MEMORANDUM

TO: Pete Sprague, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Mayor

FROM: Karen Berg-Forrester, Chair

South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board

Charlie Franz, SPH, Inc. Administrator

DATE: August 5, 2004

SUBJECT: Resolution 2004-084, approving board bylaws for the South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board

The South Peninsula Hospital Service Area board has voted to amend its bylaws to reflect the borough code provision that requires the borough to indemnify borough board members against claims arising out of and in the course and scope of their employment by the borough. This was to address concerns from board members that they would be covered by the borough in the event of such claims.

Additionally, the board approved amendments to the bylaws that remove the hospital administrator as an ex-officio member of the service area board due to concerns with the Open Meetings Act. Removing the hospital administrator from membership on the board eliminates concerns that communications between the hospital administrator and members of the board could constitute a meeting under that Act.

Finally, the board has approved amending the bylaws to specifically authorize telephonic participation at the board meetings. The Open Meetings Act allows telephonic participation at public meetings, and including this provision in the bylaws clarifies that these meetings may be attended telephonically. Your approval of these amended bylaws is respectfully requested.