Hospital Board Votes to Bend Rules

DAYTON - Columbia County Health System board members are prepared to bend the by-laws a bit to help keep the board consistent for new Chief Executive Officer Dale Polla at the monthly hospital board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 27.

The board moved to keep current chairman Ted Pater­son for six months, half of a normal term beyond the year he already served as chairman, to offer continuity for Polla. Polla was hired on Oct. 1 for a two-year term. The vote was unanimous.

Board member Jim Kime initially moved to keep Pa­terson for a whole year, but Paterson said a brief six- month term should suffice as enough continuity before the board holds an election for a new chair. Polla agreed that six months should be enough time to get adjusted in his new position.

Kime, who was appointed vice chair of the board at the meeting and unanimously approved, agreed with the six-month extended term.

Board member Lisa Nay­lor was re-appointed as sec­retary of the board and ac­cepted unanimously.

Jack Otterson and Col­leen Sproul remain on the board.