Council approves five-year agreement with Block Island Health Center
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Summary
The council approved a five-year agreement codifying the existing relationship with the island medical center (now Block Island Health Center), updating the audit date and capital-threshold language and reaffirming reporting commitments; members asked the center to enhance meeting transparency.
The New Shoreham Town Council on Dec. 1 approved a five‑year agreement with the island's medical provider that codifies prior amendments, updates the facility's name to Block Island Health Center, sets the audit date to June 30 and raises the capital-purchase threshold to $25,000 in line with town ordinances.
Staff said the agreement otherwise reflects the existing relationship and prior amendments; councilors pressed the center to make its meeting notices and recordings more accessible to the public, given the level of town financial support. The center's representatives said they post meeting notices and Zoom links and will consider options for making meetings viewable after the fact.
Councilor concerns included transparency about spending (members noted a recent water‑usage overage reported in the paper), and whether meeting materials could be made available for later viewing. Town staff said they post notices on the town website and at public locations and will raise public‑access expectations with the center.
The motion to approve the five-year agreement passed on a voice vote. The agreement will remain subject to standard reporting and auditing requirements in the contract language.
What happens next: the agreement is executed; staff will follow up with the center about posting meeting materials and with budget questions during the FY27 process if necessary.
