In a statement issued Saturday, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital trustees defended their decision to fire Joe Woodin, saying it was made in the best interest of the Island community and reiterating that they intend to stay mum about the details.

The statement was issued Saturday afternoon just before 4 p.m. following a special board meeting. The meeting was closed to the press and public.

There have been weeks of turbulence on the Island following June 5 ouster of Mr. Woodin, the president and chief executive officer who had been on the job for just 13 months. The firing remains largely unexplained.

“The board unanimously stands by its decision . . . We know that our silence has caused the community great distress, but we believe, in the case of an individual’s employment, there is a courtesy of privacy,” the statement said in part.

The complete text of the statement follows:

•

The board of trustees of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital met today (Saturday, June 24) to discuss the termination of Joseph Woodin as president and CEO.

The board unanimously stands by its decision. It was based first and foremost on what the board deemed to be in the best interest of the greater hospital community.

To respect Mr. Woodin, we have opted not to speak publicly about the details. We know that our silence has caused the community great distress, but we believe, in the case of an individual’s employment, there is a courtesy of privacy.

We are able to say that based on information from members of the hospital community, the board was concerned about ensuring stability, and avoiding the loss of individuals who are essential to the operations of the hospital and the delivery of care to our patients.

We are pleased that our employees, who have dedicated their careers to Martha Vineyard’s Hospital, remain in place and continue to deliver the best care to our residents and our visitors.

We acknowledge that the process caused confusion and distress. We could have done better and we will going forward. We owe that to everyone.

We now need to turn our attention to the future and finding the right leader for MVH. We will fully evaluate the person’s leadership skills and style, fit for the hospital and the community, and will seek input from the community in the selection process.