DUNKIRK – State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell mentioned a recent meeting of government officials “to discuss where Brooks hospital is now, and where their project is,” at the last Dunkirk Common Council session.

Goodell, R-Jamestown, said Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas, Mayor-elect Kate Wdowiasz, Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek, Mayor-elect Michael Ferguson, County Executive PJ Wendel, and himself were among the officials who met.

“At this point in time they are pushing hard to get the funds released (for the new hospital). The funds were originally appropriated in 2016 and 2017, a little over $70 million,” Goodell noted.

“For the first time since this project began, the nurses association, which actually called the meeting, is strongly in support of this project – without getting into a debate over its location,” the assemblyman continued.

That was a reference to continued bad feelings among some in Dunkirk that Brooks-TLC wants to build its new hospital on Main Street in Fredonia.

Goodell added that SEU 1099, “a very important and powerful union in New York state, is fully behind it.”

He said the meeting attendees agreed to put together a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, with copies to the health department and budget office, asking for release of the funding to construct a new hospital.

Goodell said it’s currently a critical time in the 2024 state budget process “to hopefully keep that funding in the budget, make sure it’s not swept, and authorize its release.”

He and State Sen. George Borrello, as local elected officials who have a say in the state budget process, started their own letter asking to release the Brooks funds.

Goodell offered a sign up sheet for Dunkirk officials to voice their support of the funding release; he will attach that to the letter.