B.C. Housing has hired addictions specialist Dr. Beverly Richardson to assess the treatment model used at Baldy Hughes.
B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman said Richardson will arrive at Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community next week to begin her assessment.
"Once a model is established, a new executive director will be recruited," Coleman said.
In the meantime, B.C. Housing regional director Malachy Tohill will serve as acting manager of the facility.
B.C. Housing took control of Baldy Hughes on Thursday after residents of the addiction centre staged a protest of Wednesday and Thursday against the current management.
Former executive director Bruce Kirk is gone, Coleman said. Baldy Hughes had been hiring to fill Kirk's position since June, so the transition was expected.
Former member of the board Selen Alpay, former medical director Dr. Michael O'Malley,former resident Richard Freeman and a source inside Baldy Hughes all said the facility was in chaos following the sudden departure of former executive director Marshall Smith in March.
Alpay, O'Malley and board member Jaret Clay all resigned shortly after Smith and the board, "made a mutual decision" for him to leave.
Since March, the number of residents at the facility has dropped from 65 to 48. Several key staff members have also left the facility.
Coleman said the board of directors - made up of chairperson Kevin England, Don Willoughby, Stephen Gammer, Ken Hallat, Shannon Belkin, Theo Warkentin and Norm Duncan - requested B.C. Housing's assistance in the last 10 days.
The facility was facing a financial shortfall and was not able to pay its bills (see related story).
A key concern raised by Alpay and O'Malley was the lack of local representation on the board of directors. Of the current board, only Warkentin lives in the North.
Prince George residents Alpay, Clay, Dr. Bert Kelly, Tom Sentes and Brian Fehr all resigned from the board between November, 2008 and March, 2011.
"That is a little bit of a concern. I've always wanted northern representation on the board," Coleman said. "[But] the criticism that they are all from Vancouver is perhaps a bit unfair - these are the people who, in the beginning, stood up and said they would try to make this happen."
Coleman said he believes the board had good intentions and is made up of, "very good people," who tried to make the facility work.
The board was operating within the legal perimeters set out for it, he added.
"As we transition, there may be more people from the north involved," Coleman added. "We have a couple people in mind."
Efforts to "besmirch the facility," by former employees or board members have had a negative impact on Baldy Hughes's ability to attract clients, Coleman said.
"We don't get into people issues," he said. "We want to protect the confidentiality of the clients."
Where there has been issues raised, B.C. Housing has worked behind the scenes with Baldy Hughes's administration to resolve them, Coleman said.
Former board member Alpay said it shouldn't have taken an open protest by clients to get the province to respond to concerns about the management of the facility.
"Sadly, and unfortunately, I wasn't surprised [by the protest]. I'm glad what has happened has happened," Alpay said. "I think we're on the road to making it work. When the policies are followed, that place is world class."
Citizens concerned about the future of the facility, lead by Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, have been calling for change for some time.
"I think the board has to be made up by northern members," Alpay said. "That can happen quite easily."
Alpay said he would, "absolutely," be glad to be part of a new board of directors.
"There are a number of very caring individuals in the community who would be like-minded."
Former executive director Marshall Smith declined to comment. Board chairperson Kevin England, former medical director Dr. Michael O'Malley, Baldy Hughes founder Lorne Mayencourt and Dr. Beverly Richardson could not be reached for comment as of press time.
COLEMAN: BALDY HUGHES WAS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE
Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community was facing financial trouble before centre residents staged a mass protest on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Housing Minister Rich Coleman.
On Thursday B.C. Housing assumed control of the facility from the administration and board of directors. B.C. Housing had to step in to help the centre pay its bills at the beginning of July, Coleman said.
"Because of the number of clients being down, there was a shortfall of money available," he said. "The board asked us for assistance, which we said we'd do. We've been working on this for awhile now."
Coleman said there are approximately 48 clients left at the facility, down from 65 in March when former executive director Marshall Smith left the facility.
"We've had to go in and meet and discuss financial planing," Coleman said. "We know there is a critical number of clients, around 70, to make this thing work."
It's not the first time the financial viability of the centre has been in question, he said.
"We've had concerns as things have grown a couple times. As it grows, sometimes the skill set that you need when it's 20 people isn't the same as when it's 70 people," Coleman said. "It's obvious they needed more disciple on the site."
The provincial government purchased the 26-hectare former military base for $3 million in December, to eliminate the lease payments on the facility, he added. B.C. Housing provides $277,000 in annual operating funding for the facility.
A further $100,000 in gaming revenue and up to $650,000 in client-based funding from the Ministry of Social Development.
"We believe the funding is sufficient to operate the facility," Coleman said.
A financial manager appointed by B.C. Housing will arrive in Prince George in the near future to develop a financial plan for the facility, he said.
B.C. Housing and the provincial government are committed to making the facility viable, Coleman added.
"We bought it at a cost of $3 million. If we weren't committed, we wouldn't still be here," he said. "We think it does work."
