Editor:
Everyone from President-elect Obama to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who asked for transparency in medical record keeping, wants openness and oversight in government.
The Center for Nonprofit Boards in Washington, D.C. was shocked to learn that in New Mexico there is a loophole in the Sunshine Law (Open Meetings Act), exemplified by El Centro Family Health. El Centro is a nonprofit organization that uses taxpayers’ money and has a board of directors. At one time they had open board meetings that were accessible to the people and communities they represented. I gave a presentation to the board on medical records.
However, when New Mexico Secretary of Health, Dr. Alfredo Vigil, was CEO of El Centro, the Board meetings were closed. Board meetings became secret with only El Centro’s top administrators allowed access. Not only were the dates and times of Board meetings no longer published, the people were no longer welcome. This policy of a closed Board continues under CEO Lore Pease.
In the interest of patients, veterans, employees and taxpayers, I invite the El Centro board of directors to once again open your meetings.
You must know that open Board meetings show transparency, integrity, accountability and pride, the very ideals for which you strive. A closed Board may become a puppet Board, controlled by the exclusive input of the very same administrators who continue to keep it closed to the people and communities you serve.
Because the consequences of secret closed board meetings can be devastating, I brought this to the attention of Gov. Bill Richardson in September. In this upcoming legislative session, the legislature and the governor need to change the current law that allows nonprofit entities using taxpayers’ money to have closed board meetings. It is outrageous, unethical and corrupt that these secret societies are allowed to exist in New Mexico.
All nonprofit organizations that use the people’s money must have open board meetings, which would result in the transparency and oversight the American people want and deserve.
Denise Burd
Chimayó