After only two months of operation Williamston Medical is moving out of the space provided by the county to a new location at 800 Park Ave. in Williamston.
The move was anticipated by county officials since Dr. Dhurva Chawla had yet to sign the lease he agreed to at the January county commissioners meeting.
When the Martin County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the lease with Dr. Chawla’s Williamston Medical, PLLC, clinic at the January board meeting they expected the lease to be signed that evening by Dr. Chawla, immediately following the meeting. The three-year lease allowed for a one year period of no rent and then two consecutive years at a $6,090 monthly rate.
However, after repeated requests to sign the lease he agreed upon at the meeting, Dr. Chawla was reported to have avoided the issue and had not signed the lease as agreed to.
During the meeting Dr. Chawla, along with Williamston Medical PLLC manager Tammy Perry, said Affinity Health Partners were financially supporting the new venture. Affinity Health Partner CEO Frank Avignone had previously reached out to the county and offered to become a provider for Martin General Hospital. The commissioners decided against that proposal.
Interim County Manager Ben Eisner sent a letter earlier in the week to Dr. Chawla and Williamston Medical with a definite timeline to sign the lease
“Part of the discussion at the board meeting was moving the proposed lease start date up to the very next day. Representatives of Williamston Medical, PLLC were asked to remain after the meeting to execute the lease, but no representative stayed,” said Interim County Manager Ben Eisner. “County staff repeatedly asked that a representative of Williamston Medical, PLLC come to the county offices to sign the lease. When a representative did appear, he presented an exorcising of the option to lease and not the signed lease.”
At the January meeting, Dr. Chawla pointed out the building was in need of repairs.
“That building has not had any repairs done in a long time. It’s in need of repairs. The flooring is not the best. There is one spot on the floor, the floor needs to be done, the parking lot needs to be done and the roof is at the end of its life,” said Dr. Chawla.
He went on to explain to the commissioners, as he had in the past, he was undercapitalized and needed financial assistance hence the support from Avignone and Affinity.
“As part of the board’s consideration of the terms of the lease, the board directed the Public Works Director to do an assessment of the building and make recommendations on what repairs could be undertaken by the county,” said Eisner. “That assessment has been completed and items such as flooring issues and roof leaks could be considered, based upon costs, while larger projects such as overhauls of the entire roof or HVAC units are likely longer term projects.”
Repairs on the building had not begun since the county did not have a lease in place.
“The county is understanding and appreciative of the efforts of Dr. Chawla and Williamston Medical, PLLC in reestablishing medical services and the Board of Commissioners approved a very favorable lease term to assist in that effort,” Eisner said. “However, Williamston Medical, PLLC will not be able to continue to operate in the 104 Medical Drive location without signing the lease.”
Eisner made those comments said Monday, before being notified of the move on Tuesday.
Avignone could not offer a timeline for the move, however, he expects to be out of the county facility during the month of May.
“We have hired another provider to expand services and she starts beginning in June. The move has to do more with our growth potential for the near future,” noted Avignone. “If things continue we will take the Greene Street facility where Dr. Mehra practiced this summer as long as I can reach amicable tenant improvements with the owners.
“Our plan is to bring back as many or all of the physicians who practiced at Martin General Hospital as we can,” he added. “Park and Greene Street locations give us a medical campus of sorts.”
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