I Have Concerns Over the Route 662 Closure in Hospital Plan by Lynn Mielke

Eleven years ago, Shore Health Systems (SHS) presented to the Talbot County Council development plans for the new hospital. The Plan required a realignment of Route 662, with a new, relocated section of Route 662 to be constructed first, in order to maintain continuous traffic flow on Route 662 during the hospital construction phase. It was unanimously approved by the 2013 County Council.  Bill 1231 enacted March 26, 2013.

Fast forward to early this year (February/March). SHS, without involving the County Council, approached County Staff (not the elected officials) to push for a temporary closure of a segment of MD Route 662. This closure was to occur before the completion of the new, relocated section of Route 662. The urgency of this request was tied to SHS’s desire to start hospital construction, claiming that the building design had “changed slightly,” necessitating the relocation of a small corner of the hospital over Route 662. This change, according to SHS, made it “urgent” to close the road to begin foundation work.

County Staff, including Public Works, Roads, and the Sheriff’s Department, recognized the significant negative impacts this closure would have. The proposed detours would require redirecting traffic to nearby County roads: Hiner’s Lane, Hailem School Road, Goldsborough Neck Road, and Airport Road, from October 2024 to May 2025 (assuming the construction stayed on schedule). These roads would require upgrades to handle the increased traffic. There were also serious concerns about safety and the negative impact on the farming community and Community Center traffic. Despite the diligence of County Staff in communicating these concerns to SHS, except for a concession to make a financial contribution toward the costs for upgrading the county roads, the hospital was resolute about the closure.

Even though there was a perfect opportunity in May to address the issue while addressing another issue with SHS, the County Council was only substantively brought into the process, as a body, late in the game, with a “work session” with SHS which was not held until July 23. However, this work session felt like a charade. It was clear that its plan was a fait accompli, essentially a done deal.

Now, based on discussions led by the County Manager—conversations that did not substantively involve the County Council, as a body, as they were left out of the process—the Council is being asked to rubber-stamp this “emergency” change of plans. Bill 1577 will come before the Council on July 13 for an amendment and for a public hearing on August 27 as an “emergency” bill. But let’s be clear: an emergency, as defined by Webster’s, is “a sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action.” SHS has not demonstrated that an emergency exists to justify the closure of Route 662 before the new route is completed. This is not a sudden or unforeseen occurrence. As SHS’s legal counsel admitted, the hospital design was only “changed slightly.” If SHS recognized back in February that the design change required the closure of Route 662 in October, they had ample time to either revise the construction plan and avoid closing the road or begin the construction process for the new road earlier this year.

We all want the new hospital, and I fully support and want to facilitate the timely construction of the new hospital. However, for the sake of the public, there must be a transparent process. I cannot support their request that compromises the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens. The hospital should not have requested the closure of Route 662 before constructing the new section and should have adhered to the original plan as outlined in Bill 1231. Any changes SHS needs to make should be at its own expense to comply with the approved plan. This approach is not only best for the County residents but also respectful of their welfare and safety.

Lynn Mielke serves on the Talbot County Council.