The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V50
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*************July 24, 2000**************
In follow-up to the snail-mailed July 17, 2000 open records
complaint filed against LMHS, the following e-mail was sent to the
Assistant Attorney General July 18. The July 17 complaint is included
in the message:
June B. Harden
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division
Re: July 17, 2000 Open Records Complaint
Dear Ms. Harden:
In a follow-up to the snail-mailed July 17, 2000 Open Records
Complaint filed against Llano Memorial Healthcare System (LMHS)
Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi, kindly be advised I now have evidence
the records sought in the original request dated May 25 do in fact
exist.
In response to an unrelated open records request dated June 23,
2000, the Administrator finally provided access to Llano Bay Health
Care Inc. Board minutes for calendar year 2000. Three pages of minutes
germane to the existence of the requested records will be shortly
snail-mailed to the Open Records Division.
For your convenience, the following is a copy of the snail-mailed Open Records Complaint dated July 17, 2000.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
*******************************
June B. Harden
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Tx. 78711-2548
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
Re: Open Records Complaint
July 17, 2000
Dear Ms. Harden:
This is an open records complaint filed against Llano Memorial
Healthcare System (LMHS) Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi. Kindly find
attached the June 15, 2000 open records request and Mr. Parisi's
"response" of June 20. Be advised no response has been received from
Mr. Center. As public information officer, however, Mr. Parisi is
ultimately responsible for open records requests, and has repeatedly
failed to timely fulfill his obligations.
The records requested are precisely the same ones sought in an
earlier request dated May 25. The Open Records Division is already in
possession of that document. LMHS attorney Fletcher H. Brown of Davis
& Wilkerson had included it in his now withdrawn request for
exception dated June 12, 2000 and assigned ID#138046.
Kindly find attached Parisi's June 14 response to the original
request (May 25). He has disingenuously and falsely asserted: "With
regard for your request concerning all donor records of Llano Bay
Healthcare Inc. please be advised that there are no such donor records
as all funds which have been provided to Llano Bay Healthcare, Inc.
have been provided by Llano Memorial Hospital Foundation."
These records do in fact exist. Llano Bay Healthcare Inc., i.e. the
Marble Falls Community Hospital has already raised in excess of $50,000
in funds. Mr. Parisi and counsel are playing a "shell game" with these
records in an effort to thwart the Public Information Act and required
disclosure.
Kindly be advised Llano Memorial Hospital Foundation Treasurer
Lance Center is also a councilman and one of several Llano City
officials who last year apparently placed unethical pressure on the
Llano Chamber to merge with the Hill Country Wildlife Museum. It is
quite possible the Treasurer is ignoring the request in an effort to
quickly sanitize donor records.
You and your associates have been repeatedly informed of the
egregious stonewalling by Mr. Parisi and other government officials in
Llano County. When will you finally take action, -- despite the
apparently corrupt and abusive influence of the District Attorney?
No open records complaint will be filed with either the District
Attorney or County Attorney. It would be a waste of time. As repeatedly
asserted in earlier correspondence, both are apparently corrupt,
abusive, and highly selective in their prosecutions, -- "taking care of
their own".
As also repeatedly asserted, District Attorney Sam Oatman himself
failed to fully honor an earlier open records request dated March 12,
2000, and dishonestly and unethically attempted to charge for copies
never requested in an unsuccessful effort to intimidate this writer.
The glaring indifference of the Open Records Division to continuous
open records stonewalling by Llano County officials certainly provides
valuable insight to readers of this publication as to just how corrupt
all levels of government happen to be, -- and easily susceptible to the
long reach and influence of corrupt local officials.
Ever wondered why LMHS attorney Fletcher H. Brown filed and then
quickly withdrew his request for exception (ID#138046) despite the
Administrator's failure to fully honor the open records request? Are
you aware LMHS spent $7300 for an engineering study and survey
confirming the obvious, -- you don't build a hospital next to an
ongoing mining operation involving blasting? Did it ever occur to you
or your associates while reviewing the ID#138046 file someone's palms
might have been greased?
