The Committee on State and Local Government will hold a public hearing on Representative Bruce MacDonald’s proposed bill, LD 1127, to establish a hospital administrative district in Lincoln County. The hearing will be held Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m., in the Cross Building, Room 214 in Augusta.

The proposed emergency bill, if passed by the legislature, will allow a local referendum in Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb on establishing a hospital district. Hospital Administrative District 5 would be created if it is accepted by at least two-thirds of voters who cast ballots in at least three of the towns, two of which must be Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. Local voter approval must be obtained before June 30, 2013.

Hospital Administrative District 5 would be governed by an elected board of directors and would have the ability to raise funds and issue bonds. The bill states the District’s intent is “to operate a hospital and provide health care services from the existing St. Andrews Hospital and Healthcare Center campus.” The bill does not provide for transfer of St. Andrews Hospital to the hospital district or change St. Andrews Hospital’s current governance structure.

Task Force volunteer Patty Seybold emailed that volunteers are “rallying the troops” to testify at the April 10 hearing.

“Boothbay peninsula residents aren't giving up on their goal to take back their community's hospital, the 105-year-old St. Andrews, before MaineHealth lets it lose its 'hospital' designation and shutters its 24/7 ER. Instead, we are asking the legislature to give our communities the right to govern our own hospital again,” Seybold wrote.

Lincoln County Healthcare CEO Jim Donovan said the healthcare organization will also be testifying at the legislative hearing. Donovan said the LCH Board of Trustees has no intention to sell or transfer St. Andrews healthcare facilities.

Sue Mello can be reached at 207-844-4629 or sumello@boothbayregister.com.