The chairman of the board at Fenway Community Health Center resigned Monday, the second top official to leave under pressure after disclosures that Fenway mishandled complaints about a high-profile doctor who allegedly sexually harassed and bullied staff members for years.
Robert H. Hale, a Boston lawyer, resigned from his position Monday morning in an e-mail to fellow directors and senior managers. His departure follows that of Fenway’s long-time chief executive, Dr. Stephen L. Boswell, who resigned under pressure Sunday after a Globe investigation detailed the allegations against Dr. Harvey J. Makadon.
Hale’s resignation came ahead of a Monday night board meeting at which he was expected to face a challenge from some board members seeking his ouster, according to one director and a person briefed on the matter.
In his letter to the board, Hale said the actions he and the board unanimously took to deal with the Makadon allegations were “done in good faith and with the full belief that they were in the best interests of Fenway Health.’’ But, he added, if he stayed on the board, it would “only serve to divert attention from the enormous challenges facing Fenway.’’
Hale declined to be interviewed, but provided his resignation letter to the Globe. In a brief statement Monday announcing Hale’s resignation, the organization wrote, “We appreciate his service and his tireless work on behalf of Fenway Health.’’
A number of contentious issues were still likely to come up at the Monday evening board meeting, people briefed on the matter said.
Under Fenway’s bylaws, vice chairwoman Liz Page would become chair, at least temporarily.
The matter of Boswell’s exit pay also had yet to be sorted out Monday. The board had approved a four-year contract for him in late spring, according to two people with knowledge of the contract. Boswell earned $456,158 in fiscal 2015, the latest year available.
Fenway, known for its trailblazing care and advocacy for gay patients, since Friday has come under pressure from the LGBT community over its leadership. On Sunday, the Boston-based LGBT publication Bay Windows demanded Boswell’s and Hale’s resignations — Boswell for having “recklessly put Fenway Health’s reputation at risk’’ by “systematically protecting a bully and serial sexual harasser.’’
The newspaper called for Hale to resign because the board he led had so recently renewed Boswell’s contract, and could not “be trusted to do the right thing.’’
Over the weekend, numerous Fenway staffers, donors, and board members began publicly expressing dismay over the situation, increasing pressure on Hale and Boswell.
Boswell’s departure was a dramatic about-face for Fenway, coming two days after Fenway’s board said it “reaffirmed our continued strong support for Dr. Boswell’s leadership.’’
Makadon, 70, allegedly sexually harassed at least three male employees at Fenway Health and bullied both male and female co-workers, according to current and former employees of the Boston-based medical institution.
The first serious complaint against Makadon was filed in 2013, according to interviews with current and former employees and documents reviewed by the Globe. But it wasn’t until this spring that Makadon, who was director of education and training at Fenway’s research arm, was forced to resign.
In 2015, Boswell allegedly ignored an outside law firm’s recommendation to fire Makadon, the Globe reported Friday.
Boswell also failed to inform the board of the Makadon allegations, including those resulting in a $75,000 settlement last year with a former male employee, according to three employees and a document compiled by some employees to summarize events related to Makadon.
Makadon denied he sexually harassed co-workers and said Fenway executives did not make clear the allegations against him.
But Hale said in a statement that executives did speak about the allegations with Makadon. Hale also said that, once the board learned of the behavior, it “took prompt and appropriate action to address the matter.’’
On Sunday, Fenway named M. Jane Powers, the institution’s director of behavioral health — and the only woman in senior management — as its interim chief executive while it searches for a permanent replacement.
Sacha Pfeiffer can be reached at sacha.pfeiffer@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @SachaPfeiffer. Beth Healy can be reached at beth.healy@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @HealyBeth.
