Hospital board backs program of legislation: approves 8-point plan for de-politicalization

              The Charity hospital board of administrators Tuesday night approved an eight-point program to be submitted to the governor for legislative action which it said is designed to remove the hospital from political influence.
It also approved the report of a special committee appointed last year to study a series of recommendations made in articles appearing in The Times-Picayune arid New Orleans States for improving hospital operations and de-politicalizing the institution.
In the same session the board: Voted to authorize the immediate hiring of Fred Williams, secretary to Finance Commissioner Lionel O. Ott, as its chief accountant at a salary of $500 a month.
Williams, the board ruled, will be directly responsible to the board and hospital director Br» E. L, Leckert, and will be employed on the condition that he later comply with civil service regulations after the civil service law goes into effect July 1.
Authorized Dr. Leckert to em-s ploy a personnel director at a! ^alary ranging between $400 and $500 a month, effective July 1. 'The man hired must also meet civil service requirements for the post.
Ouster Upheld
The board upheld Dr. Leckert's action Tuesday in formally fir-j ing Louis A. Davila, who was dis-1 missed from the personnel direc-j tor's post June 10. The board ae- j tion was deemed necessary because questions had been raised that the board meeting of June 10 did not meet state law requiring public boards to hold open meetings.
It also authorized the employment of an assistant purchasing agent on or after July 1 at a salary of between $300 and $400 a month, with the stipulation that ftie person selected meet civil ferVice requirements.
Voted to raise salaries of nursing personnel and employes of the physical therapy and pharmacy departments in amounts ranging from 5 to 7% per cent, effective July 1.
Dr. Felix L. Planche, chairman of the board's finance committee, said the raise voted for this, group will complete salary increases to 100 per cent of the hospital's personnel.
Dr. Planche said the increase would not be given to nursing personnel hired since June 1, or to those who have received a salary hike since Jan. 1. The raises are expected to add about $12,000 monthly to the hospital's payroll.
The legislative program suggested by the board's finance committee, headed by Dr. J. O. Weilbaecher, is to be forwarded to Gov. Robert F. Kennon. Eight-Point Plan
It recommends that a legislative act or acts, or if possible a constitutional amendment, be introduced before the next session of the Legislature to revise the present statutory law concerning Charity hospital in order to achieve the following objectives:
(1)  That the board of administrators of Charity hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans consist of the governor as ex-officio member of the board, the director of the hospital and 12* members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(2)  That the term of each ap-pomtive member shall be for J2 years or until his successor shalf' have been appointed at the completion of his term or for the un-expired portion thereof.
(3)  That the terms of two appointive   members   shall   expire Aug. 1 of every even-numbered calendar year.
(4)  That the governor shall select names for appointees to the board  from   lists   submitted   by recognized civic and professional groups   in   the   community   and shall   submit   his   selected   appointees to the  Senate for  confirmation not later than June 10 of each year in which a regular session of the Legislature is held.
(5)  That the board of administrators of Charity hospital at New Orleans shaH appoint the director of the hospital and at the first meeting of each fiscal year shall elect by secret ballot a chairman, vice-chairman,  and a secretary-treasurer to serve as officers of the board.
(6)  That the hospital shall be entirely independent of any political influence and shall be kept free therefrom in the appointment of the members of its board of administrators and in the administration of its affairs.
Dr. Weilbaecher said the recommendations for the composition and term of office of the ( Charity board were modelled sub-1 stantially on the legislative act; setting up procedure for selection and tenure of the Louisiana State university board of administrators