Board Chief to Be Appointed
The board of the South Bay Hospital District has decided to appoint someone to fill a vacancy created by the pending resignation of Board President Gerald Witt, rather than hold a special election.
The district’s executive director, Philip Valera, said he estimated that a special election would cost about $80,000 and produce a turnout of less than 1%.
The board, which is soliciting nominations from the public for the post through May 12, will vote on Witt’s successor in June.
Witt, a board member since November, 1967, surprised his colleagues on April 6 when he announced that he would resign May 15 because he is moving to a Torrance condominium which is outside the boundaries of the hospital district.
The hospital district encompasses Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Its board members must live within the district.
The board gives grants to nonprofit health agencies. In the last five years, the board has made grants totaling about $4.5 million. The largest grant--$1.25 million over five years--went to support local school health programs.
The district also owns South Bay Hospital, which it leased five years ago to American Medical International Inc., a for-profit medical corporation.
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