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Newport council proclaims opposition to proposal to close general‑care hospital
Summary
The council issued a proclamation opposing an Oliver Wyman consulting proposal that would replace Newport's general care hospital with a mental health facility, calling the report "fundamentally flawed" and forming a citizen task force to monitor state actions and the Green Mountain Care Board.
The Newport City Council read and adopted a proclamation on Nov. 4 opposing a state proposal — described in the proclamation as a recommendation from Oliver Wyman — that would effectively close the city's general‑care hospital and replace it with a mental health facility.
The proclamation, introduced during new business by Council Member Kevin Charbonneau and read by Mayor Linda Joy Sullivan, called the Oliver Wyman recommendation "fundamentally flawed" and asserted that the proposal would deprive Northeast Kingdom residents of their only primary‑care hospital. The text described the proposal as harmful public policy that would impede recruitment and retention of health professionals and other workers, harm local economic development, and undermine access to health care for children, retirees and families.
The council announced it will form a citizen task force to work with the council to monitor relevant legislation and Green Mountain Care Board actions. The proclamation also directs the council and task force to communicate with the governor, administration and legislature urging rejection of the recommendation.
The transcript records the proclamation's language and states it will be sent to the administration; no formal roll‑call vote was required for the proclamation as presented in new business.
