The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Members of the Columbia County Public Hospital Board of Commis­sioners have lifted the health district's firing freeze placed in May following the fir­ing of former Rural Clinics Director Julia Mead and the subsequent resignations of several medical staff, physi­cians and the director of nurs­ing services. After a special executive session Thursday night at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church Fellowship Hall in Dayton, the board voted unanimously to reinstate CEO Charlie Button's full responsibilities as head of the health district.

"I think it's important that the manager retain the ability to hire and fire employees," stated board member Jim Kime. Ted Paterson agreed with his colleague and added that along with the return of But­ton's full capabilities as CEO will come leadership training and, he hopes, a mentor from the community to help the district's top man in making tough, executive decisions such as personnel changes. The board also plans to draft a list of employee ex­land

to help Button, and other staff, when faced with management decisions, Paterson said.

Following the board's de­cision to reinstate Button, the CEO made a speech to the 15 or so members of the public present. "I do care about quality of care, I absolutely do," But­ton said, speaking to public comment at numerous meet­ing over the summer to the contrary. "To say I don't care about quality really does hurt me. I moved to this com­munity because I felt I could make a difference. I'm in no way here to have my own agenda."

Button said he has al­ready established mandatory meetings with his depart­ment

heads to go through the report made last week by outside consultant Susan Newton regarding issues of morale and management within the health district.

The board has stated that its members will continue to puzzle over how to approach changes at the district in response to recommenda­tions made by Newton. No mention was made of further public meetings to discuss this topic.