WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A self-imposed deadline to decide whether to release the millions of dollars Prince George’s County has been withholding from the operators of its cash-strapped hospital system passed Tuesday with no announcement by County Executive Jack Johnson.

On Sept. 25, Johnson said he would determine within the next two weeks whether to release the money. He made his comments following a meeting with the new Dimensions Healthcare System board chairman Bill Williams, hours after the board voted to drop a $14 million lawsuit against the county. Dimensions runs the county-owned system.

“I know … he wants to sit down and talk with the [County] Council leadership, if they so choose, in discussion with Bill Williams and the Dimensions board,” Erzen said. “And I think that’s an ongoing process and something that will continue to unfold in the coming weeks.”

But Erzen said Johnson has not met with the council or Williams since his initial meeting with the chairman, and no meetings are scheduled at this point.

Johnson has spent part of the past two week in Nigeria on a trade mission.

“These things take a little while,” Williams said. “And I know that he hasn’t been doing this kind of [hospital] business while he has been away.”

Williams said he expected to “hear something” about the money this week, before backing off. “I don’t know what his timetable is,” Williams said.

Erzen said conversation between Johnson and council leaders, and further conversation with Dimensions, will determine whether the money is released.

Dimensions has been locked in a struggle with the county for several months, with Prince George’s withholding $14 million from the system until four board members resign.

The company had refused that demand and had discussed shutting down the system.

On Sept. 13, the board ousted former chairman Calvin Brown, who had battled Johnson over control of the system, voted to make Williams chairman and selected Del. Barbara Frush, D-Prince George’s, to replace Brown.

With the ouster of Brown, the previous resignation of Donald Foran and the planned resignation of George Bone, the county appears to be getting what it wants.

dfowler@dcexaminer.com