A new Brooks Memorial Hospital is still planned in Fredonia, two village officials said during the village board meeting.

Parent company Brooks-TLC was apparently in deep financial trouble even before the economic disruption of the coronavirus pandemic, and closed Lakeshore Hospital in Irving back in January. However, Mayor Douglas Essek and Code Enforcement Officer Charles LaBarbera asserted at a recent village Board of Trustees meeting that Brooks-TLC still wants to build a new hospital at a site on Main Street formerly used by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Trustee Kara Christina brought up the issue, questioning Essek at the end of his mayoral report time. “Is there any news about the hospital?” she asked. “I know a few months ago (Pomfret Town Supervisor) Dan Pacos started a change.org petition and I don’t know if that went anywhere. Just curious if you know.”

“Yes,” the mayor replied. “The hospital has asked for some extensions from the state because of this COVID-19 and the delays it has caused. I believe they are working on that. They are still moving forward.”

Essek added that the state grant to fund a new hospital is still good until 2021.

LaBarbera said he reached out to Brooks-TLC’s attorney. “He is going to be submitting an application to the planning board for an extension. They still very much want to come to that site,” Fredonia’s chief code enforcer said.