The Observation Deck

Attached is a list of general questions related to the activities and goals of the New Foundation Task Force.

I've collated a broad-based set of questions from inquiries recently made here on the Observation Deck.

Please feel free to suggest other questions.

Same document as a jpeg.

Excellent.

Whenever I met with public officials or representatives of foundations or agencies with a list of written questions they never wanted to supply written answers. After meeting for an hour or so I would (on a good day) have one or two questions answered and then be shown the door. The meetings were mostly a waste of time.


It is better to submit a list of written questions and ask for written responses. The Lakewood Observer is a perfect place to post the questions and answers.
BEWARE!! This post is subject thread drift.

I will do my best to answer the questions that can be answered by the Task Force. Others are better questions for whatever future board may be in place. Others may be better for the city administration, which negotiated the original deal to have this be part of the set up.

I will say much of this cannot be answered yet, because the decision haven't been made. Tonight's forum is seeking input on things such as board structure.

Would you prefer answers as they become available, or just a response that we can't answer it yet?

Mr. Bentley, I have prepared this model list of questions for the general use of the public. I am not seeking any specific answers myself. I understand that the range of questions may run across functions. I'm sure others will have other questions.

If your task force does prepare an FAQ, I encourage it to be accurate and fact-based.

Our community has already been over-blessed with public relations-style communications. We do not need another blessing of blather like the city administration generated in 2015. All we seek is a fundamental level of honesty. --Spin-free.

If it's more bad news, well, we are adults, we can take it.

We don't need to ever hear the phrase "healthcare is changing" ever again. We all now know that any blessing of blather will begin or end with that phrase.

(and, don't get me started on the phrase "Legacy of Lakewood Hospital". I'm with Mr. Austin on that one!)

All the very best...

bentleymike wrote:I will do my best to answer the questions that can be answered by the Task Force. Others are better questions for whatever future board may be in place. Others may be better for the city administration, which negotiated the original deal to have this be part of the set up.

I will say much of this cannot be answered yet, because the decision haven't been made. Tonight's forum is seeking input on things such as board structure.

Would you prefer answers as they become available, or just a response that we can't answer it yet?

Michael

Let's start getting some answers in stone.

I know you want to put the integrity of the Board in stone, so let's start doing it.

That way as answers change, we can learn why or who needed them changed.

I would hate to see the hard work pushed to the side.

Of course this is on the heels of Jay Foran's Active Living Task Force that "had nothing to do with the hospital" being shelved when funds from the hospital did not immediately appear.

So let's get some answers and go from there.

.

I just printed out the questions for my reference. Thanks, Mark.

As Jim suggested, it would be a good idea to get them answered in writing.

a few more questions:

Will the New Foundation attempt to raise funds other than the funds from the Master Agreement? Seek other donors?

Will the New Foundation seek other or additional taxpayer financial support?

Will (can) the New Foundation Task Force recommend that funds from the Master Agreement be distributed on a faster time-table?

The Lakewood Hospital Foundation was established to support Lakewood Hospital and community health. Over a 60 year period the people of Lakewood raised millions of dollars for that purpose. The $34 million in the LHF has been repurposed as a regional foundation. However, Lakewood is the only city specifically mentioned.


Will the new foundation seek matching funds from the Lakewood Hospital Foundation?

For example; if the new foundation wants to spend one million dollars for equipment at the YMCA will the new foundation insist on a matching donation from the LHF?

Everyone seems to be just itching to "dump" err spend that money with great haste.

Would there be any great harm done by waiting to see the results of at least 2-3 lawsuits still pending in the courts along with other miscellaneous investigations? If the mayor was actually 100% committed to transparency, honesty, and proper protocol, he would allow the courts and investigations to run their course. Instead, he is ramming a deal through to be made by a hand-picked crew. Why the hurry if he and his cronies did nothing wrong and have nothing to hide?

Better yet, the mayor could order his law director to release the rest of the records requested by Mr. Essi. Again, what is the harm if he is truly without sin? I am curious.

Here is an updated list of Model Questions for the New Foundation Task Force.

Mark Kindt wrote:Here is an updated list of Model Questions for the New Foundation Task Force.

