TALLAHASSEE, FL — The City of Tallahassee is discussing its lease agreement with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. Right now, The City owns the hospital's land, buildings, and assets, while TMH operates the hospital as an independent nonprofit healthcare system under a long-term lease agreement.
In the agenda—the City Manager's Office states the hospital recently requested the City restructure the hospital's governance model and establish a new Health System Board.
Under the proposal, the new board would oversee the broader TMH health system, while the existing TMH Board would continue to manage the hospital's day-to-day operations.
In a statement, TMH made it clear that the hospital didn't make this request.
WATCH THE MEETING BELOW:
LIVE BLOG:
4:00 p.m.: Commissioners: This is an informational meeting only, no decision will be made.
4:10 p.m.: Public comment begins
5:04 p.m.: Mayor Pro Tem Dianne Williams-Cox thanks the community for speaking out on this matter and wants the community to be involved. She also addresses that she doesn't want the community to be divided.
5:06 p.m.: Mayor Pro Tem Dianne Williams-Cox reiterates that a final decision on TMH is not happening tonight, that Wednesday's meeting is an informational-only discussion.
5:10 p.m.: Mayor Pro Tem Dianne Williams-Cox: " TMH is not for sale" and says if that discussion does come up, the public has made it clear what they want to happen.
5:14 p.m.: City Commissioner Curtis Richardson says we as a community need to talk about healthcare regarding our city.
5:21 p.m.: City Commissioner Curtis Richardson says we don't need to have the community divided over healthcare and that we need to focus on things that matter like gun violence.
5:24 p.m.: City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow says commissioners weren't aware of TMH discussion. City Manager Reese Goad said the discussion about the possible sale of TMH came from his office.
5:35 p.m.: City Manager Reese Goad says the City of Tallahassee does see value in the relationship between the City and TMH.
5:37 p.m.: City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow says he doesn't support a potential sale of TMH and would want to keep the current agreement intact.
5:52 p.m.: Commissioner Jacqueline Porter asks City Manager Reese Goad why commissioners weren't included in the conversations with FSU regarding the agenda.
5:55 p.m.: Commissioner Jacqueline Porter says moving forward commissioners need to be informed on discussions like these, especially if a potential sale is brought up in conversations.
5:57 p.m.: Commissioner Jacqueline Porter makes it clear she is not in support of a possible sale and encourages that there be a separate meeting to discuss TMH and not have it with other agenda items because it's a big topic.
5:59 p.m.: Mayor John E. Dailey thanks all in attendance for their words and input.
6:02 p.m.: Mayor John E. Dailey says in his 6 years in office he's never been invited to a TMH Board of Directors meeting.
6:05 p.m.: Mayor John E. Dailey says many questions need to be answered over the next several weeks regarding this proposal.
6:08 p.m.: No motion made regarding this agenda item, Meeting in recess
The next commissioner's meeting is April 16th.
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