WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – City and county leaders gathered Friday to talk about firm next steps in the effort to keep Trumbull Regional Medical Center open.
Two meetings were held. One with Trumbull County commissioners and the other with Warren City Council.
Commissioners agree to write letters to fight for TRMC
With a sense of urgency and stressing a rapidly closing deadline, Trumbull County commissioners held a special meeting Friday morning to take the next steps in saving the medical facility.
“Nothing else right now is pressing. Not ARPA, not infrastructure projects because they mean less if this doesn’t happen,” said Trumbull County Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa.
There was much discussion over how the county could financially contribute, including the use of ARPA money or funds from the opioid settlement to help move the plan forward, allowing the nonprofit Warren City Hospital to acquire Trumbull Regional.
“No one wants to see this hospital close — 700 jobs, over $700 million salaries. When you look at the City of Warren, at least $1.4 to $1.5 in income tax,” said Victoria Ferrise, the attorney helping Warren City Hospital.
“First of all, it needs to be lawful,” said Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko.
Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder offered advice.
“I think that perhaps a conditional letter of support, a letter of commitment utilizing funds that are legally available. Wording it that way allows us time,” Yoder said.
After more than an hour, commissioners unanimously approved motions for writing both a letter of objection to the hospital’s closure to the federal bankruptcy court and a conditional letter of support to lawfully utilize up to $3 million, contingent upon review of the plan and a majority vote from the board.
“What we are saving here and what we are selling here — the bill of goods that is being put forward are the assets that we have — and it’s not the building, it’s the staff, it’s the hardworking people that go to work every single day. Those are the people we care about, we, as a community, care about,” said Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy.
Commissioner Malloy continued to urge people to donate to help save the hospital. Donations can be made on the United Way of Trumbull County’s website.
Council commits to contributing millions of dollars
At a Warren City Council meeting Friday afternoon led by Mayor Doug Franklin, leaders reaffirmed their support, too, to help save the hospital.
Franklin asked for help to buy not only Trumbull Regional, but all the other facilities Steward Health plans to close.
Time is of the essence and council members said they were eager to get started with a plan.
“What we need to do is move now. I’m all in, whatever you guys need me to do. I go to Steward, most of my doctors, my mother goes there. Most of my ward goes there, especially the senior citizens, so I feel like we don’t have time to sit here and waste and debate,” said Warren Councilperson Honeya Price.
Council members agreed to commit spending up to $3 million to help with buying the facilities. It’s 10% of the $30 million needed.
The bankruptcy judge hearing Steward’s case will want one thing specifically.
“Evidence of financing so that we can put in place the mechanisms for purchase,” Franklin said.
Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa would later state the commitment being asked of council.
The $3 million would go to the group Warren City Hospital, recently formed to take over what Steward is leaving behind. John Guarnieri is the president.
“We’re looking for your support from a financial standpoint to help us bridge the gap,” Guarnieri said.
Council member Michael O’Brien said working to make sure the hospital stays open is imperative, saying that was the easiest vote he’s cast in 35 years.
“You are not just saving the hospital, you are saving the careers of 700 people and you are saving the only trauma hospital, the only heart hospital — 30,000 visits, 30,000 ER visits a year. This is a community thing, not a Warren issue and not a Trumbull County issue, and I would hope in the future that other entities are a part of this process,” O’Brien said.
He wants other communities to contribute as well.
“Girard, Niles, Cortland, Lordstown — all the communities that have benefitted for over hundreds of years,” O’Brien said.
“It would be devastating to this community to lose that hospital,” said 4th Ward Councilman Jim Shaffer.
The hospital is in Shaffer’s ward. He called the $3 million commitment a “no-brainer.”
“It makes this community part of what it is. It’s part of Warren. It’s part of our heritage,” Shaffer said.
Warren City Hospital does not yet have the $30 million it needs but Franklin says he’s encouraged.
“There’s been a flurry of activity into city hall in terms of people wanting to help. So I’m very encouraged today, much more than I was, say, 48 hours ago and there’s some heavy players who want to help.”
On Monday, Warren City Hospital plans to provide an update on the efforts and funding to save the Steward Health facilities.
To show support for those working at the hospital, a candlelight vigil will be held on August 29 at 7 p.m. outside of the hospital.
Steward Health announced this week that it was closing Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital , along with other satellite medical facilities.
The medical facility closures come on the heels of the health system’s financial breakdown and Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in May. The system recently closed hospitals in Massachusetts and another was taken over the state.
Steward operates, or once operated, more than 30 hospitals across Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Massachusetts.
Shianna Gibbons contributed to this report.
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