By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
An elected member of the hospital district board is calling on her colleagues to make it easier for a citizen to place an item on the board’s agenda.
Jane Morain, the Precinct 4 representative on the hospital board and a retired educator, spoke to her hospital district board colleagues about the issue during the citizen comments portion of the board’s Dec. 19 special meeting.
“It has recently come to my attention that it is difficult to get items placed on the (hospital board meeting) agenda. I have heard from members of the community, and even board members, that they are finding it almost impossible to get issues of concern to be addressed by the board,” Morain told the board, reading from a prepared statement.
She continued, “There is a method in use now, which is to submit a request in writing and get four board members to sign on. For one reason or another, there seems to be a breakdown in this process. For me, it seems prohibitive and goes against the intent of the law.”
“The (hospital) district board was elected by citizens in this community to oversee the running of the hospital and to address health and medical concerns in all of us. To listen to concerns during citizens comments is not always enough; we need to be able to have a dialogue,” Morain said.
“It is only through conversations that we can do our jobs properly and serve the community well. This is what democracy is all about. It would really expedite the process if after citizens comments, the person or group could fill out a form and pass it around the table in hopes of getting four board (members’) signatures. This would make it possible for the item to be placed on the agenda for the next board meeting,” she read.
“I propose that we come up with such a form using a committee. I am including a sample form that I came up with, which I am using today. This form would not displace the old method, but would give us another tool to help make this process easier for everyone. The citizens have the expectation and the right to have their concerns addressed in a timely and professional manner,” Morain read.
“I know we can do better. I believe this is a solution that will help all of us; therefore, I am passing this request around in hopes that I can get one more board member to sign this form so we can discuss this at the next board meeting. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter,” she finished.
Morain’s comments were met with a smattering of applause from audience members.
After she finished reading her statement, Morain passed other board members the form she had referenced, saying she had already had three board members sign it and only needed a fourth signature so the item could be placed on the agenda of the board’s next regular meeting in January.
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