Massena (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital has purposely remained reticent about the interim hospital CEO's two-month contract, including how her salary is being funded, officials said during a hospital board meeting July 23, according to North Country Now.
Questions arose about Massena Memorial interim CEO Ann Gilpin's contract during a hospital board of managers meeting after several hospital officials declined to comment on whether the town general fund or the municipal hospital itself is paying Ms. Gilpin's salary during her two-month tenure.
An attorney for the town of Massena said during the meeting that hospital officials have remained tight-lipped on Ms. Gilpin's contract out of concerns the information may compromise their ability to find a permanent leader.
"[Ms.] Gilpin is an interim CEO and the town will … at some point ... seek a full CEO and we want to make sure none of the contractual terms are used in a way that compromises the hospital board's ability" to find a permanent replacement, the attorney said, according to the report.
Former hospital CEO Robert Wolleben unexpectedly stepped down from his role during a board meeting June 18. By the end of the meeting, officials hired Ms. Gilpin as his replacement.
Under her contract, which has been finalized by the hospital's board of managers, Ms. Gilpin will serve as head of the hospital for two months and receive a $40,000 monthly salary during her tenure.
Hospital officials said they are in negotiations to find Ms. Gilpin's replacement, but declined to comment on any specifics to North Country Now.
"The hospital board would be prepared to take care of that at that time," Massena Memorial Hospital Board Chairman Scott Wilson told the publication. "I'm not going to get into that discussion. It's part of the negotiations."