The withdrawn exception request was filed at the very least to
spare Hospital officials embarrassment, --if not worse. After all, LMHS
had neglected to inform the public as to exactly why the defunct site
was rejected. If there is indeed criminal activity involved and not
merely outrageous aggressive stupidity, the glaring indifference of the
Open Records Division certainly provides LMHS officials more than just
aid and comfort. Although it is not clear why the exception request was
quickly withdrawn, LMHS officials are apparently now more concerned
with protecting donor records from disclosure. Interesting, isn't it?
Have you conveniently forgotten one of the most important reasons
the Public Information Act was created, -- to facilitate the exposure
of corruption? Should the Open Records Division continue to balk on
forcing Llano County governmental entities to provide access to
requested records, a complaint will be filed directly with the Attorney
General. While nothing will be done, Mr. Cornyn should indeed be aware
he has a serious problem with your agency.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
cc: Llano Ledger website
cc by e-mail: David Mendoza, Legal Assistant, Open Records Division; David Short, Investigator, Open Records
Division.
The following additional letter was snail-mailed to the Assistant Attorney General:
June B. Harden
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Tx. 78711-2548
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
Re: Follow-up To July 17, 2000 Open Records Complaint
July 19, 2000
Dear Ms. Harden:
In follow-up to the snail-mailed July 17, 2000 Open Records
Complaint filed against Llano Memorial Healthcare System (LMHS)
Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi, kindly find attached 3 pages of Llano
Bay Health Care Inc. Board minutes providing evidence of the existence
of documents originally sought in the May 25, 2000 open records
request.
When will your agency finally take action? How much longer will the
Open Records Division drag its feet? Each day of delay gives LMHS
officials additional time to sanitize donor records.
Just as pointedly, Open Records Division intransigence and
subsequent dumping of ID#138059 on the General Services Commission,
regarding School District efforts to "charge" for access to public
documents, provides additional time for school officials to sanitize
requested documents.
Be advised, in an unrelated matter, the General Services Commission
has yet to take action on ID#137576 regarding $1/copy charges imposed
by the County Judge and Commissioners' Court in an effort to thwart the
Public Information Act.
Is this the best State government has to offer?
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
cc: Llano Ledger website
cc by e-mail: David Mendoza, Legal Assistant, Open Records Division; David Short, Investigator, Open Records Division.
LMHS Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi finally honored one of several
pending open records requests Tuesday, July 18. The request was dated
June 23 and posted in the June 26, 2000 Newsletter. Readers will recall
this request was for access to the withdrawn LMHS request for open
records exception, the minutes of the Llano Bay Health Care Board for
calendar year 2000, and all O'Connell Robertson &
Associates-Hospital correspondence, faxes, memos, and e-mails regarding
construction of the Marble Falls Community Hospital.
Unlike previous open records responses, a substantial amount of
documents was provided. -- Interestingly, more than requested. Thorough
examination of the material took approximately an hour and forty
minutes, and was uninterrupted. ... Apparently, the Administrator or
Executive Secretary had read last week's edition posted the day
before...
Released Llano Bay Health Care Inc. Board minutes provided evidence
of the existence of donor records originally requested May 25. Consider
the following three excerpts:
January 24, 2000:
"VI. General Discussion. There are three Fund Raising Focus Groups
planned in the next two weeks. Christine Reed asked all Board Members
to attend as many as they can. These evening meetings will be to answer
questions about the Marble Falls Hospital and to start the foundation
for asking for donations. During these meetings we should also identify
any potential leaders. Brenda Morris has agreed to be on the Advisory
Board. Others that have been identified are: Alice Johnson, Jack
Kemper, Dr. Stuart Nunnley, Dr. Swett, Dr. Turner and Frank Southers.
Steve Smith pointed out that we need to ask for donations of a minimum of 2M, but we need 3M to 4M. All Board Members agreed."
