Weld officials want NCMC to open up

GREELEY — The Weld County Commissioners have repeated their request for board members of North Colorado Medical Center Inc. to open communications with the public.

The NCMC board is in the process of negotiating a contract with Phoenix-based Banner Health System, which has managed the Greeley hospital since 1995. The community, news media and commissioners have long criticized the board for holding closed meetings and keeping the contract negotiations secret.

“We have no understanding as to why those meetings can’t be opened to the public,” County Commissioner Mike Geile said on Wednesday. “This has caused such a trust issue in the community, it’s almost to the point where it’s unfixable.”

In December the board voted to forge ahead with Banner, effectively abandoning other options, including a possible collaboration with Fort Collins-based Poudre Valley Health System.

“They need to tell the community why they’re moving in this direction and why they aren’t considering other directions,” Geile said.

Geile contended the board should hold a community forum to explain the decisions made to this point, and they should do it before an agreement with Banner is solidified.

Immediately after its regular meeting on Tuesday, the board met for its annual meeting, where typically new board members and board executives are elected.

While the board voted to re-elect Ken Schultz for a three-year term, and elect retired Dr. Richert Quinn to a first term, it unanimously voted to postpone the election of officers until a final decision is made on the Banner contract.

“I don’t think the timing’s right to switch horses,´ said Schultz, who put the motion on the floor. “The negotiating team should stay intact until we get something resolved with Banner. “

At the latest, the board will elect officers at its regularly scheduled April 29 meeting.

“If we don’t have an agreement in place by April 29, we really need to address that,” Schultz said.

Also, board chairman Don Cummins recognized Julianne Haefli for 17 years of service to the NCMC Inc. board of directors and the NCMC board of trustees.

Haefli was not seeking reappointment, but offered parting advice.

“Do something to enhance your own credibility,” she urged.

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