Grady Trustees Approve New Lease

By Phillip Graitcer

ATLANTA – In a hastily rescheduled Saturday meeting, the Grady Hospital board
approved a new version of the lease for the non-profit corporation
that will take over the hospital's operations.

With only about an hour's discussion, the board approved minor
changes to the lease requested by the Fulton and Dekalb county
commissions. The vote was 7 to 1.

State Senator Vincent Fort, one of the leaders of a group supporting
Grady Hospital, felt that having the Saturday meeting was an effort
to exclude the public. He was concerned about the board maintaining
its commitment to the poor.

Does anyone in this room believe that if this evening had been held
on Monday evening when more of the public could be engaged and
involved, that that would have crashed the deal?

It just furthers the perception in the community that things are
being done behind closed doors, trying to avoid the public's eye.

Because of the rescheduling, the Hospital board delayed appointing
members of the new corporation until a future meeting.

For WABE, I'm Philip Graitcer