Health Service Board recesses into closed session to review executive director candidates; unanimously votes not to disclose or report

The San Francisco Health Service Board voted unanimously to recess into closed session at 1:02 p.m. to review candidates for the San Francisco Health Service System executive director and later voted unanimously not to disclose the closed-session discussions or to issue a report on actions taken in that closed session.

President Howe said the purpose of the closed session was to meet with the recruitment search firm and "review the candidates that they have screened for us to consider for interviewing for the executive director's position." The board took a formal motion to recess into closed session and recorded a unanimous roll-call vote: President Howe — Aye; Commissioner Kremen — Aye; Supervisor Dorsey — Aye; Commissioner Howard — Aye; Commissioner Sass — Aye; Commissioner Wilson — Aye.

Before the vote to recess, the board accepted remote public comment. Fred Sanchez, identified as president of Protect Our Benefits, urged the board to ensure candidates understand their fiduciary duties. "I wondered if you received the question from Lois Scott, our vice president. Wondering if you could ask the candidates if they understood their fiduciary responsibilities towards the members of the health service system," Sanchez said. The board acknowledged receipt of a written comment from Lois Scott submitted before the deadline.

After returning to open session, the board considered agenda item 5, a vote on whether to disclose any or all discussion held in closed session under the San Francisco Administrative Code. The board recorded a motion "not to disclose," which received a unanimous roll-call vote in favor (same voting members as above).

The board then considered agenda item 6, whether to issue a possible report on any action taken in closed session under state law and the San Francisco Administrative Code. A motion that the board not issue such a report carried unanimously on roll call.

Meeting staff read the public-comment procedures into the record before remote callers spoke: in-person speakers are given priority, each speaker is allowed three minutes unless otherwise limited by the board president, and the board will hear up to 30 minutes of remote public comment per agenda item (with accommodations exempt from that limit). The meeting record shows the board recessed into closed session at 1:02 p.m., returned to closed session later in the afternoon, and adjourned at approximately 3:54 p.m.

No personnel selections, interviews, candidate names, or other confidential details were disclosed during the open portions of the meeting; the board's votes record only the procedural decisions to recess, to withhold disclosure of closed-session discussions, and to withhold any report on closed-session actions.

The decisions to keep closed-session discussions confidential were taken under city and state rules that govern personnel and closed-session disclosures; the agenda cited San Francisco Administrative Code section 67.12 and state Government Code provisions referenced for closed-session reporting obligations.