The North Wellington Health Care, which operates hospitals in Mount Forest and Palmerston, held a special meeting Monday to discuss closer ties with Groves Hospital in Fergus.
But the board went behind closed doors to hold the discussion, going against the wishes of about of a third of board members present, including board chair Tom Sullivan.
Sullivan argued the community has a large stake in the future of the two hospitals and deserves to be included in the discussion.
But Board member Terry Fisk said the Waterloo-Wellington LHIN asked that the discussion be held in private