SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL 29, 2004
APRIL 28, 2004
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY
PARISH OF ACADIA
STATE OF LOUISIANA
LADIES & GENTLEMEN:
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the Acadia Parish Police Jury will be held in the Police Jury Meeting Room, Courthouse Building, Crowley, Louisiana, at 5:00 P.M., on Thursday, April 29, 2004, to discuss the following items:
AGENDA:
1. Consider agenda revisions.
2. Consider rescinding all actions taken at the Special Meeting of April 23,
2004.
3. Consider the removal of the following named board members of the
Acadia-St. Landry Hospital District for cause: Paul Matte, Francis
Mouillé and Marilyn Scott.
4. Consider appointment of replacement Board Members to the Acadia-St.
Landry Hospital Service District.
5. Consider the calling of a meeting of the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital
Board of Directors to consider the following:
a. Election of Officers.
b. Consider agenda revisions.
c. Executive Session for strategic planning.
d. Consider Critical Access Hospital designation and any other required
and/or related matters.
Dated at Crowley, Louisiana
this 28th day of April, 2004.
/s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
CECELIA S. BROUSSARD, PRESIDENT
ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY
We, the undersigned members of the Acadia Parish Police Jury, do hereby accept such service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice and consent and agree that said Police Jury of Acadia shall meet at the time and place named therein and for the purpose therein stated.
/s/ Alton Stevenson /s/ A. J. Broussard
/s/ John Humble, Sr. /s/ Jimmie Pellerin
/s/ A. J. Credeur /s/ Cade Benoit
/s/ Felton Moreau
Legal Counsel André Doguet explained the facts of a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of three members of the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital Board of Directors, Paul Matte, Marilyn Scott and Francis Mouillé. He indicated the lawsuit claimed the Jury did not give sufficient notice of the meeting at which the three board members were removed from their positions.
RESOLUTION
BY MESSRS: A J CREDEUR AND CADE BENOIT
WHEREAS, the Acadia Parish Police Jury met in special session Friday, April 23, 2004, to consider matters related to the future of the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital, and
WHEREAS, by a roll call vote of six to zero, the Jury rescinded the appointments of Mr. Paul Matte, Mr. Francis Mouillé and Mrs. Marilyn Scott to the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital Board of Directors, and
WHEREAS, the following persons were appointed as replacements to the board, Mr. Charles Labbe, Toby Leger and Roger Boudreaux.
WHEREAS, Fifteenth Judicial District Judge John Trahan issued a temporary restraining order halting the removal of said board members stating that business was conducted which was not identified on the Notice of Meeting Agenda.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Acadia Parish Police Jury in special session duly convened on this the 29th day of April, 2004, does hereby rescind all actions taken at the Special Meeting held Friday, April 23, 2004, thereby reinstating Mr. Paul Matte, Mr. Francis Mouillé and Mrs. Marilyn Scott as members to the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital Board.
ADOPTED: APRIL 29, 2004
ATTEST:
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
Juror John Humble, Sr., requested that the plaintiffs named in the suit, who were in attendance at the meeting, be allowed to speak.
Legal Counsel for the plaintiffs, Lee Wimberly, introduced the members of the board. Mr. Wimberly indicated that removing would imply wrong doing noting that they should be entitled to due process and should be allowed enough time to defend themselves.
A motion was offered by Mr. A. J. Credeur, seconded by Mr. Cade Benoit, to remove the named board members Paul Matte, Marilyn Scott and Francis Mouillé from the Acadia-St. Landry Hospital Board for cause. No vote was taken.
The following discussion ensued.
Juror Credeur said continued loss of revenue was the main reason for the removal of board members making special reference to the fact that should the hospital go critical access that loss of revenue would cease.
