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Herkimer, N.Y. —
County officials were accused of withholding information after several employees of Country Manor pleaded with the Herkimer County Legislature on Wednesday to keep the adult care facility under county control.
The public outcry came as a result of a recent disclosure that Valley Health Services, an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare, approached the county during the summer with a proposal to take over the facility, which has traditionally lost the county money.
The proposal, first made in late June, was part of a $4.2 million state Department of Health grant application, which VHS was awarded in late September. The grant announcement was followed shortly thereafter by the county committees’ first exposure to the process in a meeting.
County officials involved in communications with VHS felt the committee’s involvement began after the grant was approved.
But legislators Robert Hyde (R-district 7) and Helen Rose (D-District 2) voiced concern over how much input they were allowed to have in the future of Country Manor.
Rose argued the committee chairmen Vincent Bono (R-District 11) and Patrick Russell (R-District 15), along with Chairman Raymond Smith (R-District 10) and County Administrator James Wallace represented the entire Legislature without consulting with other legislators at the committee level.
“We lose our credibility,” Hyde said, referring to the Legislature’s belief in the committee process. “You violated that,” he added.
Wallace and Smith both said VHS officials approached them with the proposal and no “negotiations” took place to date.
The issue, however, is whether or not the chairmen and Wallace had the authority to represent the committee.
Russell said, “In my 10 years here, these kind of things happen.” He referenced dealings with Remington Arms involving a similar process of proposals being submitted first to Committee chairmen and the county administrator. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
Valley Heath Services contacted County Administrator James Wallace in a letter dated June 23, which made an initial offer to acquire the facility.
A letter dated July 1 from Wallace to Lisa Betrus, VHS administrator, said the proposal “looks like a viable way for the services to be maintained for our residents.”
Wallace also wrote he felt the terms, which involved the county’s paying VHS for several years to offset the cost to repair the facility and operation, were “reasonable.”
The VHS officials asked to keep the proposal “in confidence,” Smith said, adding, he felt this required keeping the information from the committee. “There are people in this Legislature who can’t keep their mouths shut,” he explained, referring to members disclosing sensitive information in the past.
Kathy Eisenhut, assistant administrator at VHS, said in a phone interview, the VHS officials communicated with Wallace as part of the grant application requirement to show county interest, which they believed had already been established over several years.
The county’s input on the proposal will be determined in upcoming committee meetings, Smith said after the meeting.
County employees speaking during the public portion of the meeting, however, all agreed there has been a growing fear their jobs would be cut once they heard of the proposal.
There are roughly 40 employees at Country Manor and 46 residents who stand to be affected by any decision, according to Theresa Grescheck, superintendent.
LuAnn Price, employed at the manor as a cook for 29 years, said she felt her once solid retirement plans were instantly put in jeopardy upon learning of the situation. “We all felt like we were just kicked to the curb,” she said, describing co-workers similar reactions to a private takeover ranging from “devastated” to “panicked.”
Having such a matter involve senior citizen residents is a “delicate situation,” Price said, beginning to cry. “We are their family, and they are a part of ours.” she added, “Please take care of them.”
The initial offer to the county includes:
• $1 for the transfer of the business
• $1 for the transfer of the building, land, equipment and furnishings, the letter states.
• Annual payments by the county to VHS to offset the cost of making repairs to the building and operation were also included in the offer.
• Payments of $400,000 in year one, $300,000 in year two, $200,000 in year three and $100,000 in year four were referenced as reasonable in Wallace’s response.
County officials were accused of withholding information after several employees of Country Manor pleaded with the Herkimer County Legislature on Wednesday to keep the adult care facility under county control.
The public outcry came as a result of a recent disclosure that Valley Health Services, an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare, approached the county during the summer with a proposal to take over the facility, which has traditionally lost the county money.
The proposal, first made in late June, was part of a $4.2 million state Department of Health grant application, which VHS was awarded in late September. The grant announcement was followed shortly thereafter by the county committees’ first exposure to the process in a meeting.
County officials involved in communications with VHS felt the committee’s involvement began after the grant was approved.
But legislators Robert Hyde (R-district 7) and Helen Rose (D-District 2) voiced concern over how much input they were allowed to have in the future of Country Manor.
Rose argued the committee chairmen Vincent Bono (R-District 11) and Patrick Russell (R-District 15), along with Chairman Raymond Smith (R-District 10) and County Administrator James Wallace represented the entire Legislature without consulting with other legislators at the committee level.
“We lose our credibility,” Hyde said, referring to the Legislature’s belief in the committee process. “You violated that,” he added.
Wallace and Smith both said VHS officials approached them with the proposal and no “negotiations” took place to date.
The issue, however, is whether or not the chairmen and Wallace had the authority to represent the committee.
Russell said, “In my 10 years here, these kind of things happen.” He referenced dealings with Remington Arms involving a similar process of proposals being submitted first to Committee chairmen and the county administrator. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
Valley Heath Services contacted County Administrator James Wallace in a letter dated June 23, which made an initial offer to acquire the facility.
A letter dated July 1 from Wallace to Lisa Betrus, VHS administrator, said the proposal “looks like a viable way for the services to be maintained for our residents.”
Wallace also wrote he felt the terms, which involved the county’s paying VHS for several years to offset the cost to repair the facility and operation, were “reasonable.”
The VHS officials asked to keep the proposal “in confidence,” Smith said, adding, he felt this required keeping the information from the committee. “There are people in this Legislature who can’t keep their mouths shut,” he explained, referring to members disclosing sensitive information in the past.
Kathy Eisenhut, assistant administrator at VHS, said in a phone interview, the VHS officials communicated with Wallace as part of the grant application requirement to show county interest, which they believed had already been established over several years.
The county’s input on the proposal will be determined in upcoming committee meetings, Smith said after the meeting.
County employees speaking during the public portion of the meeting, however, all agreed there has been a growing fear their jobs would be cut once they heard of the proposal.
There are roughly 40 employees at Country Manor and 46 residents who stand to be affected by any decision, according to Theresa Grescheck, superintendent.
LuAnn Price, employed at the manor as a cook for 29 years, said she felt her once solid retirement plans were instantly put in jeopardy upon learning of the situation. “We all felt like we were just kicked to the curb,” she said, describing co-workers similar reactions to a private takeover ranging from “devastated” to “panicked.”
Having such a matter involve senior citizen residents is a “delicate situation,” Price said, beginning to cry. “We are their family, and they are a part of ours.” she added, “Please take care of them.”
The initial offer to the county includes:
• $1 for the transfer of the business
• $1 for the transfer of the building, land, equipment and furnishings, the letter states.
• Annual payments by the county to VHS to offset the cost of making repairs to the building and operation were also included in the offer.
• Payments of $400,000 in year one, $300,000 in year two, $200,000 in year three and $100,000 in year four were referenced as reasonable in Wallace’s response.
