Jun 10, 2005   | COMMENTS     

what he called a “major restructuring” program for the clinic that was to include budget cuts and curtailing some programs. Among other things, the clinic would charge a sliding scale fee to clients for services, ending its longstanding policy of providing all services free of charge. Baker said the cutbacks were needed to offset a significant drop in fund-raising returns.

This week, Antoniotti acknowledged that the clinic did not follow through on all of the budget cuts that Baker proposed at that time. When asked why, she said only that Baker was in charge at that time.

Baker resigned from his executive director’s post abruptly in December 2004, citing health reasons for his decision. Baker did not return calls by press time this week.

Graham’s efforts to seek outside funds to help the clinic retain its suburban offices appeared to catch clinic officials by surprise. Antoniotti said she was not aware that the CareFirst donation, which she knew was in the works, would include possible strings linked to the suburban offices and the food bank.

Antoniotti said she, too, would like to preserve the clinic’s operation of the suburban facilities, but she did not believe the long-term funding projections would support retaining those operations.

“Our main concern is for major donors to help us remain financially viable,” she said.

She said each of the two suburban facilities requires at least $500,000 a year to operate. The CareFirst donation by itself would only keep the two facilities open for another six months, she said.

“For any of the services that we decided to reduce or discontinue, I have said if we can find a ‘miracle option’ we would take it,” Antoniotti said. “But I don’t think the board would support a short-term fix that will put us on another roller coaster ride again. We’re not about to do that.”

Jeff Valentine, director of corporate communications for CareFirst, said the company board was expected to approve a “significant grant” for the clinic at its meeting next week. He declined to disclose the amount of the grant but said CareFirst officials were cooperating with Graham to assist the clinic.

“We are aware of their problems and we want to do all we can to help,” he said.

Gay public relations executive Jeff Trammell, who provides services for CareFirst, said company officials are familiar with Graham’s work on the Council and past clinic involvement.

“They will follow Councilmember Graham’s recommendations,” Trammell said.

Both supporters and critics of the clinic agree that some of the clinic’s problems stem from developments outside of its c