Don't Tear It Down!

[Bill Call]

Not the whole building anyway.

We just spent a ton of money on a new emergency room and new patient rooms and much of the building is in good shape. Why throw it all away?

Why not tear down the front section of the Hospital for the new family health center and repurpose the rest of the building?

The existing emergency room can be used as is.

The labs and radiology departments can be redesigned in the existing structure.

The some existing patient rooms can be converted to a hospice center and other rooms converted to a nursing home.

I don't know if there is time to redo the deal but it's worth considering.

Redeveloping the land that is left over after the construction of the new health center doesn't make any sense. Using what we already have to enhance the value of the family health center makes a lot of sense.

City Council should consider all the options.

At the very least they should keep any proceeds from the Clinic under the control of the City and not some unresponsive and irresponsible board.

Anyone who is or was a board member for the Hospital or its foundation should not be allowed to serve in any capacity or have any authority or any further input into the future of healthcare in Lakewood.

They have done enough damage.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I don't know if there is time to redo the deal but it's worth considering.

Bill

This deal is a long way from being signed and agreed to. The 90-days has been relaxed.

I would ask if the damage can be undone. Between the moves of Mayor FitzGerald which
hastened the departure, and this current discussion which has basically put the Clinic on
notice "Sooner would be better than later" I am not sure the damage you have spoken of
can be undone. How does one move some of the facilities back.

It would seem our politicians, and boards and sold the cow for some magic beans it would
seem everyone in the city has been kept quiet on, but the Active Living Task Force head
has been busy presenting all over the city, in closed sessions, BUT NOT TO THE RESIDENTS! * See Letter from Jay Foran later in this thread.

From independent sources the oldest wing of the Hospital needs about $80 in repairs over
the next 5 years to come up to today's standards. However the Hospital Board had
thought at one point income would offset the repairs.

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[christopher dan]

with the deal from being a long way from done, how much time can they keep extending this..

This is my thoughts and i would like some input....If they keep pushing the deal back, it will be next year before we know it. 2016- they could always plan on moving everything over to AVOn like the original plan, but what if the city and the residents do not even get a wellness center...Im not saying that's going to happen. the clinic seems they really want to work with the city, but i guess whats the actually hold up. This is what i do not understand.

if its such a damn good deal...sign the deal and lets get to it. whats the real reason for the hold up? Jim iv said this before. you always seem to be on point. So whats the outcome if the deal is always in limbo---pushed back and pushed back. granted they have until 2026- but once avons open. they could technically just walk- or allot sooner right?

jim what do you mean the clinic has been put on notice sooner then later...to make the deal happen or close the doors?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Mr. Jim O’Bryan
Publisher – The Lakewood Observer


Jim,

I heard about your post on the Lakewood Observation Deck this morning relative to me going around town holding closed session meetings on the progress of the Active Living Taskforce. Here is the exact reference you posted:

It would seem our politicians, and boards and sold the cow for some magic beans it would
seem everyone in the city has been kept quiet on, but the Active Living Task Force head
has been busy presenting all over the city, in closed sessions, BUT NOT TO THE RESIDENTS!

As head of the Active Living Taskforce, I have given only 3 updates on our progress since our inception.

September 22, 2014 – Lakewood City Council – Committee of the Whole (PUBLIC MEETING)

January 21, 2015 – Lakewood Hospital Community Advisory Committee (Citizens of Lakewood that provide feedback to Lakewood Hospital. At invitation of Dr. Kathleen McGorray, committee member)

February 2, 2015 – Joint Meeting – Lakewood Board of Education and Lakewood City Council (PUBLIC MEETING)

I am pretty sure my presentation from the February 2nd Joint Meeting of the Lakewood BOE and Lakewood City Council has been recorded on videotape so please let me know if you would like me to send you a link. I think it important to note that I simply outlined our methodology for collecting, disseminating and formulating our recommendations in all three presentations. To date, our group has been focused on data collection and dissemination. We have not yet begun formulating any formal recommendations. We are excited to share our work with the community at any time.

I am proud of the work of our great committee members and I know of their personal dedication to do right by the citizens of Lakewood. We have operated in a fully transparent manner and all of our meetings are posted and open to the public. We have benefited from the regular attendance of Ms. Betsy Shaughnessy of the Lakewood Board of Education and Mr. Gary Rick, Director of the YMCA. Due to the committee’s intention of providing a quality product for the citizens of Lakewood and the committee’s steadfast commitment to operating in an above board manner, I am copying them here so they are aware should they receive any inquiries from your posters based on your inaccurate statement.

I ask that you correct your statement on your blog as soon as possible; not by deleting the post (because undoubtedly many Observers have seen incorrect information), but by making a correction later in the thread. I believe this will remedy the situation. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Jay

Jay P. Foran | Senior Vice President | Team Northeast Ohio


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[Bill Call]

From Jay Foran's letter to Jim

I am proud of the work of our great committee members and I know of their personal dedication to do right by the citizens of Lakewood. We have operated in a fully transparent manner and all of our meetings are posted and open to the public.

That's just not true.

[Grace O'Malley]

This is yet another example of the incestuous relationships in this town.

Ever notice it's the SAME people on every committee and group in town, both governmental and volunteer? Not to mention every club and social organization.

What a surprise the "Active Living" person is also on the Hospital Board. No wonder we aren't getting other opinions or options.

West End debacle Part 2.

[marklingm]

To avoid thread drift, see http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13201.

Discuss.