Commissioners nominate directors

Published 1:01 am Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners on Monday nominated one of its own and the president of one of Washington’s homegrown industries to the first directors council of Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

In separate 5-2 votes, the board first nominated Commissioner Ed Booth then Lindsey Crisp to fill two seats on the eight-member council, whose members will advise the East Carolina Health Board of Directors in the operations of the Washington hospital.

Crisp is president and chief executive officer of Carver Machine Works, a business founded in 1976 by a Washington father-and-son team.

In both votes, Commissioners Hood Richardson and Stan Deatherage cast votes for John Murphy.

“We are pleased that the commissioners have put forth their nominations. The East Carolina Health Board of Directors will consider these in the near future,” said Roger Robertson, president of East Carolina Health.

Under terms of the agreement signed with University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, the commissioners can nominate two members to the council.

The directors council will be charged with making recommendations related to the hospital’s budget, quality issues, new programs and services and medical credentialing, among other responsibilities, to the ECH board.

The chairman of the director’s council will serve as a nonvoting, ex-officio member of the ECH board, according to information presented to the commissioners.

The appointments by the commissioners clear the way for UHS to name the remaining board members, the commissioners were told.

In related business, the commissioners appointed three members to the boards that oversee the local health system’s former operations.

The commissioners appointed Kathy Vasquez, Warren Smith and Glenn Simpson to seats on the boards previously held by Allen Roberson, Grace Bonner and Brenda Peacock, respectively.

Among other duties, the board will have “a significant responsibility to oversee escrow accounts” established under the lease/purchase agreement with UHS, County Manager Randell Woodruff told the board.

Those accounts include some $6 million to be held in escrow to cover any liabilities that arise after the lease is signed and $100,000 to pay for professional services such as accountants, lawyers and consultants incurred by the hospital board after the closing date.

These escrow accounts will remain in effect for five years, the commissioners were told.