Kingston, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A new abortion center in southeastern New York won't be completed until next year despite projections it would open for business before the end of 2008. Michael Kaminski, chief executive officer of Kingston Hospital, said Monday night that construction will begin in August.

The Kingston and Benedictine hospitals are completing a merger and that will result in the building of a center doing abortions and legitimate medical services.

Abortion has been an issue that caused problems in two previous merger attempts because Benedictine, a Catholic facility, does not do abortions while Kingston does.

The new abortion facility, the Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery Center, came about after the state mandated the merger and said the abortion center can be near but not in the merged hospital.

Kaminski, according to the Daily Freeman newspaper, said the new abortion business will be completed by February or March. he said the new timetable came about after the city's Planning Board approved minor changes to the site plan.

"We think it's important to get it right," Kaminski said of the building process.

The total cost of the abortion center is supposed to be around $4.1 million after equipment is purchased, and the newspaper indicated state taxpayers are paying every penny of the cost.

During meetings in 2007 leading up to the approval of the new abortion center, local residents spoke out against it.

Connie Venditti of Ulster Park said he objected to the new abortion center because it will be connected with Kingston Hospital and should be run separately from a legitimate medical center.

"This was supposed to be separate," Venditti said. "This plan shows a connection."

According to the newspaper, the 7,000 square foot abortion center will be behind the hospital and it will be twice the size officials previously said. It will be located in the parking lot behind Kingston Hospital at 396 Broadway.

An enclosed walkway will separate it from the hospital.

ACTION: Contact the Ulster County Planning Board and urge strong opposition to abortion center. Contact officials on the board at: 244 Fair St, Kingston, NY 12401, or call (845) 340-3340 or fax a letter to (845) 340-3429. You can email planning@co.ulster.ny.us and a list of board officials can be found at http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/about.shtml.

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