The Eureka Springs City Council meeting on March 24 and went straight into public comments, with some citizens/former Eureka Springs Hospital employees turned over their three minutes of comment time to Heather Wilson, who has 25 years of healthcare experience. Wilson delivered a nine-minute speech overviewing her research and observations of alleged neglect and abuse, financial and otherwise, under the current hospital administration. She pointed out discrepancies in the Hospital Commission’s meeting calendars, noting that hospital commission meetings are being held during hours (2 p.m.) that are inaccessible to most of the public.
She said the hospital commission website remains without updates, falsely showing meeting times at 6 p.m. Wilson pointed to an email she sent to city council on Friday, March 21, describing in detail the hospital’s mistake in hiring a candidate, within three days of applying, without a proper background check. Wilson said the previously hired employee is now serving 10 years in prison without parole for multiple charges involving predatory behavior towards a minor.
“How long has the commission failed at oversight, will there ever be accountability, or will a fired administrator and those that are no longer here be assigned blame and curiously, are candidates normally hired in such an expedient fashion, absent due diligence, or just the sisters to management? Let’s shift to the ledgers.”
Wilson turned to the hospital’s financial reports, stating they are unacceptable reflections of the hospital’s financial status. “If you take anything from the following words, I say please let it be this – detailed breakdowns are essential for transparency and effective financial management.”
Wilson said there was a $234,000 loss in February and the hospital’s income statements lack details to make reconciliations. “The concerns I’ve previously raised regarding the CFO’s personal financial patterns are not merely about feelings, it is about observable behavior that casts a shadow, a serious shadow, on the ability to manage the hospitals financial well-being. This is millions of dollars. Patterns of behavior are not coincidental, they are an outline that reveals the truth of who someone is.”
She also stated she is aware of local business owners who are afraid to speak up about the hospital, fearing their businesses could be affected due to personal ties that could be dictating the city’s outcomes. “Integrity must be the guiding principle. Allowing personal blueprints to overshadow the town’s masterplan ultimately weakens the foundation for everyone. This is the time to make a choice – either step up and do what’s right or step aside.” Former ESH lab director Tina Adams followed, asking why the Mayor Butch Berry is in support of city employees who are doing wrong and being allowed to continue to run off more staff.
During the last council meeting hen aldermen voted to place the hospital commission on a two-week timeline to either make administrative changes or be removed as commissioners. Berry vetoed that decision, gave his reasoning, and said the hospital commission had agreed to meet with council as well as have workshop.
Alderman David Avanzino said he understood Berry’s reasoning, but that the situation is completely out of control. Dialogue between alderman Harry Meyer and Berry was about council’s authority and whether micromanaging was an issue.
Berry suggested that council speaking directly with hospital commissioners was the way to proceed. Some aldermen said they’ve already attempted to communicate with the commission during previous meetings and questioned why the hospital commission has not been contacting council given the temperature of the situation. Berry iterated that it is the responsibility of city council to reach out to commissioners.
Alderman Steve Holifield spoke to emphasize the importance of transparency among hospital commissioners. Holifield said he’d suggested to the chair of the hospital commission that hospital meetings and workshops be held in public, as are city council meetings. He also said they ought to be visible on YouTube. Hospital Commission meetings are typically posted online, but only in the form of a voice recording.
Acting City Attorney Tom Kieklak of Harrington Miller Law Firm suggested that aldermen prepare questions (such as requests for specific data and statistics) to be sent through the mayor to hospital commissioners prior to the meeting between hospital and city council, so that more clarity is readily provided at that time. Then, he said city council would be free to probe further during the give and take interaction.
Discussion continued with alderman Rachael Moyer returning to questions regarding actual data, saying that knowledge of such details is imperative in order to proceed with decision making. Moyer brought up the idea of securing a management company to run the hospital and stressed the importance of having a plan in place, whether or not council were to remove commissioners in the future.
Alderman Susane Gruning agreed, suggesting they plan for a meeting right away and discuss options for hiring a professional management company. “It’s not about revenge” Grunig asserted, “it’s about moving forward.”
Berry said he’s aware the hospital is in communication with another hospital to explore options for management. Meyer shared that his cardiologist told him Washington Regional had taken a look at ESH years ago and wanted nothing to do with it. Meyer said he didn’t know what good could come from the proposed meeting and expressed frustration for the tiresome process. “We are paying people money… but there is no service” he said.
Council accepted the mayor’s veto and passed a motion to hold a meeting with the hospital commission ASAP. Aldermen pressed for a transparent meeting within the week. Berry said the meeting would be between the council and the commission, and function as a workshop.
Meyer motioned to remove commissioner Sandy Martin. The motion died for lack of a second.
- A call to residents to contact state legislatures to vote against House Bill 1754 and ACT 456 which eliminate residential zoning regulations.
- A public hearing on the Eureka Springs roundabout will be held at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Thursday, April 3 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Vacancies remain open in Historic District, Hospital, and Planning Commissions.
- Arjay Josephine, a local resident, appeared to present “tidings of great foolishness.” Josephine announced The Fool’s Day Parade will be held on April 1, gathering in front of MoJo’s Records at 1 p.m., taking off at 2. All are welcome to participate in this float-free walking parade for the people, which he touted, “is mostly downhill.” Public comments concluded and Council dove into their list of unfinished business.
- Public Works Director Simon Wiley said that things are moving along with meter replacements and generally minor repairs.
- Resolution No. 882 for a temporary entertainment district during the weekend of May 29 through June 1 during Blues Festival was approved.