Norman Green tells legislators the Brooks-TLC issue affects the county.

MAYVILLE — Calling it a countywide issue, Chautauqua County officials are going on the record, urging the state to help fund a new Brooks-TLC Hospital System in the northern end of the county.

During Wednesday’s Legislature meeting, lawmakers approved a motion urging New York state approval for a new Brooks-TLC facility in Fredonia.

During public comment, Norman Green of Dewittville urged lawmakers to pass the motion. “Brooks Hospital is the biggest issue in Chautauqua County,” he said.

Green was formerly the chairman of the Chautauqua County Democratic Party and ran for county executive. This was his first appearance at the legislature meeting since running for office. “We spend millions of dollars on economic development. We need Brooks Hospital,” he said.

Green also called on the elected officials in the room to consider doing more. “According to the media, a plan has not been brought forward to make it so that it can operate in the future without hemorrhaging millions of dollars. There’s nobody else that can assist in this thing. It’s not a Dunkirk-Fredonia problem. It’s not a Brocton problem. It’s not a Silver Creek problem. It goes way beyond those borders. Only the county of Chautauqua can be the ones to assist,” he said.

Green acknowledged County Executive PJ Wendel has been involved but he wants to see others involved as well. “We need to redouble our efforts and we need to give consideration to … a financial aspect,” he said.

Green admitted that local officials will cringe at the idea of supporting Brooks-TLC Hospital financially, but said it’s something that should be explored. “If we lose the hospital, if we don’t figure out how to help them, how to stop hemorrhaging millions of dollars after the new hospital is built, the state has made it clear, they’re not going to release the money,” he said.

Back in 2016, the state budget included an allocation of a $57 million Essential Health Care Provider Support grant for a new medical complex for Brooks Hospital. The 2017 state budget included another $17 million statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program grant.

Wendel, Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, state Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell previously put together a task force consisting of local health-care experts, which looked at the financial data and unanimously recommended proceeding with the proposed new hospital building and adjoining medical office complex.

During Wednesday night’s discussion among lawmakers, many vocalized their support for the hospital. The motion was passed unanimously. Motions do not carry any legal authority but are designed to show the position of a governing body. A copy of the motion will be sent to Borrello, Goodell and Gov. Kathy Hochul.