for 25 years, and relative newcomers coming by and talking lack of urgency, obviously we're concerned about it. And we've decreased the amount down to $35 million.
Zeeble: Anderson rejected the pair's other charges that he didn't properly inform the board about contracts, finances or facilities. But to Dr. Lauren McDonald, now the board's acting chair, it all sounded like an excuse for Comparin's own failures.
Dr. Lauren McDonald, Acting Chair, Parkland Hospital Board: I wonder if she's trying to save face, so to speak. She kind of put us into a corner and things aren't going well, and sometimes the easiest thing to do is disappear or resign.
Zeeble: McDonald said she also urged Mr. Aughinbaugh to stay on the board. While she often disagreed with him, she said he worked hard to better Parkland. The hospital is facing financial troubles, struggling with severe federal and state budget cuts. It's also trying to fulfill its legal obligation to treat the county's growing number of indigent sick. In the past year, Parkland has sliced more than $65 million from its budget through job cuts. Rumors the hospital might oust Anderson and slash services to the poor sparked more than a hundred grassroots activists to show up at a hospital board meeting two weeks ago. Cynthia Comparin ejected the group and abruptly cancelled the meeting. Reverend Gerald Britt, with Dallas Area Interfaith, was there and says Comparin's resignation is a good thing, but he's not sure what'll happen next.
Reverend Gerald Britt, Dallas Area Interfaith: We still want to meet with our county commissioners and see what their next steps are and see if there is some place, or create some space for us to be a part of the conversation over who takes their place. We don't want to see the budget of Parkland balanced on the backs of poor people.
Zeeble: County Judge Keliher said she'd like to fill the open positions as soon as possible, maybe even by next week, but added it may be hard finding able volunteers with the background and commitment to do the job. Meanwhile, activists who showed up at the last board meeting say they'll be at the next one on April 27th. But that could be postponed, because as of now, there's no quorum. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.
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