FOLLOW THE MONEY!
- DAN MC COY HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY THE ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATURE ABOUT ANOTHER BIDDER FOR THE ALBANY COUNTY NURSING HOME, Question did Albany county Chairman Shawn Morse really knownothing.
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ALBANY, NEW YORK, Today Albany democrat Hon.Brian Scavo called the Albany county legislature to reject this 18 million dollar lease deal saying ' someone is going to get rich off this deal and it's sure not the taxpayers of Albany county, who will suffer , the seniors and disabled veterans . Within 1 to 2 years of implementing this lease deal the nursing home will close, the kickbacks to corrupt politician's would come in the form of donations from contractors and possibly from all connected with this insane lease deal.Question why did Dan McCoy keep Chairman Shawn Morse in the dark about a possible beneficial money deal for the Albany county nursing home.NYS controller Thomas Dinapoli has been requested to investigate this deal by Hon.Brian Scavo.Hon.Brian Scavo
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contact ;518-4658915contact; brisca5@aol.comwww.brianscavoalbany.blogspot.combrian scavo
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DONATE HEREALBANY — At least one other potential bidder for the Albany County Nursing Home has emerged. |
Last month, a director at two local nursing facilities owned by a Rockland County resident, Bent Philipson, emailed County Executive Dan McCoy to notify him of Philipson's interest in buying the county-owned home.
Philipson has ownership interests in two dozen nursing facilities around the state, including three in the Capital Region, and is listed as executive management partner of Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on Long Island.
The email, a copy of which was viewed by the Times Union, came as McCoy's administration was several months into negotiations with another Rockland County firm, Upstate Service Group, to lease the facility for at least 10 years.
But the deal with USG, which includes $18 million in loans and grants from the county in an effort to achieve longer-term savings, has run into sharp resistance. Some county lawmakers don't believe the county should get out of the nursing home business at all.
The future of the USG offer remains uncertain. McCoy's administration hoped to have lawmakers approve it this month, but the legislature has held up action, citing unanswered questions. The delays have cast doubt as to whether McCoy's hoped-for July 1 hand-off date can be met.
Meanwhile, Philipson's Jan. 23 overture has received no response from the county, said Shannon McHale, director of human resources and fiscal services at Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna and Diamond Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Troy, both of which are owned by Philipson.
Philipson bought the nursing facilities, along with Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Greenbush, in August 2010. They were formerly known as the Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Centers.
"I would have thought that I would have received some sort of response," McHale said. "He doesn't have the detail at this point that he would need to put an offer together, but he certainly wants to see the information."
McCoy's spokeswoman, Mary Rozak, said it would have been improper for the county to respond.
"Albany County is currently in formal negotiations with Upstate Service Group," Rozak said in a statement. "It would not be appropriate to address any other inquiries at this point."
McCoy, who argued for the continuance of the county-run facility as a legislator, floated the privatization plan in October in hopes of ending millions in losses at the 250-bed nursing home while still ensuring that the county's sickest and most frail residents would receive care.
Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse, a fellow Democrat, said Thursday that McCoy had not shared news of the offer with him.
"All I can say is, he should send his letters to everybody, everybody who has a stake in it, and we'll take a look at it," Morse said.
Last year the county sought offers to buy the four-decade-old nursing home off Albany Shaker Road but received none. While one proposal was submitted to privatize its management, the county took no action on it.
It was after that McCoy opened lease talks with USG, which is in the process of buying Onondaga County's nursing home. It also owns Hudson Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Northern Boulevard in Albany.
The union representing the largest number of county nursing home workers, 1199SEIU, has a presence in all three local facilities owned by Philipson. The union has argued — so far unsuccessfully — that USG be required to honor the union contract if the lease deal is approved. The contract ends Dec. 31.
Union spokeswoman Mindy Berman described the 1199SEIU's dealings with the local Philipson facilities as positive.
"Our hope is that the legislature will look carefully at every offer that is out there and make sure that all the appropriate needs are met," she said.
Philipson has ownership interests in two dozen nursing facilities around the state, including three in the Capital Region, and is listed as executive management partner of Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on Long Island.
The email, a copy of which was viewed by the Times Union, came as McCoy's administration was several months into negotiations with another Rockland County firm, Upstate Service Group, to lease the facility for at least 10 years.
But the deal with USG, which includes $18 million in loans and grants from the county in an effort to achieve longer-term savings, has run into sharp resistance. Some county lawmakers don't believe the county should get out of the nursing home business at all.
The future of the USG offer remains uncertain. McCoy's administration hoped to have lawmakers approve it this month, but the legislature has held up action, citing unanswered questions. The delays have cast doubt as to whether McCoy's hoped-for July 1 hand-off date can be met.
Meanwhile, Philipson's Jan. 23 overture has received no response from the county, said Shannon McHale, director of human resources and fiscal services at Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna and Diamond Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Troy, both of which are owned by Philipson.
Philipson bought the nursing facilities, along with Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Greenbush, in August 2010. They were formerly known as the Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Centers.
"I would have thought that I would have received some sort of response," McHale said. "He doesn't have the detail at this point that he would need to put an offer together, but he certainly wants to see the information."
McCoy's spokeswoman, Mary Rozak, said it would have been improper for the county to respond.
"Albany County is currently in formal negotiations with Upstate Service Group," Rozak said in a statement. "It would not be appropriate to address any other inquiries at this point."
McCoy, who argued for the continuance of the county-run facility as a legislator, floated the privatization plan in October in hopes of ending millions in losses at the 250-bed nursing home while still ensuring that the county's sickest and most frail residents would receive care.
Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse, a fellow Democrat, said Thursday that McCoy had not shared news of the offer with him.
"All I can say is, he should send his letters to everybody, everybody who has a stake in it, and we'll take a look at it," Morse said.
Last year the county sought offers to buy the four-decade-old nursing home off Albany Shaker Road but received none. While one proposal was submitted to privatize its management, the county took no action on it.
It was after that McCoy opened lease talks with USG, which is in the process of buying Onondaga County's nursing home. It also owns Hudson Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Northern Boulevard in Albany.
The union representing the largest number of county nursing home workers, 1199SEIU, has a presence in all three local facilities owned by Philipson. The union has argued — so far unsuccessfully — that USG be required to honor the union contract if the lease deal is approved. The contract ends Dec. 31.
Union spokeswoman Mindy Berman described the 1199SEIU's dealings with the local Philipson facilities as positive.
"Our hope is that the legislature will look carefully at every offer that is out there and make sure that all the appropriate needs are met," she said.
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