3 Pd Wein ‘August 19,2020 Vio Biectronie Mail and First Class Mail Eden Bentley Brevard County Atiomey Brevard County Board of County Commissioners 2725 Judge Fan Jamieson Way Viera, Florida 32940 Recently Health First received an email from the County Commission Chair dated August 7 (a copy of which is enclosed for your review) which demanded *Heslth Fist match no less than 80% of any and all CARES Act funding alloated to ‘them, bythe County, and earmark this match toward the improvement of public areas surrounding ther facilites, inching ‘no less than $1.25M allocated to the public park adjacent. the Veteran's Memorial Cente to enable constuction of wabkways, fountains, installation of electrical andlor plumbing conduit, signage, andor to offset the eost of a planned smphitheate.” The August 7 email continues by, in pat, warning, “Plase note that I am not terribly interested in negotiating these figure as they were not provided with he dex of meeting inthe middle ce negotiating downward.” While ly the sender can speak to the intentions, she August 7 email appear tobe « quid-pro-quo demand and the reference 10 "negotiating" a not so veiled threat that Health First must comply with the demands or be penalized by not receiving any Federal CARES Act funding from Brevard County to suppor is etorts in the fight against COVID-19. ‘A second August 7 email to Heath Fist (a copy of which is enclosed for your review) boasts “I may not be very good at ‘math but 20% of something to which there is no enitloment is far beter than 0% ofthat same figure.” Additionally. on ‘August 13 Health First received an mal (a copy of whichis enclosed for your review) that reads as an overt threat of ‘nteasing the equired“match” should Healin Firs not gree othe demand, “Asa courtesy reminder, I maintain my tequoat for HF's acceptance of my proposal on or before Friday, August 21. IF HF docs not accept cn or before that date, ity ‘exceedingly likely that the terms offered totem will no Inger remain nearly as favorable as thos initially communicated (ea, instead oF 800, it may become 90/10)" “Taken together, the emails oF August 7 and 13 appear, at best, as a misuse of the Chait publ: position oF prohibited ‘xaction and, at worst, suggest an unlawful scheme fo contravene the intended purpose of Federal CARES Ac funding. As ‘such, Health First cannot yield to the demands, In these challenging times, Health First leadership and our faily of health fare providers will not be distracted from our mission of caring for our customers, espcielly at this time when cur community is counting ona. Even if it means doing without much needed Federal CARES Act relief. Page 1 of 2Finally, Health Firs is aware of comments posted onthe Brevard County Commissioners Distt 2 Facebook page on July 17 that vilifes the organization (a copy of which is enclosed for your review). While subsequently removed, these ‘comments made outlandish allegations implying that Brevard County residents wil get sick and die due tothe setions of Health First, While Heath First respects the sevice of the Commission Chair, we believe that the demands coupled with the public Aisparsgements ofthe County’s most comprehensive wellness provider isthe typeof conduct that erodes confidence fn ec government. Moreover, the actions demonstrate bias and prejudice againt the more than 9,000 Health First associates ‘who work to make up Central Florida's only fll integrated delivery network, Fr these reasons, Health First requests 1. That she Commission Chir abstain or recuse himself on ll votes on or related to Federal CARES Act Funding o healthcare related companies, and 2. Thatthe Commission Chair abstain or recuse himself on ll votes relating to Health First and is subsidiaries forthe duration of service onthe Brevard Board of County Commission, The wellness of the residents of Brevard County is our priory, and we believe it should be the Board of Couny ‘Commissioners as wel bles Romanello Health Fest, Senior Vice President | Chief Legsl Officer ce: Commissioner Rita Pritchet ‘Commissioner Bryan Lober ‘Commissioner John Tobia Commissioner Curt Smith Commissioner Kristine Isard Frank Abate, County Manager (and Joy Roth) ‘Kimberly Rezanka, Es. Page? of 2