Blue Hill - Officials with Blue Hill Memorial Hospital are hoping an employee buyout plan will help them avoid employee layoffs.

The hospital's CEO says the voluntary separation incentive plan, as it's called, is designed to create permanent budget reductions.

Currently about 340 people work for the hospital, which is an affiliate of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems.

Anyone can apply for the buyout, but administrators will have the final word on who can take it.

Officials aren't saying how many people their looking for or how much money the buyout is designed to save.

But a hospital news release says, "BHMH must be ready to embrace the changes on our doorsteps or face the consequences of failing to keep pace - which could mean an end to healthcare delivery as we know it on the peninsula."

Final decisions on the buyout are expected to be made by September 17th.

Officials say they also understand the move may raise some concerns, considering the recent purchase of two homes near the hospital on Parker Point Road, as well as a master plan for the facility.

A public meeting to talk about that plan and other community issues is set for September 18th at 6 p.m at Blue Hill Town Hall.

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