OBSERVER photo Ken Morris, Brooks-TLC Hospital president and chief executive officer, talked about the importance of building a new facility on Tuesday.

By JOHN D’AGOSTINO

jdagostino@observertoday.com

If a more than $70 million new Brooks-TLC Hospital is built in Fredonia, the president and chief executive officer of the operation can see a path to sustainability.

During a community forum sponsored by the Service International Employees Union 1199 and New York State Nurses Association, Ken Morris highlighted how the New York state Department of Health Vital Access Provider Assistance Program continues to bailout the financially struggling organization. This year, the state payments could top $26 million, which reflects the deficit the Dunkirk health-care operation may be facing.

That amount, however, could decrease significantly if the downsized Fredonia micro hospital does get built. “There will be a dramatic decline in the amount the state has to subsidize,” Morris said.

Those projections include deficit reductions from $23 million in 2023 to only $671,000 by 2030. But that cannot happen without the new facility that is targeted to be built off Main Street just west of the Route 60 roundabout.

Morris was one of the key speakers during the event that was touted as a community forum to construct a new Brooks-TLC Hospital. While plenty of information was presented, the overall message was clear: New York state needs to release more than $70 million that was promised in 2016 and 2017 to the health-care operation so a build can begin.

About 65 community residents, staff members and union officials attended the event at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School in Dunkirk to show support and express frustration over the eight-year delay in making the project happen. “This fight has been going on for a long, long time,” said Greg Reynoso, NYSNA political and community organizer. “We have to turn up the heat so we don’t lose the care in this community that we serve.”

State Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is from Western New York, has not yet committed to releasing the funds for construction at the new location, which was purchased last June by Brooks-TLC with a small piece of that state funding. Since then, however, the waiting game has continued.

“Gov. Kathy Hochul is committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to essential health services where and when they need it most, and the Department of Health continues to work closely with local stakeholders, Brooks Memorial Hospital leadership and other healthcare providers in Chautauqua County,” noted a statement last fall from a department spokeswoman that offers no indication of a new hospital being part of the picture.

Brooks-TLC continues to align with Kaleida Health in Buffalo in hopes the building will happen. The current site at 529 Central Ave. in Dunkirk is full of maintenance issues due to its age and out-of-date when compared to other health-care facilities nationwide and throughout the region.

Mike Hughes, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, remains hopeful that despite delays in Albany the finish line is in sight. “I think more than anything this (Hochul) administration is listening and has heard from the community and understands the concerns,” he said following Tuesday’s event. “You have to take into account, there’s been two governors, three commissioners of health and you add in the department of health, department of budget and governors’ staff, you’re talking dozens and dozens of new faces.”

One person losing patience is employee Kenny Long, a Brooks-TLC registered nurse, who spoke during the forum. “As one of the poorest areas of New York state … we lack services in this area. … We are tired of the apathy that Gov. Hochul is showing to our community,” he said. “We need Albany to listen to us now.”

Those at the event cheered Long’s commitment and speech, including County Legislators Marcus Buchanan and Susan Parker, who both represent the city of Dunkirk. Parker later spoke in favor of a new hospital noting last fall the state received a letter of endorsement for the project that included the signatures of north county elected officials, County Executive PJ Wendel, the County Legislature and state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell and Sen. George Borrello.

Hughes is a big believer that local support will make a difference. “We’re hopeful that we’ll see some news in the coming weeks,” he said.