North Adams Council Inviting BHS Officials to Speak
 James Gander of the Massachusetts Nurses Association addresses the City Council on Wednesday night. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council will invite Berkshire Health Systems officials to attend a public forum to discuss progress made restoring services at the former North Adams Regional Hospital.
The decision to proffer the invitation came after nearly an hour of debate at Wednesday's meeting (held a day late because of Veterans Day) as councilors questioned the city government's role and determined a compromise solution through the mayor's office wasn't enough.
The "Tuesday night group" — a mix of residents, community leaders and members of NARH's former union locals — has been meeting weekly since the hospital's closure in March to share information. Members have been advocating for some time for Berkshire Medical Center leadership to address them.
"We are really bearing the burden of communicating any kind of issues going on with the hospital," James Lipa, a frequent attendee of the Tuesday meetings, told the council. "What we're asking for, through whatever body, is to give us a route to better communicate with BMC. We are on their side ... there are 37,000 people who have lost their hospital. We want to be an ally."
The group was also chagrined to learn that BHS officials had not yet decided whether to pursue the federal Critical Access designation necessary to open the 18-20 inpatient beds recommended in the state's health needs report.
It was issues such as that the group hopes to have explained as well as BMC's long-range plans for what's now the Northern Berkshire Campus of BMC, commonly referred to as BMC North.
"We deserve some answers. We want to know the long-range plans," said Robin Simonetti, a registered nurse and former NARH employee. "Why aren't they going to do that for our community? I think we deserve that."
Councilor Nancy Bullett submitted a letter to the council to discuss a presentation by BHS after both she and Councilor Benjamin Lamb had been approached by members of the group.
Mayor Richard Alcombright said he had a conversation with BHS President and CEO David Phelps last week in his office about the current and future status of services being provided on the hospital campus.
"The largest piece to push through is the Critical Access. ... It's about $100,000 for the application alone," he said. The decision is a major one, he added, saying Phelps "indicated that neither he nor his board had fully determined where they're going to go in respect to that."
Phelps had agreed to a once a month or so meeting with Alcombright and council President Lisa Blackmer to update them on progress that they could report back to the council.
"I think the offer that's been made by the mayor is appropriate," said Blackmer, adding she had concerns over the council inserting itself in the situation after speaking with the city solicitor and past longtime council members.
"I think this group has been very clear about their intentions and what they want ... I'm sure Mr. Phelps knows what conversations have been had ... I want to listen to people but I don't think it's the role of the City Council."
Councilor Jennifer Breen, however, felt the council's purview was broad enough to cover the situation, and the mayor's approach too narrow.
"I really do think it's a step in the right direction but I really want to hear from the community members who are here who have really invested a lot in this question," Breen said. "If they are looking to have a conversation with Mr. [David] Phelps, I think we as city councilors should support them at this point."
BMC stepped in when the hospital closed earlier this year, first opening a satellite emergency facility and then buying the property through U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Since then, it has also reopened endoscopy, most of the imaging and lab services, is working toward resuming outpatient surgery and is evaluating dialysis, chemotherapy, physical therapy and wound care.
Several councilors asked what more would be learned at a council forum that wasn't already known or could not be provided through the mayor's office or local media.
Councilor Eric Buddington, however, thought a flow of information from the mayor and council president was too one way.
"I think the goal is to have as much information as we can for the community," he said.
Bullett said the more information the better, but felt that could be provided through Blackmer and Alcombright. "As along as there is ongoing public communication in some way shape or form." Councilor Joshua Moran agreed but thought the council should be supportive of the group's perseverance. Several, including Lamb, suggested any presentation be tightly structured.
Both Blackmer and Councilor Keith Bona asked why the region's state delegation had not been asked to take the lead since the hospital's closure affected North County.
"We have not spoken directly with anyone in the Legislature — Sen. Ben Downing or Rep. [Gailanne] Cariddi directly — about this idea, because the idea was for the City Council to simply invite a Berkshire Medical Center representative," said James Gander, representing the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
The councilors decided that an invitation should be sent, leaving it up to BHS to accept or decline. Breen pushed for a vote on the issue, which passed with Councilor Wayne Wilkinson abstaining because of a conflict (his wife had worked at NARH).
"I think they are so many ways Berkshire Health Systems has wrapped their arms around us and we can be very thankful for that," said Councilor Kate Merrigan. "If somebody comes either here or in another venue, I think it's going to help that healing in some way."
Tags: BMC, BMC North, NARH,
