Other board members could not be reached for comment Friday. It administers hospitals in Concord and Walnut Creek. But the Mt. Diablo board, which ran the Concord hospital before the merger, kept operating. With little success, directors have been searching since the merger for some tangible health-related activity to perform. Board members have not rejected a director since the merger, the jury found.
Members qualify for retirement if they serve six two-year terms.
She also said the system never undertook any action to disband the board. The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors can petition the Local Agency Formation Commission to dissolve the board. So can residents within the district through a petition drive. The board also can dissolve itself. Ellis said board members want to continue their work and will soon mount a public relations campaign to let the people know exactly what they do.