Public can’t testify at Thorburn hearing

No public testimony will be accepted Monday at a hearing to allow Dr. Kim Thorburn to address the board that fired her.

Spokane Regional Health District Board members are not obligated to hold a public hearing on last week’s decision to terminate the health officer’s nine-year contract, Chairman Todd Mielke said Tuesday.

“This isn’t a trial, this isn’t a place to bring witnesses,” said Mielke, who added he was acting on the advice of a lawyer. “The law doesn’t require us to do that.”

Instead, board members are required only to offer Thorburn, 56, the chance to speak.

That may disappoint the more than 60 people who gathered Nov. 15 to hear the board’s vote, including some who wore yellow buttons in support of Thorburn. Many believed they’d have a chance to air their views about the action, including Thorburn’s husband, Dr. Terence B. Allen.

“It seems to me like they’re changing their minds,” Allen said Tuesday.

But Mielke said he shared board member Mary Verner’s view that limiting public input was a service to Thorburn as well.

“It’s not just supporters who will show up, it’s detractors,” he said.

Although Thorburn’s dismissal has generated heated responses, Mielke said he didn’t believe it was necessary to allow a public conversation about the issue.

“People are more than welcome to submit (written) comments to the board,” he said.

Thorburn was out of town Tuesday, but her husband said she was encouraging supporters to send information in writing so that the comments could be added to her personnel file.

Board members who gathered Nov. 15 voted unanimously to end Thorburn’s contract without cause and to place her immediately on administrative leave. The only member not present was Dr. Charles Wolfe, who declined Tuesday to say how he would have voted.

Ongoing communication problems and administrative issues, which may have included not providing complete and timely information to board members, were at the heart of the dismissal, Mielke said.

Board members worked to resolve the problems for more than two years without success, Mielke said.

“Some believe that we knee-jerked on this,” he said. “This wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction, or ‘I don’t like her personality.’ “

After Monday’s meeting, board members could finalize Thorburn’s termination as early as Nov. 30, which is the agency’s regularly scheduled meeting. Health officers from neighboring counties have agreed to advise Spokane officials about public health questions or crises.

Spokane’s 12-member Board of Health includes city and county elected officials and three seats appointed by the county commission. Appointed members formerly could not vote, but voting rights were restored this spring.

Under terms of Thorburn’s contract, she’ll earn about $25,000 for the two months she’s on administrative leave and a year’s salary – $125,000 – for being dismissed without cause.