MONTICELLO – The chairman of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee says it is time for the county legislature to “roll up their sleeves” to fix what they believe to be management issues at the Care Center at Sunset Lake, and not sell it.
Legislature Chairman Robert Doherty has said the county has no choice but to privatize the Liberty facility because of the county’s dire fiscal straits. If it keeps the operation, Doherty said property taxes would have to be raised by seven percent and 45 county employees would lose their jobs.
But, Steven Vegliante, Democratic Party chairman, said, “It costs the average household less than $80 each year to fund the Care Center. Many other publicly run nursing homes run at a profit. Either way, this facility is a bargain at twice the price.” The chairman said if it were not, there would be no companies looking to take it over. Doherty said nine are interested.
Vegliante said if it is privatized, patients would suffer. Private companies do it for the profit, he said. “To do that, they will limit staffing, but inferior supplies and focus only on private pay residents. “Those without the means to pay for a bed, those most in need will be passed over in the name of profit.”
