City Files Notice of Appeal
In public comment at Monday's City Council meeting, speaker after speaker thanked city officials for filing a notice to appeal the closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.
Curiously, no mention was made of the issue during the council meeting itself.
Courier News reporter Mark Spivey already had an online article filed before the meeting and Plaintalker is happy to leave the coverage up to him.
The notice of appeal meets Wednesday's deadline to challenge state Health Commissioner Heather Howard's approval of the certificate of need for closing the hospital.
City Council candidate Adrian Mapp said Monday, "From whispers, I'm hearing that the city has decided to do the right thing and the citizens will be behind you 100 percent."
Activist Steven Hatcher, president of the Plainfield chapter of People's Organization for Progress, said he only learned that night from fellow activist Dottie Gutenkauf that the appeal had been filed.
"Tonight I want to applaud you," said Jesus Delvi, a frequent speaker on the Muhlenberg issue. "Thank you for the courageous step you have taken."
Other speakers urgd the council to seek support from surrounding communities that also relied on Muhlenberg for acute health care.
"Please work with the coalition," activist Brenda Gilbert pleaded.
Activists are still calling for an examination of financial operations of the hospital's parent group, Solaris, as well as the import of a proposed $170 million bond issue to pay off debt and improve other Solaris facilities.
The hospital has already surrendered its license to the state and despite talk of buyers, no sale of Muhlenberg has yet been confirmed.
--Bernice Paglia
Curiously, no mention was made of the issue during the council meeting itself.
Courier News reporter Mark Spivey already had an online article filed before the meeting and Plaintalker is happy to leave the coverage up to him.
The notice of appeal meets Wednesday's deadline to challenge state Health Commissioner Heather Howard's approval of the certificate of need for closing the hospital.
City Council candidate Adrian Mapp said Monday, "From whispers, I'm hearing that the city has decided to do the right thing and the citizens will be behind you 100 percent."
Activist Steven Hatcher, president of the Plainfield chapter of People's Organization for Progress, said he only learned that night from fellow activist Dottie Gutenkauf that the appeal had been filed.
"Tonight I want to applaud you," said Jesus Delvi, a frequent speaker on the Muhlenberg issue. "Thank you for the courageous step you have taken."
Other speakers urgd the council to seek support from surrounding communities that also relied on Muhlenberg for acute health care.
"Please work with the coalition," activist Brenda Gilbert pleaded.
Activists are still calling for an examination of financial operations of the hospital's parent group, Solaris, as well as the import of a proposed $170 million bond issue to pay off debt and improve other Solaris facilities.
The hospital has already surrendered its license to the state and despite talk of buyers, no sale of Muhlenberg has yet been confirmed.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 10:32 PM
2 Comments:
Dear Bernice,
Disgraceful!! Political ploy at its worst. If filing a lawsuit was such a great idea, why arn't the surrounding towns participating? You know, partnering with Plainfield. This is another pay for play act by Green/Briggs that will only leave Plainfield poorer and the votors more cynical. Disappointed that Adrain Mapp supports this extravegant and fruitless use of tax dollars. It is all about re-electing one of Plainfield's most incompetent administrations. Shame on you Green/Briggs. Shame.
"If filing a lawsuit was such a great idea, why arn't the surrounding towns participating? You know, partnering with Plainfield."
Plainfield has to set an example by finally stepping up to the plate. Why would the other townships have an incentive to participate if MRMC's own hometown didn't care enough to take the lead? And it wasn't as if many citizens in the affected towns weren't complaining loud enough to the Plainfield council and other elected officials either.
And by the way, granting Solaris $170 million in state-backed bonds would be a SERIOUS "fruitless use of tax dollars". That's right, our tax dollars rewarding Solaris for gutting and shutting Muhlenberg! Now THAT is a shame.
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