The former medical director of Baldy Hughes is adding his voice to those speaking out about the internal infighting between the Vancouver-based board of directors and local staff.
Dr. Michael O'Malley was the medical director for Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community for 15 months. O'Malley resigned two days after former executive director Marshall Smith suddenly left his position on March 3.
"I've been associated with Baldy Hughes since its inception," O'Malley said. "[But] Marshall Smith was basically the reason I went to work there. The place was just beginning to hum, then he suddenly gets whisked away. I could see what was going to happen."
The sudden departure of Smith - which Smith has said was a mutual decision by himself and the board - created instability at Baldy Hughes, O'Malley said.
"They certainly didn't consult with me, as medical director," he said. "If they'd asked me I'd have removing him is dangerous - you can't just yank him out of there."
The residents at Baldy Hughes are trying to rebuild and stabilize their lives, he said, and any transition of leadership should have been as seamless as possible.
O'Malley said his continues to be a strong supporter of Baldy Hughes and the work being done there to provide men with treatment for addictions.
"The team that Marshall Smith put in place out there, I have the greatest respect for them," he said. "[And] I feel sad for the 65 men who were out there. I lay that firmly at the feet of the board [of directors]."
O'Malley said he was sad to leave the organization, but couldn't continue under the governance of the current board of directors.
"The fatal flaw is the board of directors is from Vancouver - out of touch with what is happening in the North. There was always one or two from Prince George - but they always resigned one after the other," O'Malley said. "The board needs to have its noses in, but its fingers out - that is not what happened here."
Baldy Hughes is operated by the B.C. New Hope Recovery Society. The society's board meets in Vancouver.
Northern directors Selen Alpay and Jaret Clay resigned from the board the same week Smith left his position. Other northern directors Brian Fehr and Tom Sentes resigned during the past 18 months.
In an e-mail, Alpay said the board was, "nothing more than self-congratulating conversation between Vancouver elites who are completely disconnected from the reality of life in Northern B.C."
Currently only one director, Theo Warkington, remains from the north.
Calls to interim executive director Bruce Kirk were not returned as of press time.
