Published: September 25, 2008 11:41 pm         

Nursing home workers concerned about future

Rumors running rampant as sale negotiations continue

CUMBERLAND — While Allegany County continues to negotiate with three companies interested in purchasing the county Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, union and non-union employees alike are concerned about their future at the Furnace Street facility.

A handful of employees voiced their concerns to the commissioners Thursday at an evening meeting and lobbied for more detail as negotiations took place. Without details, they said, rumors run rampant.

County officials responded they were looking out for the best interests of the nursing home’s 160 employees and 142 residents by renegotiating now the current contract, which expires June 30, 2009.

“The commissioners have said they would not leave the employees high and dry,” said County Attorney Bill Rudd.

The county is seeking a new, five-year contract with whichever of the three companies is the successful applicant.

One classified employee, Dennis Mallery of Oldtown, said it might be best if the employees were left to negotiate with the potential new owners themselves or through their union. Rudd noted the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1521 voted unanimously to reopen the contract.

Rudd said he attended a meeting Thursday with union representatives, including Jim Bestpitch. Another meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. today. Details were scarce because there wasn’t a lot of detail discussed, Rudd said.

Bestpitch agreed there had been only “basic discussions on what we’re going to negotiate.”

There had been no offers or proposals of retirement packages, benefits or wages, both sides said Thursday — dispelling many of the rumors the employees said had permeated the nursing home since the commissioners announced in February they intended to get out of the nursing home business.

Deb Savage, an employee living in Cumberland, said the nursing home is more than just a workplace with coworkers and patients to care for, “these people are my family.”

“A lot of residents have no family and we’re it,” she said.

The three companies still in the running to buy the operation, listed alphabetically, are: Allegany Healthcare Group LLC of Cumberland; Complete Health Care Resources of Dresher, Pa.; and North Bay Health Associates LLC of Miami Beach, Fla. The Dresher firm currently manages the day-to-day operations of the county-owned facility.

Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said his mother “spent her last years” at the county nursing home and he had “great respect” for the professionals who are employed there.

Rudd said one way for the classified employees to keep informed is to have their wishes relayed to their representative on the county’s classified employees committee.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.