February 16, 2000
"VI. Discuss Fund Raising Activity. The next Focus Group Meetings will
be in the Meadow Lakes area. This will help to evaluate the Marble
Falls residents. To date we have received approximately $34,000 in
stocks and pledges. Christine Reed is in the process of finalizing the
members of the Advisory Committee. She also thanked the Board Members
for their attendance a[t] Fund Raising Activities. It shows good
credibility. It will put rumors down as we answer all the questions,
which arise. She is working on a Question and Answer Form to assist
with this process."
March 21, 2000
"X. Discuss Fund Raising Activity. There is another Fund Raiser
scheduled for April 5th at 6:30PM. It will be in the home of Dr. St.
Nunnley in Marble Falls. C. Reed passed out the Marble Falls Community
Hospital Building Project Named Giving Opportunities."
Having falsely asserted there were no Llano Bay Health Care Inc.
donor records, the Administrator's credibility remains in the toilet.
-- As it has for months. Having failed to tell the truth and finally
nailed, how can his word be trusted regarding any and all Hospital
matters? Serious questions remain regarding the reliability of
accounting reports offered by Hospital officials in support of the
original Feasibility Study, -- reports used by investors to decide
viability of bonds. ... Having lied about the existence of donor
records, what else is Mr. Parisi... shall we say... less than candid
about?
The extreme Right in Llano County has vociferously championed
"personal responsibility". Where is the Administrator's? More
pointedly, where the hell is the outrage of "conservatives", i.e.
fascists in this County? After all, you've been lied to and looted, --
legally or otherwise. Repeatedly. Not only by Hospital officials, but
by School and other County officials as well. Yet, you remain cowardly
and deafeningly silent. ... Oh, nearly forgot... -- As long as it's
government or business doing the lying and looting, no problem, right?
Got to protect "authority" and the "privileged", don't we? At any cost.
Since there were no Llano Bay Board minutes for April, Executive
Secretary Karen Kinard was asked if the Board met monthly. She replied
no. They meet as necessary in Marble Falls. Readers should clearly
understand Llano Bay Health Care Inc. is a subsidiary of LMHS and a
Llano County quasi-governmental entity. -- Just as the mother
corporation, LMHS. Yet, this writer has never seen Llano Bay Health
Care Inc. Board meeting notices posted in the Llano County Courthouse.
Interesting, isn't it?
Ms. Kinard could not provide any information as to where the
notices are indeed posted, -- if anywhere. These notices MUST be posted
by statute. As correctly asserted by the Executive Secretary, LMHS
Board meeting notices, however, are indeed posted in the Courthouse.
What about Llano Bay, Ernie?
This writer does not, and will not, attend Hospital Board meetings
since nothing of substance is discussed outside of executive session.
-- Clearly, in violation of Open Meetings statutes. With the District
Attorney and County Attorney both apparently corrupt, abusive, and
highly selective in their prosecutions, however, nothing will change.
The Attorney General reportedly does not have the power to enforce the
Texas Open Meetings Act. Aren't we lucky? Nothing quite like looking
out for the best interests of the taxpayers, is there? Right, Sam?
Right, Cheryll?
Amazing how embroiled the Hutto family is in Llano County politics,
isn't it? Tere Hutto, as readers well-know, is LISD Board President.
Ms. Hutto has failed to respond to two snail-mailed letters sent over
the last year and posted elsewhere on this website. Apparently, she
answers to no one, -- since only approximately 11% of registered voters
turn out for School Board elections.
Ms. Hutto is married to Wade Hutto, -- well-known Llano attorney
and President of the Llano Bay Health Care Inc. Board. Small world,
isn't it? Interestingly, Mr. Hutto served as advocate for the School
Bonds passed on the second try due to an extremely poor voter turnout
several years ago. ... Also due to the aggressive stupidity of the
public, these bonds with interest will cost Llano County taxpayers some
$37 million for two new school facilities this County had no need of.
School officials with the help of their shills, however, deliberately
mislead the public. Imagine that. Could never happen here, could it?