From Mr. Kindt's pdf file

Model Questions for the New Foundation Task Force Version 2. November 15, 2017 5:05pm

1. Who will appoint the board members?

2. What will the process be for the appointment of board members?

3. Will board members be required to be Lakewood residents?

4. Will board members be forced to resign if they move out of Lakewood?

5. Will board members be term limited?

6. How will the New Foundation ensure the integrity and independence of board members?

7. Have pro forma financial documents been modeled for future revenue and expenditures?

8. If not, when do you expect to be able to provide them to the public?

9. How much will the New Foundation spend on charitable purposes? (Estimated)

10. How much will the New Foundation spend on legal expenses? (Estimated)

11. How much will the New Foundation spend on Investment expenses? (Estimated)

12. How much will the New Foundation spend on salaries? (Estimated)

13. How much will the New Foundation spend on benefits? (Estimated)

14. Are Lakewood residents being left with paying for the former Hospital’s role in delivering charity care?

15. Will North Coast Health be represented on the new Board?

16. Will North Coast Health be eligible to receive funding from the New Foundation?

17. Why do we need a new Foundation to distribute public funds? Why can’t the City of Lakewood just do this on its own?

18. Why is the Cleveland Clinic Foundation continuing to hold these public funds?

19. Why are these distributions both timed and delayed?

20. Why aren't all the payments to be made to the New Foundation payable upon incorporation?

21. Have estimated earnings projections been made on the revenue due the New Foundation?

22. When will those projections be made public?

23. Will the bylaws include ethics and conflict of interest provisions?

24. How will the board maintain its independence from its primary contributor?

25.Which Ohio statute or Lakewood Charter provision permits the City of Lakewood to form this non-profit entity?

26. Does the city council possess rights either by statute or charter that will permit it to vote on task force recommendations or New Foundation formation?

27. If so, how do those rights affect the Master Agreement, if at all?

28. Will (can) the New Foundation Task Force recommend that funds from the Master Agreement be distributed on a faster time-table?

29. Will the New Foundation attempt to raise funds other than the funds due from the Master Agreement? Seek other donors?

30. Will the New Foundation seek other or additional taxpayer financial support?

31. Will the new foundation seek matching funds from the Lakewood Hospital Foundation? For example; if the new foundation wants to spend one million dollars for equipment at the YMCA will the new foundation insist on a matching donation from the LHF?

32. What will the final work-product of the task force consist of?

33. When do you expect it to be issued to the public?

.

I have updated the list of current questions that I have generated based on Observation Deck posts and other conversations with citizens.

The Foundation Planning Task Force has been at work for 11 months now. We are coming-up on the second anniversary of the Master Agreement. The hospital will have been closed for 2 years in February 2018.

Given the work accomplished to date and the passage of time, I would encourage the Foundation Planning Task Force to address as many questions as possible either through an FAQ or an interim report.

The citizen involvement and hard-work of the FPTF is to be commended.

Mark Kindt wrote:The Foundation Planning Task Force has been at work for 11 months now. We are coming-up on the second anniversary of the Master Agreement. The hospital will have been closed for 2 years in February 2018.

How was the meeting?



There is about $38 million in the Lakewood Hospital Foundation and about $32 million in the New Foundation. Is putting all of that City money in Foundations a good use of City funds?

How much of that $70 million will be spent each year?

Is this a forever foundation or is there an end game?

Will the two Lakewood Foundations be coordinating their efforts?

Can anyone list the 10 most important decisions that have been made at this point?

Thank you, Mr. Call, for these additional questions. I will add them to the community question list.

So far, to my knowledge only a single foundation exists and that is the Lakewood Hospital Foundation. I know little beyond that.

Control of the Lakewood Hospital Association was assumed completely by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation under the Master Agreement.

Under that contract (the Master Agreement), there is a contractual obligation to distribute certain funds on a certain timetable to a "to-be-created" "New Foundation".

Pursuant to the Master Agreement, the City with a city council resolution impaneled a volunteer group to review needs and make recommendations for the creation of the "New Foundation".

That group held its first meeting on January 17, 2017. Some of the work-product of the group (Foundation Planning Task Force) is posted on the website for the City of Lakewood.

I encourage all Deck readers and writers to post additional community questions for the Foundation Planning Task Force. I will keep updating the list of questions.

In a different thread, Mr. Bentley has stated that the Foundation Planning Task Force is working on responding to these questions.