Washington County commissioners authorize legal response, pursue sale options to keep Washington Regional Medical Center operating
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Summary
At a Nov. 12 special meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized legal counsel to respond to a trustee motion in Case 19-007305-JNC and directed staff to continue negotiating for a stalking-horse bid or other sale option to preserve Washington Regional Medical Center’s operation.
PLYMOUTH, N.C. — The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized county legal counsel on Nov. 12 to file a response to a trustee’s motion in Case 19-007305-JNC and directed staff to continue negotiating sale options intended to preserve the operation of Washington Regional Medical Center.
The board convened a special called meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Room, 116 Adams Street. Chair Commissioner Johnson presided. Commissioners Phelps, Riddick, Sexton and Walker were present. County Manager and County Attorney Curtis Potter and Finance Officer Missy Dixon attended; Clerk Julie J. Bennett was recorded as unable to attend.
The board first voted to meet in closed session under N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.11(a)(3) for attorney-client privilege. After returning to open session at 7:07 p.m., Commissioner Phelps moved “to authorize legal counsel to file a response to the Trustee’s motion (Filed as Doc 520 in Case 19-007305-JNC) to reiterate and preserve the continuation of the County’s Right of Reverter interests and also to authorize staff to continue negotiating in good faith for a mutually agreeable Stalking Horse Bid or other solution that facilitates a sale and continuing operation of the Washington Regional Medical Center.” Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
The motion authorizes two discrete actions: (1) a legal filing intended to preserve the county’s asserted Right of Reverter interest in property or interests described in the trustee’s court filing, and (2) continued staff efforts to negotiate a stalking-horse bid or other sale arrangement aimed at facilitating a sale while allowing the hospital to continue operations. The trustee’s motion is filed as Doc 520 in Case 19-007305-JNC; an order and notice referenced in the transcript appear as Doc 525.
With no further business, the board voted to adjourn. The minutes record that the meeting adjourned following a unanimous vote on the adjournment motion.