Imagine a board chair, tasked with overseeing a vital network of health clinics serving some of the most vulnerable residents in the Portland area, instead creating a toxic work environment through bullying and hostility. This is the shocking reality uncovered by recent investigations into the leadership of Multnomah County’s Community Health Center Board.
But here's where it gets controversial: while the investigations found clear evidence of misconduct, the chair, Tamia Deary, disputes the findings, attributing her behavior to cognitive disabilities. This raises important questions about accountability, reasonable accommodations, and the line between personal challenges and professional conduct.
According to records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, the law firm Beery, Elsner & Hammond concluded that Deary violated county rules on maintaining a professional and respectful workplace. Multiple employees, including board liaisons, filed formal complaints detailing instances of raised voices, interruptions, and unfair criticism. One employee described communicating with Deary as “belittling and painful.”
And this is the part most people miss: under Deary’s leadership, the board has been out of compliance with federal requirements, jeopardizing over $10 million in grant funding. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration mandates that community boards overseeing health centers have at least nine members, with a majority being patients of the clinics. Multnomah County’s board has failed to meet these benchmarks, triggering a warning from the federal agency.
Deary, who has served on the board since 2019 and became chair in 2024, acknowledges her communication style can be “literal and direct,” but argues it stems from her auditory processing disability. She claims the county has failed to provide adequate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, leading to misunderstandings. However, the law firm emphasized that while accommodations are crucial, they do not excuse unprofessional behavior.
The situation is further complicated by the board’s structure. Comprised primarily of volunteer patients, the board is responsible for guiding policy and approving a $217 million budget for 19 health center locations. Yet, the county has limited authority to discipline board members, leaving the resolution of these issues in the hands of the board itself.
Efforts to address the concerns have stalled. Despite repeated attempts by county officials to meet with Deary and the board, a planned discussion of the investigation’s findings was removed from the agenda in September and has yet to occur. The county has called for the board to formally agree to adhere to county personnel policies, but progress remains elusive.
This saga raises critical questions: How should organizations balance accountability with empathy for disabilities? What constitutes reasonable accommodation in a leadership role? And when does personal struggle become a liability to the public good? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that demands diverse perspectives.
