“Santulli Recommends No Sale of County Nursing Facility” Thursday, October 10, 2013
ELMIRA – Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli has formally recommended to the County Legislature not to sell the Chemung County Nursing Facility (CCNF). The recommendation comes after a nearly year-long comprehensive review of all of the available options for the future of the facility.
With the unprecedented cooperation of the Civil Service Employee’s Association (CSEA) and reorganization of its rehabilitation therapy services, Santulli would like the County to maintain ownership of the facility. Last month the Legislature voted to enter into a professional services agreement with Select Rehabilitation, a company which will manage and operate the entire therapy services department and expand the volume of services provided at CCNF. This expansion of service will provide in excess of $2 million annually for the operation of the facility. Coupled with a new labor agreement with CSEA, which will provide significant personnel savings now and in the future, will allow the Nursing Facility to stay under County operation.
The County examined other options for the facility which included the sale of the facility to a private sector operator. The County entered into an agreement with Marcus and Millichap a commercial real estate investment firm who specializes in the marketing of nursing homes and has brokered several sales of county run nursing homes in New York State. Following a Request for Proposal, the County received seven bids ranging from $7.5 million to $10.5 million.
“I am pleased and proud to be able to offer this alternative to a sale of the facility to the Legislature,” said Santulli. “The CCNF has a long proud reputation in our community and we wanted to do everything in our power to arrive at a decision that would best meet the needs of our employees, the residents, and the community.”
Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange (R-15) is thankful that the facility will stay in county hands. “I know firsthand how important this facility is to the residents of Chemung County. My father spent 6 months at the facility, from February 2012 until his passing on September 7, 2012. This is a first-class facility with amazing staff that do an outstanding job,” Strange said. “I am in full support of the County Executive’s recommendation to keep the facility operated by Chemung County and I will vote for the resolution at the legislature meeting.”