WITHOUT CAUSE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My name is Christopher Knowles. I am one of Tim Walsh’s “one or two layoffs” at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. I was hired on July 7, 2005. My employment was terminated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, with no notice or cause even though the hospital, as a nonprofit organization, had made a profit in the most recent fiscal year. At the time I was hired, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had rejected the hospital’s application to build a new hospital because their community benefits plan did not address the needs of the community but, rather, had the hospital paying itself $2 million for doing what it was already required to do. After the approval of the application I wrote, the hospital paid itself $1 million of the $2 million it was required to spend on local community health initiatives. After I rewrote the application, the hospital was granted permission to build the new hospital by the state.

Over the past five years the value of the grants I wrote were worth more than my salary and benefits combined. Federal law requires federal contractors (Medicare, the Department of Energy, etc.) to hire, promote and retain Viet Nam era veterans. I served in the Viet Nam War from 1970 until 1974. The Feds have been put on notice so the hospital will be answering to the federal government as will their owner, Massachusetts General Hospital. The denial of federal grants will attach not only to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital but to both Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Health Care. If the hospital wants to make this right, I am willing to listen.

Christopher Knowles

Vineyard Haven

•

LEFT THE SCENE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On Tuesday, June 29 I had to drive my husband’s truck to work (which I didn’t want to do because he keeps it so clean and shiny). While it was parked in the NSTAR electric company parking lot on Edgartown Road, a brown or tan SUV towing a 20 to 23-foot Sea Ox backed into it. The boat dented the front driver’s side hood, fender, bug deflector and bumper on my husband’s truck, causing over $2,000 in damage. The boat probably has red paint on its side. I don’t know if he knows he hit the truck, but he left the lot without stopping. If anyone has any information, please contact the Oak Bluffs police department at 508-693-0750.

Margaret Oliveira

Oak Bluffs

RIGHT TO KNOW

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to Cape and Islands district attorney Michael O’Keefe.

As you are well aware, the legislature has chosen to shift responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law (G. L. c.38, § 23B) from the district attorney’s offices to the Attorney General’s office, effective July 1. I am town counsel to five towns on Martha’s Vineyard and the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission and, over the years, have had numerous occasions to consult with your office on a multitude of questions about the Open Meeting Law.

I wish to express my special thanks to Michael A. Trudeau and Thomas G. Shack 3rd, who have invariably provided me with prompt, concise, and invaluable guidance. In particular, both have helped me, whenever I called, with formulating advice that balanced the public’s right to know with the need for local boards to discuss matters in executive session.

On behalf of myself and the governmental entities which I represent, I wish to express my gratitude for the assistance I have received from your office over the years.

Ronald H. Rappaport

Edgartown

•

WRONGFUL APPLAUSE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I am questioning the Gazette’s acceptance of an editorial page piece by Bill Eville in the Friday, June 25 issue. I wholeheartedly agree that sports build friendships, but to applaud a five-year-old’s “dropping trou” as a gleeful end of the season soccer game is one more sign that adults, the role models for our children’s conduct, are often the reason why many athletes show ludicrous and shameful behavior. My husband and his friends were part of the birth of youth soccer on the Vineyard. If our children, who played with enthusiasm in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, ever initiated or followed such absurd actions as these young, naive players, we would have been appalled. If any grandchild ever exhibits such foolish, misguided behavior, I would ask them to publicly apologize to their teammates, coaches and fans. I say this as a person who admires soccer more than other sports, believing that it should develop respect for others and personal integrity.

Liza Coogan

Vineyard Haven

•

COSTLY MISTAKE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I spoke to Oak Bluffs selectman Duncan Ross (and several of the other selectmen) about the lawsuit initiated by Peter Martell against the fire chief and the town of Oak Bluffs, which was recently decided in Mr. Martell’s favor. I told him that I feel strongly that the selectmen should have quashed the lawsuit before it spiraled into a $50,000 verdict (for costs) against the town. The fire chief was wrong at the initial internal hearing, and the judge came to the same conclusion, which was obvious to all who attended the hearing.

Mr. Ross cited the strong chief law; as I read it, it clearly gives the selectmen the authority to have stopped this travesty in its tracks.

State law states that a “strong chief” cannot be removed except by the board of selectmen, and only after a hearing has been conducted.

The selectmen clearly did not step up to their responsibilities, and now the taxpayers have to pay for it. At the last election, the voters turned down several programs that could have benefited from that $50,000.

Robert A Iadicicco

Oak Bluffs

•

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Thank you to our Vineyard friends for joining us in the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary on June 4 at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven. Many of you attended both the reaffirmation of our vow ceremony and the reception that followed; this really made our day.

We did request no gifts but we thank you for the many good wishes and lovely flowers. We are especially grateful to the donations to the First Baptist Church building fund, the NAACP scholarship fund and other charitable donations in our honor. It was so nice that so many of our friends from all over the Island took the time to share this day with us. We are humbled by your generosity and thoughtfulness and we shall always remember this day.

Melvin D. and Neva D. Thornhill

Vineyard Haven

The Vineyard Gazette welcomes letters to the editor on any subject concerning Martha’s Vineyard. The newspaper strives to publish all letters as space allows, although the editor reserves the right to reject letters that in her judgment are inappropriate. Letters must be signed, and should include a place of residence and contact telephone number. The Gazette does not publish anonymous letters.