HOSPITAL CEO PUT ON LEAVE IN SALARY DISPUTE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

The yearlong controversy over Antelope Valley Hospital CEO Bob Harenski's six-figure salary boiled over Friday when the board voted unanimously to place him on administrative leave with pay.

Taken against the backdrop of an employment contract that gives Harenski 18 months' severance pay if he is fired without cause, the action came two days after he accused hospital directors of breach of contract and said he was refusing to return $100,000 they say he was overpaid last year.

``The bottom line is I don't think that changing administrators is the best thing for the district. I think stability is very important, but the environment is such that stability is not an option at this point,'' said director Shirley Sayles, a supporter of Harenski in the past. ``The environment has deteriorated to the point where I don't think retaining the administrator is a possibility.''

When asked why Harenski's contract - renewed in January - was not terminated at this stage, Sayles said: ``This is the best action. After considering all the options, this was the best one. We considered every option we could have.''

Harenski did not return telephone calls.

Harenski's attorney, Michael Faber, said he talked with Harenski briefly Friday after the meeting and described him as being ``surprised and disappointed by the board's action.''

``I can't speculate as to what the board's motives or intentions are,'' Faber added. ``I must say for the board to take this action after we simply pointed out that they were in breach of contract is discouraging.''

The board's decision came after a special meeting during which it met for about 1-1/2 hours in closed session. Chief Financial Officer Bob Anderson will serve as interim chief executive officer, officials said.

Harenski's administrative leave will last until the board ``decides what to do,'' Sayles said.

Director Larry Chimbole said he had no comment on the board's action. In addition to putting Harenski on leave, the board also denied him a bonus, Chimbole said.

``I have absolutely no comment,'' he said. ``I'm not at liberty to discuss that.''

In a letter sent by his attorney to hospital board Chairman Dr. John Manning before a board meeting Wednesday, Harenski claimed the hospital failed to review his salary, establish criteria for or pay him his bonus, and adopt a supplemental retirement plan by certain deadlines set up in his contract.

The letter by attorney Michael Faber also said the Dec. 21 settlement in which Harenski agreed to return $100,513 over a four-year period for overpayment last year for a retirement plan in exchange for a new contract is no longer valid.

In the letter, Harenski demanded that biweekly deductions of nearly $1,000 from his paycheck stop and that the hospital reimburse him the money previously deducted. He also demanded that the hospital obey its contractual obligations by July 23, or he would likely ask that the dispute be handed over to an independent arbitrator.

The board at Wednesday's meeting was scheduled to consider supplemental retirement benefits for Harenski and five vice presidents and bonus pay for the vice presidents.

The board decided it was not appropriate at this time to have any additional retirement plan for Harenski or further compensation for the administrative staff.

According to Faber's letter, Harenski's compensation was to have been reviewed by March 30; criteria on which to base his bonus were to have been determined by Jan. 30, after which a bonus was to be paid by June 30; and the board also was to have considered no later than March 15 adoption of a supplemental retirement program for Harenski, the letter said.