M. Elizabeth Neal
Lake Oconee News
MADISON – O.J. Booker abruptly resigned as chief executive officer of Morgan County's publicly owned hospital Monday, citing personal reasons, according to Morgan Memorial Hospital Authority Chairman Terry Evans
His departure continues a revolving door of leadership that has plagued the small rural hospital for the past five years Booker joined MMH's staff a little more than 10 months ago, becoming the fourth administrator/CEO since 2005. His resignation Monday morning was immediate, Evans acknowledged. Booker left the hospital following a standard weekly meeting with Evans, at which time he notified the hospital authority chairman of his decision to resign, and submitted a letter to that effect. He had not been in contact with the hospital authority or staff since that time, officials said.
Booker could not be reached for comment by presstime this week, and hospital officials had invoked a delay allowed under Georgia law in responding to the Lake Oconee News' open records request for a copy of Booker's resignation letter.
Responding to questions concerning unconfirmed reports that the authority had requested Booker's resignation, Evans countered that the former CEO's decision was "volunteered."
“I can say that at O.J.'s request the authority conducted a review of his performance after he had been on the job for six months," Evans said. He declined to discuss the results of that review, and an open records request for a copy of the personnel evaluation was not available by presstime this week.
Booker had a contract with the authority, and Evans said the authority's attorney is reviewing the document in connection with Booker's lack of notice concerning his departure. "Realistically though, if someone wants to resign, I don't think there's a lot you can do about it," he said.
Authority members met in closed executive session Monday night, voting to accept Booker's resignation.
They were scheduled to meet again Wednesday night to vote on the appointment of an interim CEO recommended by an authority member. Advertisements and a search for a permanent CEO will begin immediately, the authority chairman said.
H.D. Cannington was the longest serving CEO of the hospital since popular administrator Chris Bonham left in 2005 to direct a hospital in the north Georgia mountains. Cannington left after two years to help establish a hospital in Iraq. His successor, David Snyder served only a few months in the job, and Morgan Commissioners, who subsidize the public hospital in their budget, had put pressure on authority members to terminate the contract of administrator Brandon Jolley over personal financial issues.
Evans said Wednesday morning that the authority is moving forward, with no delay in a strategic planning process leading up to a plan to replace the hospital's 51-year-old facility .