Readers are reminded LISD Superintendent Jack Patton has
dishonestly and unethically imposed $515.90 in "charges" for access to
public documents. Mr. Patton is apparently protecting school officials
from exposure of serious financial irregularities within the District,
-- or worse. He is also apparently being supported in this endeavor by
Ms. Hutto and her School Board cronies in an effort to thwart the
Public Information Act and required disclosure.
School District stonewalling is now subject to investigation by
both the Open Records Division and General Services Commission. -- For
whatever the hell that's worth. ... Up to now? Squat. Sadly, State
government has already given LISD and LMHS more than enough time to
sanitize records. Anything subsequently released would be more than
suspect.
Regarding the outrageous waste of $6000 for an engineering study
and $1299 for a survey for the now defunct hospital site located
adjacent to an ongoing mining operation using blasting, consider the
following minutes from the January 24, 2000 Llano Bay Health Care Inc.
Board meeting:
"Discuss Engineering Study. O'Connell Robertson & Associates is
assisting E. Parisi in finding an engineer. The bid received was for
$6000 but does not include surface and environmental studies for lead.
The area was a shooting range in the past. It does include O'Connell
Robertson & Assoc. working with Huber to analyze vibration and
mining techniques. Wade Hutto feels we need to proceed now. We need to
go and get the study done. The time frame is shortening. We must know
the effect. Ernie Parisi will have them begin ASAP. It will take
approximately three weeks. Kevin Reed also suggested that what we need
is a Phase I on the property."
Most pointedly, why did Mr. Hutto pressure the Board to act? Why
order a survey and engineering study to confirm the obvious, -- you
don't build a hospital next to an ongoing mining operation using
blasting. ... Whose palms were greased, Wade?
As a result of the engineering study, the Board decided not to
proceed on the defunct site during the March 21, 2000 meeting. The
reason given, however, does not jive with the objections raised in the
engineering study. Quoting the Board minutes: "Because of the mineral
rights being owned by J.M. Huber, it would not be advisable to build
our hospital on this land."
As reported in the June 26, 2000 Newsletter, however, the
overriding concern as quoted in the Law Gibb engineering study was the
blasting and its effect on Hospital equipment. Duh. Interesting, isn't
it? Nothing quite like "massaging" the truth, right, Ernie? Regardless,
$7300 was squandered to confirm the obvious. Again, whose palms were
greased?
Another Hutto family member and current Mayor of Llano, Terry
Hutto, with the help of several of his cronies on the Council as
reported last year, apparently unethically pressured the Llano Chamber
to merge with the Hill Country Wildlife Museum. One of the Councilmen
reportedly involved was Lance Center. Mr. Center also serves as
Treasurer of the Llano Memorial Hospital Foundation and has stonewalled
an open records request for all LMHS donor records. Again, small world,
isn't it? Sadly, everything in this corrupt and abusive County is
inexplicably intertwined. Truly fascinating, wouldn't you agree? ...
Indeed, a retro time warp to 1960.
There is much more of interest in the Llano Bay Board minutes and
recently released documents. Due to space and time considerations,
however, it will have to wait until at least next week. Upon departure
of LMHS Administrative offices, the following open records request was
handed to the Executive Secretary:
Ernie Parisi, Administrator
LMHS
103 West Lampasas
Llano, Tx. 78643
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
Re: Open Records Request
July 18, 2000
Dear Mr. Parisi:
This is a request for information under the Public Information Act,
Ch.552, Gov't Code, Public Information. Access to following documents
is respectfully requested:
1. Minutes of Llano Memorial Healthcare System Board for calendar year 2000.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
cc: Llano Ledger website
There are three currently pending LMHS open records requests. A
fourth will be sent shortly regarding the missing April and June Llano
Bay Board minutes. Although they may not exist, it will be instrumental
having it so stated in writing by the Administrator. Readers should
understand the recently released material will generate additional open
records requests for other documents not yet accessed. Sadly, there is
a long, long way to go...
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gut-wrenching fear, and the continuing intimidation of corrupt and
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beholden to NO ONE.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:08pm EDT