Brookhaven hospital plans expansion with town's help

The development arm of Brookhaven Town is proposing to borrow up to $40 million on behalf of Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center to pay for construction of a three-story addition, a new lobby entrance and other improvements.

The Brookhaven Local Development Corp., an independent agency whose members are appointed by the town board, would seek the funds for the 60,000-square-foot expansion of the not-for-profit medical center on Hospital Road in East Patchogue. The proposed funding will be discussed at a public LDC board hearing Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville.

Hospital officials could not be reached for comment. The hospital would be obligated to repay the tax-free bonds, an LDC spokesman said.

The expansion has received the necessary approvals from Brookhaven Town, said Jim Tullo, deputy director of the town's Industrial Development Agency. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed by early 2016.

The expansion would house the Knapp Cardiac Care Center, including catheterization labs, a four-room operating suite and a post-anesthesia care unit, according to a public hearing notice describing the project.

Plans also call for renovating a 12,500-square-foot facility that would house the hospital's mechanical services.

Two LDC members -- chairman Frederick C. Braun III and former U.S. Rep. Felix Grucci Jr. -- were expected to recuse themselves from the vote as they are members of the hospital's board of directors, officials said.

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There is one vacancy on the seven-member LDC board following the recent resignation of Peter Moloney, who also is a member of the hospital board.