Editor,

I believe it’s time for a little history lesson regarding the Whidbey News Time’s article, “Hospital board to consider Bayview property sale.”

The article notes that, “As for the wide gulf between the county’s assessed value of the property in 2007 and the purchase price, the circumstances remain unclear. None of the current commissioners were on the board at the time, and the hospital also has a different chief executive officer …”

It also quotes public relations person Trish Rose saying, “… since executive sessions do not produce minutes or notes, we have no record or knowledge of the reasoning used in setting the property purchase price.”

Both Trish Rose and current CEO Tom Tomasino worked for the hospital in an administrative capacity at the time this 2007 decision was made.

We must remember that the current CEO, Tom Tomasino, was appointed chief operating officer in 2002. He was then assigned “interim” CEO in October 2008. Since Mr. Tomasino was COO from 2002 until his 2008 CEO appointment, I would think he would have some recollection or “knowledge of” and “the reasoning used” for this mega-purchase back in 2007.

From her statements in the December 2007 South Whidbey Record article, “Hospital buying land at Bayview,” Rose was apparently actively involved in the planning of this acquisition as well. She stated, “… the new clinic would continue to offer the same services as the old one in Clinton, plus a few more …”

“Rose said the new facilities will be more centrally located to better serve the population of South Whidbey.”

Again, another current Whidbey General executive has “knowledge of” and “the reasoning used” for the circumstances regarding this purchase/price.

So, the statement that, “no one knows why” this property purchase was made at such a “wide gulf of assessed value and the purchase price,” is highly suspect.

For being such blatantly negligent stewards of our community and our taxpayer funds, you would think we would finally get some honest answers to our many questions. However, that might also require Whidbey General to change their monthly public board meetings back to 5 or 6 p.m. when the community could attend.

Whidbey General most certainly knew that the 7 a.m. meetings would create an attendance hardship because of most peoples’ work and schedules, and pubic attendance would decrease.

Maybe that is part of Whidbey General’s plan as well; keep their accessibility, and public involvement, to a minimum.

Patricia Nathan-Ulloa

Coupeville