Published: April 04, 2008 11:58 am      

As of April 4, thirteen companies interested in nursing home

CUMBERLAND - The Allegany County commissioners on Thursday agreed to send a letter to Sheriff David Goad asking him to halt overtime expenses through June except for emergencies.

David Eberly, acting county administrator, said the letter also will ask Goad to pare his fiscal 2009 budget request another $50,000 so the commissioners can fully fund his request for $125,000 in overtime funds. If Goad can't do so, Eberly said, the commissioners will "unilaterally go ahead and adjust his budget accordingly."

The commissioners, as well as Eberly and Finance Director Jerry Frantz, all indicated they'd prefer Goad to offer suggestions where they could take another $50,000 from the department's proposed budget. Last week, Frantz recommended the commissioners approve $75,000 in overtime allowances for the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's budget came under fire for the second time in as many budget workshops as Frantz told the commissioners Goad's overtime budget is well in excess of what the commissioners approved this time last year. Overall, the sheriff's office is projected to be about $258,000 over the authorized amount. Any overtime between now and June 30 is allowed only for emergencies. Eberly said it's up to Goad to declare what, exactly, constitutes an emergency.

In other budget considerations, Frantz followed the recommendation of County Administrator Vance Ishler, who last week said he wanted the county to fund one more dispatcher for the 911 Joint Communications Division. Frantz said he spoke with Bobby Dick, chief of the 911 center. Dick said he's hiring two dispatchers now and wouldn't need a third until the second quarter of the fiscal year.

Commissioner Dale Lewis suggested increasing the community promotions account in an effort to distribute funds more evenly to worthy causes. Frantz, however, cautioned that Allegany County is "a very busy, active community. I don't know how you can fund everything that's out there."

The commissioners agreed to freeze the $11,000 account for the moment.

Roughly two hours before the workshop, the commissioners conducted their annual constant yield hearing. No member of the public spoke during the hearing. The commissioners indicated their intent to keep the property tax rate the same. Each said he is opposed to any rate increases.

After the meeting, County Attorney Bill Rudd said 13 organizations, including two in Allegany County, have signed confidentiality agreements in order to obtain financial and performance records on the Allegany County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center.

The companies include: Golden Living LLC of West Roxbury, Mass.; North Bay Healthcare LLC of Miami, Fla.; Complete Healthcare Resources Inc. of Dresher, Pa.; and 10 Maryland companies, including GC Healthcare Management Inc. of Lonaconing; The Lions Center of Cumberland; Transitions Healthcare LLC and Brintonwoods Senior Living LLC, both of Sykesville; Neiswanger Management Services LLC of Hyattsville; Mid-Atlantic Healthcare LLC of Timonium; Permission Ventures LLC and Eastpoint/Futurecare Health & Management, both of Baltimore; Colonial Senior Living of Port Tobacco; and Ruxton Healthcare LLC of Columbia.

Companies still interested must submit a letter of intent on future plans for the facility with a $100,000 deposit by May 1.

County officials have said the Furnace Street facility, which employs 160 people, has failed to break even in recent years due to fixed annual costs into a retirement fund for employees and post-retirement health care for former employees. At this point, the commissioners are not obligated to sell.

The county announced in early February it would consider selling the business.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.