Emotions Ran High At Public Hearing (VIDEO)

Over the course of more than two hours Tuesday night, dozens of speakers shared stories about Summit Park Nursing Home staff and residents, warned of the potential economic toll and asked county legislators not to create a Local Development Corporation (LDC) as the first step of the nursing home’s sale. Spectators packed the legislative chambers filling it to standing room and spilling out into the hallway as legislators voted 11-6 after the public hearing to create an LDC and transfer the ownership of the nursing home to it for possible future sale to a private entity.

CSEA Local 844 members wore white t-shirts with the slogan “Keep Summit Park Public.” During his remarks, CSEA Local 844 President P.T. Thomas told the legislators the union would take legal action if they voted in favor of the LDC. He said the purpose of an LDC is for economic development and the county was using it for the opposite reason.

CSEA Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo said the nursing home’s poor financial situation was the fault of the legislature and county executive. He called on County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef to step down.

“I really think it is time for our county executive to resign and leave county government,” he said.

Nursing Home resident Roberta Pickus, who suffers from stage two breast cancer, has lived there for seven years. 

“The care that you get can’t be compared to any place else,” she said.

Another resident Harold Schulman asked if Summit Park were taken over would legislators guarantee their care would the same.

Employee Vincent Liddell warned that approval of the LDC might mean staff departures at the 321-bed nursing home.

“If you sell that building you are selling more than a building,” he said. “Do not assume we will be here for the transition. Do not assume we will reapply for our jobs.”

Activity Aide Angela Horan said 10 of the current 220 residents are older than 100. She said that showed the quality of care they receive.

Speakers’ remarks were greeted with applause, some got choked up or raised their voices as they spoke and others were on the verge of tears.

Marianna Avarali, the county health department’s director of Social Work, said the move to an LDC showed a failure of county government and said the financial problems would not be resolved by selling it.

William Steinmann’s mother is a patient and he asked what would happen to the current residents who are elderly, infirmed and indigent. Another speaker said residents could be forced to locate to other nursing homes up to 50 miles away placing an extreme burden on their families.

Union leader Thomas said leaders with vision could run Summit Park Nursing Home profitably. He said CSEA officials have made recommendations that have been ignored.