Hospitals advance tentative merger plans; Ellis and St. Clare's share vision, but key details remain unresolved; Bellevue continues opposition.(Business)

Byline: ALAN WECHSLER - Business writer

SCHENECTADY - Ellis and St. Clare's hospitals painted their vision for merging on Monday. But the picture was rather blurry.

And it's a picture Bellevue Woman's Hospital in Niskayuna continues to fight.

As officials at Ellis and St. Clare's discussed the news with reporters, Bellevue's chief executive, Anne Saile, was on her way to meet with an aide to Gov. Eliot Spitzer to find a way to keep the tiny hospital open.

In the meantime, the Schenectady hospitals say they are ready to hear from the community about their plans, although details are lacking.

The hospitals say they have no idea how …