PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center commissioners approved a job description, replacement process and interview questions for applicants seeking an appointment to fill a board vacancy left when at-large commissioner Phyllis Bernard resigned Jan. 3.
The board must fill the vacancy within 90 days of that date or Clallam County commissioners will make the appointment.
In a 4-2 vote on Wednesday, the board also approved a resolution to change its seven-person makeup from six positions residing in three geographic subdistricts within Hospital District 2 and one at-large position to all seven board seats being at-large positions. Commissioners had agreed at their Jan. 15 meeting to put the resolution on Wednesday’s agenda.
Commissioner John Nutter said he had initially been against eliminating geographical representation, but he came around to support it.
”I thought back over the last 15 years that I’ve served on this board and I can’t think of a single time that I, as a commissioner, or anybody else on the board, has made a decision based on geography,” he said. “I think this board would be much better served having a larger pool of candidates that we can either appoint or the public selects.”
Commissioner Jean Hordyk argued strongly against abolishing the subdistricts. Taxpayers deserve to be represented by someone who lives in their area and understands their interests, Hordyk said.
“It has worked just the way it is,” said Hordyk, who voted against the resolution.
Hospital District 2 was one of the few left in Washington that elected commissioners by geographical subdistricts. Board President Ann Henninger said a study by the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts found that those districts that had abolished subdistricts still drew representatives from a wide geographical area.
Henninger, Nutter, Philip Giuntoli and Thom Hightower voted in favor of the resolution. Commissioner Tom Oblak and Hordyk voted against it.
The board will accept applications for the open commissioner seat until Feb. 19. Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae or resume and a one-page cover letter describing their interest, qualifications, experience and examples of community involvement.
Information about the position and how to apply can be found at tinyurl.com/2yv438f2. Applications should be emailed to giseri@olympicmedical.org.
The term of office will run until Dec. 31, 2027. However, the seat will be on the general election ballot this year as a race for a candidate to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.
OMC commissioner is a nonpartisan, six-year position that pays $161 per meeting and up to $15,456 per year. Commissioners also are eligible for medical and dental insurance.
Six nominees for the appointment were approved at Wednesday’s meeting: Mark Gaskill, Regina McGovern, M.D., Mic Sager, Penney Sanders, Jacob Seegers and Jeanette Stehr-Green, M.D.
“Anyone can express their interest,” Hightower said. “More nominees are invited to apply.”
Meanwhile, the board unanimously approved a resolution to support the Sequim School District educational programs and operations levy and bond on Tuesday’s special election ballot. Superintendent Regan Nickels and Michael Santos, the district’s director of facilities, made a presentation to the board about the measures on Jan. 15.
“Some of the things that caught my eye were failing infrastructure, student safety and being one of the most underfunded school districts in the state,” Oblak said. “I’d like to remind commissioners that what’s good for our public school system is good for OMC.”
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
