Community Briefs Community Briefs (July 01, 2005)

Hospital board, League to finally meet

Residents who were unable to air questions and concerns about the El Camino Hospital district at its June 1 board meeting will get the chance on Wednesday, July 6.

The board says it plans to devote a "significant portion" of its meeting to discuss the Los Altos-Mountain View Area League of Women Voters' May 23 request that actions by the hospital board "be conducted with at least the degree of openness and public access to information required of a local agency" by the Brown Act and California Public Records Act.

Doctors, union members and residents attended the June 1 meeting with hopes of gaining a better understanding of the way the district functions and how it plans to spend the $148 million in bond money voters approved two years ago to construct a new, seismically safe hospital campus.

A scheduling conflict with two of the board's five members on June 1 caused the discussion to be postponed a month. -- Katie Vaughn

KMVT finds a new manager

After laying off its two top employees four months ago, local television station KMVT has hired a new manager.

Brian Szabo, 60, began his career in the motion picture industry, and has spent the past 25 years as executive of a number of software firms. His experience in fund raising will come in handy, since KMVT has been struggling financially.

"I'd like to build the station back up to its former self," Szabo said. "I know we've had a really illustrious history with award-winning programs, and we're looking to bring those back."

Szabo's aspirations also include restoring a number of popular staff-produced shows such as "Before the Counsel," becoming a major video production house for nonprofits in the Bay Area, and even starting a local film festival. -- Jenny Baer

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