Charles Johnston, CEO of Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center in Bandon, Ore., has been terminated without cause, The World reports.
Mr. Johnston was terminated Thursday during the Southern Coos Health District Board's regular meeting. He had a written statement with him at Thursday's meeting, but decided not to read it out loud into the open session record, according to the report.
Mr. Johnston served as the district's CEO since March 2013. His three-year contract was set to expire March 31, 2016. However, in June 2015, a board member made a motion not to renew Mr. Johnston's contract, which was seconded by another board member, according to the report. The board never voted on that motion and allowed additional time to make a decision on the contract.
At the time, The World reports, board members were concerned about negative comments from staff about Mr. Johnston's performance and leadership. Still, board members also took into account achievements during Mr. Johnston's tenure, such as the hospital's improved public image and improved relationships with other health entities, and ultimately offered Mr. Johnston an 18-month extension to his contract, the report states. The extension did not include a 10-month notice-to-terminate provision that was in his previous contract, and The World reports it is unclear whether Mr. Johnston will be paid for the time he has left on his 18-month contract.
The board plans to recruit an interim CEO.