Mr. Wimberly indicated that documents prepared by hospital accountants showed this had a lot to do with uncompensated cost. He also stated that should the hospital go critical access by July 1 the behavioral medical unit in the hospital would have to shut down thus terminating 30 to 35 jobs, a large majority of which live in the Church Point area. Mr. Wimberly pointed out that if others provided psych services they may not necessarily commit to hiring those same people and the hospital could lose the jobs related to billing, pharmacy and lab services. Mr. Wimberly made reference to several scenarios presented on critical access prepared by the accountants that projected revenues over the next several years.
In representing the three members of the board, Mr. Wimberly felt there were no reasons why they should be removed from their positions.
Both board members Marilyn Scott and Paul Matte stated that their decisions were based on evidence presented by the Accountant.
Mr. Mouillé stated that no one was denying the hospital lost a large amount of money. He did point out, however, that he had been on the board for only a few short months and should not be held responsible for what happened in the past. He reiterated the fact that the psych unit kept the hospital open for a number years and the decisions made now should impact the hospital long term.
Juror Felton Moreau commented that he was only learning about some of these issues now.
Juror A. J. Credeur raised the question of having to renovate the behavioral unit in the event that critical access designation was delayed till October 1st.
Mr. Wimberly responded by stating the conditions of the unit would be grand fathered in.
Dr. Mike Williams addressed the members noting that the critical access hospital poll taken of other hospitals showed that the choices to go critical access were all favorable. He was concerned there would be no money in October for the survey to be conducted to change this designation. Dr. Williams reminded that members of the Jury were not allowed in executive session at the most recent hospital board meeting where the matter of critical access was discussed. Dr. Williams also talked about the advantage of converting to critical access immediately.
Juror A. J. Credeur asked questions about the patient census for the psych unit used in the forecast.
Charles Labbe, a resident of the service district, addressed the members on the subject of critical access and losses the hospital incurred. Mr. Labbe revealed his past work history and his affiliation with the community. He pointed out that the psych unit at the hospital received 1.84 million dollars over the past twelve months and the hospital used the psych unit as a vehicle to beat out medicare. He again expanded on the fact that surveys taken from other hospitals relative to critical access were positive in nature. He also expressed concern for the fact that 96% utilization in the psych was not practical in forecasting. He further pointed out that Church Point was the demographic center of Acadiana area.
Mr. Labbe stated that, in his opinion, the board violated the open meetings law in addition to having lost an average of $500,000 over the last four years possibly impacting the parishes credit worthiness.
Attorney Wimberly, representing the hospital board members, interjected with a request to respond. Mr. Labbe expanded on items including the open meetings law, secret balloting and a proposal relative to psych from Vermilion. He also expanded on minutes from the November 5, 2002, hospital board meeting, November 11, 2002 hospital board meeting, November 15, 2002, hospital board meeting, and reminded the members of the resolution that was adopted on April 20, 2004, by the Police Jury encouraging the hospital board to convert to critical access as quickly as possible.
Mr. Martin Guillory, Jr., approached the Jury commenting on the fact that members did not stay until the end of the meeting which forced the Jury not to take action.
Dr. Polanco, a physician in Church Point, felt that the BMU was being highly protected by the board of commissioners of the hospital. He recognizes there are other sides to the matter. He is clear on the mission of the hospital which does not include behavioral medicine but acute care and the ability to treat patients.
Mr. Lee Wimberly again requested additional time to prepare a defense based on the evidence that was presented should the Jury reconvene on the matter.
Mr. Labbe encouraged the Jury to either call a meeting or take action on the matter at its earliest possible convenience.
Ms. Carla Harmon addressed the body stating that the subject was very important and that sufficient time should be allowed to make an informed decision also suggesting that a meeting be held in Church Point.
Juror Cade Benoit asked that all items not acted on at this special meeting be placed on the agenda for the regular meeting to be held Tuesday, May 4, 2004.
No action was taken on the motion.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THE MOTION WAS OFFERED AND DULY SECONDED, THAT THE MEETING ADJOURN UNTIL THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF MAY 4, 2004, AT THE HOUR OF 6:30 P.M.
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