PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A hotel owner in Plymouth has scrapped plans to allow some homeless people with coronavirus to be housed there, after several reported miscommunications over the deal with the state.
According to the Patriot Ledger, Best Western Plus Cold Spring hotel owner Archie Patel canceled his contract with the state on Tuesday, because he said he was under a different impression as to who the state planned to put in the rooms.
The state had contracted to use the Best Western off Route 3A for quarantine and isolation. Patel said it initially appeared the rooms would be filled with healthcare workers who didn't want to return home and risk exposing their families. The Patriot Ledger says Patel was also told "it might include a mix of homeless people," being treated for COVID-19, "but not a full contingent of sick homeless people."
After Patel spoke to town officials on Tuesday afternoon and learned the hotel would be used to house only sick homeless patients, he nixed the contract.
Members of the Select Board said they had no knowledge of Patel's agreement with the state, and only learned about it on Monday. Neighbors had also complained to local authorities when they found out about the contract, so the hotel will remain closed during the pandemic.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports:
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