War Memorial Hospital business offered for sale

The Morgan County Commissioners gave their okay on Friday to the next step in the possible sale of county-owned War Memorial Hospital.

The commission went into executive session at the request of Attorney Richard Gay to discuss the Request for Proposal (RFP) concerning the sale of the hospital business.

Back in open session, the commissioners unanimously approved the RFP. Notices will be published in local and regional newspapers.

Bids will be accepted on the steps of the Magistrate Court on September 15 at 2 p.m., or at such time as set by the Morgan County Commission.

The sale is for the hospital business and includes everything but the real estate, Stotler said.

The hospital buildings and the land where the current hospital stands are not part of the sale.

The request stipulates that the successful bidder will acquire the 80-acre site that has been purchased for a new hospital and build a new critical access hospital and nursing home. The bidder must substantially complete construction of the new hospital by December 2011.

The bidder will lease the current hospital building from the Morgan County Commission and continue hospital operations and related services until the new facility is occupied.

The bidder must maintain the current employees of War Memorial Hospital, under applicable employment policies and prac-

tices in place, and continue contractual obligations with physicians employed by the hospital.

The bidder will also acquire the existing medical office at 2 Tonoloway Drive in Hancock, Md.

Neil McLaughlin, vice president of hospital operations, said RFP notices will be published in The Morgan Messenger and newspapers in Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Cumberland, Morgantown, Charleston, Richmond, Baltimore, Washington and Harrisburg, Pa. as well as in regional trade publications.