Scheduled for Nov. 18th at 3:00 PM in the hospital’s Stager Conference Center, the public will be allowed up to five minutes per person for public questions and comments, according to Director of Communications John Lines.
Lines said the main topics will be Electronic Medical Records, LGH’s Financial Position, Performance, and Quality Goals.
This is the only opportunity during the year LGH allows for the public to attend and be heard.
LGH is a 501(c)3 ‘Public Charity’ . If it were ‘for profit’ enterprise, it would pay millions of dollars in local taxes and perhaps $25 million of its average $100 million earnings in direct federal and state corporate taxes and indirect taxes on dividends.
The amounts county residents are charged for health insurance reflects the additional costs to the insurers resulting from LGH dominant market position and ability to set higher rates without effective competition.
Among matters likely to be discussed by members of the audience are the small amount (an average of about 4%) that LGH donates to local non-profits for public health and educational purposes, its gift of $1.2 to its CEO while he serves a year in the Navy, its increase of base pay of senior executives by 50% during the deep recession year of 2008, its use of its vast profits. its growing monopolistic position, and the lack of transparency of its actions.
As to being an open to the public meeting, last year my camera was taken and I was NOT permitted to make a record for the public.
So if a meeting is open to the public shouldn’t the public and press be permitted to record it to expose the meeting to public scrutiny?
To allow acces to those who can not physically attend?
Confused?
Yes,
Just spoke to John Lines and was told there is no filming or recording allowed again this year.
Mentioned commissioners and others webcast such “public meetings” for people who for instance may not be able to physically attend due to medical conditions or because they have to go to their job.
He said in the interest of privacy for those who would choose to speak up. I informed him that I and they give up privacy when we speak at “public” meetings.
Anyway –
Round and Round and Round we go –
Public doesn’t mean the people need know.
Daddy Justice