Mayor Davis, Council Take First Legislative Steps in Fight to Save Bayonne Medical Center

BAYONNE, N.J. — At last week’s City Council meeting, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis and the City Council took the first legislative action in the fight to ensure a full-service hospital remains open in the Peninsula City. Officials moved forward on first reading of an ordinance to create a Municipal Hospital Authority, which could allow the city to temporarily take control of Bayonne Medical Center’s state charter in the event that a buyer for the facility cannot immediately be found. The city also hired the law firm of Epstein, Becker and Green, which has a strong track record in hospital litigation and will assist in legal matters related to the situation.

“Not having a full service hospital within our own city border would be detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of our community,” said Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis. “It is critical for us to do everything within our power to fight to keep Bayonne Medical Center open, and the City Council agrees. Creating a Bayonne Hospital Authority would allow us to oversee the license of the hospital until we are confident a reputable provider purchases the facility to continue offering acute hospital services in Bayonne. To be perfectly clear, the city as a municipality has no intentions of operating a public hospital in the long term, but this provides us with the opportunity to create a bridge plan, if we so need to, until a new provider is identified.

“We are still hopeful the hospital will be bought and operated by a private entity,” added Council President Sharon Ashe Nadrowski. “Bayonne needs a full service hospital and the creation of the Authority is simply a measure to ensure a reputable healthcare provider purchases the facility to continue providing services right in our neighborhood.”

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