TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — The merger between Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital is seeing new developments.
A new proposal suggests reallocating some of the chairs on the board and adding new ones.
Mayor Pro Tem Dianne Williams-Cox told WCTV Friday that the proposal came from a conversation with TMH CEO Mark O’Bryant, which would expand the governing board by two seats, bringing the total to 19.
According to a Friday statement from TMH, that would give the local hospital ten community seats, and the universities would hold nine.
TMH said, under the proposal, Florida State University would gain an additional academic seat, designated for Tallahassee State College. The second seat would be added to TMH.
A statement sent to WCTV Friday evening, TMH expressed support for the proposal, calling it “a smart and balanced path.”
“TMH fully supports this structure and stands ready to move forward on that basis,” the statement read. “We encourage all parties to join us in adopting this approach and advancing together toward a stronger healthcare future for our region.”
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Williams-Cox said she put her suggestion in writing and sent it to all parties involved.
According to Williams-Cox, the proposal would leave all FSU-designated and TMH-designated seats untouched. One seat would go to Florida A&M University, appointed by the FAMU president, and one seat would go to Tallahassee State College.
While the outcome of the proposals from Williams-Cox and TMH seems to be the same, the wording is different. WCTV has reached out to TMH for clarification.
FSU President Richard McCullough provided an update to the Board of Trustees on Friday morning on plans for FSU Health.
He said they are still working on the deal and expect to have a price for the sale and a vote by December.
McCullough said FSU has finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with FAMU, under which FSU would provide them with a board seat, but discussions are still underway regarding Tallahassee State College.
“Florida State University has done everything it can to push this thing forward and we really appreciate all the support we’ve had from the city commission,” McCullough said.
Tallahassee Commissioner Jack Porter sent a statement to WCTV Friday evening on the developments, saying she is glad progress is being made on the board governance.
“A deliberative look at all aspects of this deal needs to happen,” Porter said. “I’m not comfortable moving forward without at the very least an actual appraisal, clawback provisions to ensure agreed-upon and measurable metrics are met, and that the City Commission have final approval of all board seats.”
The Tallahassee City Commission has already held two public hearings on the sale and has a third scheduled, with a final vote in December.
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