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Legislator critical of decision by TGHBy DAVID KARP © St. Petersburg Times, published October 3, 2000 TAMPA -- A state legislator who helped Tampa General Hospital get millions in public money last spring said Monday that the hospital should have expanded the size of its board as promised. "I am for people keeping their word," said Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon. "They decided not to keep their word, and rather than offer a reason, they have chosen to execute the decision and cross their fingers and see if there is any adverse reaction." Lee criticized the hospital's decision to keep the size of TGH's board at 15 members after promising to expand it by three seats. The private non-profit hospital on Davis Islands made the deal when it needed state money to stem more than $30-million in losses. But instead of adding board members, the hospital last week filled two existing vacancies with former County Commissioner Dottie Berger and Curtis Lane, an aide to Tampa Mayor Dick Greco. That makes two women and two African-Americans on the board, which includes four members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. "I think the two new members most certainly contribute to the cultural diversity of the board," said H.L. Culbreath, a former chief executive officer of TECO Energy who is chairman of the hospital board. Culbreath did not say why the board did not expand. Instead, he said last week's appointments of Berger and Lane fulfilled promises made to the Hillsborough County Commission as part of a "partnership plan" signed in August. The plan only asks the hospital to consider diversity when it names new board members. In March, when Culbreath promised in a letter to enlarge the board, hospital officials were negotiating primarily with legislators. Indeed, some commissioners felt the hospital ignored their demands, in order to get more money with fewer strings from the state. Now, with the money in hand, Lee said the hospital has forgotten to keep legislators informed. Lee read about the new appointments in the newspaper. "If there is a viable explanation (for the change), let's hear it and get a community reaction to it and see if it holds water," Lee said. "We haven't seen the last of the folks from Tampa General," Lee added. "And hopefully they are thinking about that when they proceed forward." - Times Staff Writer David Karp can be reached at (813) 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com
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