An external law firm examined and approved the payment of $1.7 million in hotly debated bonuses to 90 top executives at Erlanger Health Systems, according to a news release.
The release from board Chairman Donnie Hutcherson came Tuesday night. It said said a review by the Spears, Moore, Rebman and Williams firm, which has experience in open meeting guidelines for public organizations, concluded that the bonuses and the board's process to issue them was appropriate.
After a swell of criticism and questions arose from state lawmakers, the hospital decided to put the bonuses on hold and ask for the review.
Hutcherson said in the statement: “During a meeting with the entire Board of Trustees, the firm informed the Board members that the approval process was appropriate and the action taken by the Board was also appropriate.”
The bonuses were passed by the board two weeks ago to 99 managers who met previously established performance goals.