LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Conflicts of interest
Editor: As one of the recent applicants for the open position at
the Palm Drive Hospital board of directors, I want to congratulate
Chris Dawson for his appointment to the board. I’d also like to
thank the board for its consideration of my application.
However, I have to take issue with conflict of interest
allegations made by one board member and reported in your paper
last week. These allegations were unfounded and made without citing
any legal opinion or relevant statutes.
The first allegation concerned my joining the Palm Drive board
while remaining a member of the Gravenstein school board, where I
have served for eight years. However, since the Gravenstein School
District has no dealings whatsoever with the Palm Drive Health Care
District, no conflict exists under California law.
The second allegation concerned the fact that my wife has been a
hospital employee for the last two years. Once again, California
law clearly allows board service as long as the spouse has been
employed for at least a year before the board member assumes
office.
Equally troubling, however, was a reference made to a recently
enacted Palm Drive policy that prohibits any discussion of “Board
deliberations” and “policy issues” between board members and
hospital employees. Of course, under California law, all closed
board sessions are confidential and should not be discussed with
anyone, whether spouse, employee, priest, or hair dresser.
Similarly, employees should not discuss confidential aspects of
their jobs, or potential grievance or discipline issues, with
individual board members.
But this policy goes much further, banning all non-confidential
communications between board members and staff about all hospital
matters, even those subject to public discussion by the board in
open session. By restricting the free speech rights of board
members as well as the rights of citizens and taxpayers who also
happen to be hospital employees, the policy appears on its face to
be overly broad, illegal and unenforceable. A board member should
be able to talk with employees about non-confidential hospital
matters while respecting appropriate lines of authority.
I believe Palm Drive’s greatest strength is its reputation for
excellent patient care delivered by hospital employees, and the
board cannot help but benefit from their knowledge and experience.
I sincerely hope that Palm Drive board members amend this flawed
policy and, in the future, do their homework before making
unfounded conflict of interest charges against potential
members.
Jim Horn
Sebastopol
Kiwanis kudos
Editor: On behalf of the Sebastopol Kiwanis Club I want to thank
all those who attended the 3rd of July Fireworks event for their
support and to also thank the volunteers who worked to make this
another successful event. We want to thank the paid staff and
volunteers of the Police and Fire departments who did their usual
outstanding job. We appreciate the fact that our sponsors continued
to be generous even in these tough economic times and we welcome
the new sponsors who participated this year.
This event provides much needed financial support to our
community and school groups. Ten community/school groups
participated directly in the event and another 20 plus groups will
benefit from the event’s net proceeds.
Lastly, I want to thank the Kiwanis members who worked so hard
to make this event one of the outstanding community events in West
County.
Bob Green
Sebastopol Kiwanis President
Which corner?
Editor: When driving through Sebastopol’s main intersection, one
is often confronted with the well-meaning efforts of two groups.
One the “no more war” faction, and on the other corner the “support
the troops” group. Why is this picture one of conflict? Why don’t
they join in a hand-holding effort? Instead of black signs versus
the flag, don’t they both want the same thing? Does supporting the
troops and ending war have to be mutually exclusive? For example,
WWII was a necessary evil, and on the other hand, most people in
this country would only want to go to war as a last resort. Neither
Iraq nor Afghanistan qualify as a last resort. Unfortunately,
neither Bush nor Obama figured out which corner to stand on.
Neil E. Davis
Sebastopol
Thank you Sarah
Editor: I would like to comment on how much, over many years,
I’ve enjoyed the photographs from your employee Sarah Bradbury. She
is very talented in her art and this past week, the beautiful
stories and especially Sarah’s photographs in the Homes &
Lifestyles were exceptional enough for me to take a moment to
comment publicly. I don’t know Sarah, but if I did, I’d give her a
hug and say, “thanks for bringing such beauty to my world.”
Suzan Lewis
Sebastopol
Two-way Sebastopol
Editor: This is to support Mr. Beauchamp and Mr. Yoes’ letters
(June 10 and June 17, 2010, respectively, Sonoma West Times &
News) in endorsing a return to Sebastopol’s two-way streets. Unless
I’m mistaken when the train down Main era ended (in the early
1980s) led by the Chamber of Commerce and particularly by Carlson’s
Store’s owner/manager (Mr. Norm Stumfill), the City Council voted
to initiate the present one-way street plan for the downtown. For a
minority of folks like myself it seemed a mistake at the time; one
that has continued to thwart progress to this day.
McKinley and Main, if back to two-way streets, are efficient
enough carriers with some modifications, including closing off
Petaluma Ave. making it pedestrian-biking frienly. Traffic circles
and other bizarre measures would only slow traffic down without
adding to safety. Lets face it, Sebastopol today isn’t what it was
20 or more years ago and will never return to being a charming,
farm village, even while its wonderful people will never
change.
What is also clear is that it is also necessary to spend some
money (or perhaps to raise some) in order to assure public safety.
This might mean an elevated walkway over Main Street (or possibly a
ped-bike tunnel) so people can come to town, enjoy the farmers
market or do their shopping, and return home safely.
Good luck and Godspeed, two-way Sebastopol!
Frank Baumgardner
Santa Rosa