Jefferson Community College is partnering with SUNY Upstate Medical University to provide a great opportunity for medical students as well as the local community.

The arrangement would let north country students attain their medical degrees locally, at JCC. Such a program might encourage more students who become physicians to serve locally. That would help address a persistent dilemma here — a shortage of doctors.

The partnership depends on JCC following through with its facilities master plan, which includes building a higher education center that would house the SUNY Upstate program.

Unfortunately, the college's master plan is on hold because it has not been endorsed by the Jefferson County Legislature. County legislators recently voted 8-7 to table the endorsement — despite the fact that it would not commit the county to pay anything. Endorsement would allow the $62.7 million college master plan to be considered for state funding.

SUNY Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith spoke about the potential partnership with JCC during a Jefferson County Job Development Corp. luncheon Friday at the Black River Valley Club.

"It just makes a lot of sense," he told the Times. "I wanted the people here today to see why it makes sense and why we need a program like this in the area. It would increase both economic and health care development in the area."

Unfortunately, his thoughts about the program were not heard by the eight legislators who voted against endorsing the master plan. They did not even bother to attend.

That is discouraging. Perhaps legislators who did take part can inform the others why the JCC-Upstate program is a golden opportunity for the north country.

The Legislature needs to endorse the JCC master plan.