CHELAN — Dave Bernier, CEO for the Lake Chelan Community Hospital for less than two years, was fired Monday afternoon "for breach of contract, for cause" after more than two months on paid administrative leave.

The vote was unanimous, and board members are declining to talk about the reason for firing Bernier, at least until he receives a written letter detailing the reasons for his firing, board members said Monday afternoon.

Also in a unanimous vote, the board decided to issue a written reprimand to Bernier for sexual harassment of a hospital employee.

In a third action following the one and a half hour executive session, the board named Kevin Abel as interim CEO.

Abel, the hospital's chief financial officer, has been acting CEO since June 26, when the board first put Bernier on paid leave. The board chair and other board members have refused to talk about reasons for placing him on paid leave. Bernier made $13,333 per month, or $160,000 a year, hospital officials said.

Abel and Mary Pat Scofield, board chairwoman, were not available early Monday afternoon, but board member David Dickes said Bernier was initially placed on leave as a matter of policy when an employee claimed sexual harassment. While the hospital's attorney was looking into that complaint, other claims arose and were also investigated by an independent party, said board member David Dickes.

He said the results of "various investigations" were presented to the board on Monday in executive session before the board opened the meeting to the public and voted to terminate him.

When asked if the reason for termination involved financial issues, Dickes said, "Yes, some," indicating there may have been other reasons as well.

Findings of the sexual harassment complaint did not warrant firing, he said, but the board felt it should issue a letter of reprimand.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office has said it was not asked to look into that complaint.

The hospital asked the state Auditor's Office to investigate at least one issue, but the results of that investigation are not yet complete, Dickes said.

Originally from Winthrop, Bernier worked as a health care consultant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., before he was hired as CEO for the hospital.

K.C. Mehaffey: 997-2512

mehaffey@wenatcheeworld.com