The Whidbey General Hospital board did not make any decisions concerning “Dr. Z’s” future employment at the hospital Monday night, although supportive doctors presented a letter asking that he be allowed to keep his current position.

Dr. Paul Zaveruha, known islandwide as “Dr. Z,” is the current Emergency Medical Services director at Whidbey General Hospital who was overwhelming elected to the board Nov. 4. Prior to the vote, the board had said if he was elected, he would lose his $83,000 contract as EMS director to resolve any conflict of interest concerns.

During the Monday evening meeting, Peter Borden, outgoing board president, said that the board didn’t have enough information to make a decision.

“There needs to be more time for the two attorneys to wrestle out the details,” Borden said after the meeting. “We really don’t know at this point in time what the remedy is.”

Borden and the board have contended that Zaveruha holding both a commissioner’s seat and the EMS director position constitutes a conflict that can’t be resolved by actions such as recusal from a vote.

Zaveruha was grateful that the board didn’t make any decisions concerning his contract and hopes a solution can be found.

“It’s time to sit down and talk,” Zaeveruha said. “A hasty decision now would have been a problem.”

Approximately 40 people attended the meeting, many of whom expressed support for Zaveruha.

“Given the board of commissioners’ dedication to quality and given Dr. Zaveruha’s proven quality of care, its seems only natural that the Board of Commissioners should bend over backwards to embrace his place as their newest member and to work toward a legal solution to the issue of conflict of interest,” said Lee Roof, a doctor at the hospital.

Hospital Chief of Staff Sidney Sparks read a letter signed by 25 staff members supporting Zaveruha and said it would be against the best interests of the hospital to terminate his contract.

It looks as though Zaveruha also has support in the community. He is comfortably ahead of his opponent, Amy Ayers, 8,929 votes to 3,632 votes, according to the Island County Auditor’s office. Only 1,500 votes remain to be counted.

Several people questioned the board’s closed-door meeting that preceded the regular meeting.

The hospital board met in executive session at 4:30 p.m. to discuss the conflict of interest situation.

Carol Kinch questioned why there was an executive session for an issue that has been in the public eye for several months.

Those sentiments were echoed by Dr. John Oakland during the meeting.

Borden said that the board can legally meet in executive session to talk with attorneys about a subject that could lead to litigation.

He cited three issues that need to be resolved before Zaveruha takes his seat in January.

Borden said the EMS director’s contract is the “most problematic,” but the board also has to address any potential conflicts that come from Zaveruha’s position as a surgeon on the medical staff.

The board also wants to draft a conflict of interest policy that would help it steer clear of any future issues, Borden said.

He stressed that any action concerning Zaveruha’s contract will take place in a public meeting.

Whatever the lawyers decide, Zaveruha will take a seat on the board. “I fully intend to serve on the board,” Zaveruha said during the meeting. “I’m overwhelmed by the support of the people in this room.”

The next hospital board meeting takes place Monday, November 24, 6 p.m., in Conference Room A at Whidbey General Hospital.

You can reach News-Times reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewstimes.com or 675-6611.