Adult Care Center closure

Called for open decision-making, saying the adult care center closure was done behind closed doors and urging the board to give the public a chance to weigh in.

Read a satirical 'obituary' for the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, noting all 93 residents were moved out of county and 86 employees lost their workplace, and thanked the legislators who fought to keep it open.

A Senior Legislative Action Committee member called the closure vote a 'pretty sorry decision,' disputing the fiscal case, noting the census is now at zero, and warning a for-profit operator will put profit over care.

Cited three to four resident deaths after transfers, called the treatment of residents disgraceful, and said most taxpayers would support funding the home.

Former facility administrator criticized the lack of public process and recalled the county-wide support that once earned the home a five-star rating.

Former medical director and past facility director pleaded with legislators to keep the center open, citing proximity to the hospital and access for families.

Described how her friend Victor, a double amputee resident, was transferred to Kingston an hour away under pressure and could not be reached for days.

Cited years of petitions with thousands of signatures, accused the county manager of bias in the numbers, and asked for an independent assessment.

Read a letter on behalf of James and Joan Diere of the family council urging the county to keep the facility open and collect what InfiniteCare owes.

A former ten-year employee whose father and aunt were residents; said the facility was like family and must stay open.

Said her sister was moved out and warned the closure adds to Sullivan County's decline; told legislators voters will remember.

Urged legislators to consider alternatives — an advisory committee and keeping the CON — rather than closing.

Compared Orange County's successful turnaround of Valley View and questioned why InfiniteCare's $8 million debt has not been collected.

A small business owner who accused the county manager of failing residents and warned of the chaos created by the closure.

A taxpayer and homeowner who said taking care of each other sometimes costs money and she is happy to pay.

A Senior Legislative Action Committee member who detailed the injunction timeline and urged legislators to reverse the closure legally.

Retired county employee and family council president who cited the Valley View turnaround, warned of tax increases regardless, and criticized the 10 a.m. meeting time.

Spoke of her grandmother, a bilateral amputee for whom a long-term care facility became home, calling the closures a tragedy.

Delivered a pointed rebuttal to the District 7 legislator's earlier comments, accusing him of ignoring problems at the ACC under InfiniteCare and failing residents and staff before the facility closed.

The 84-year-old warned legislators they will face the same lack of care when they age, saying the ACC closure sets a precedent for how seniors will be treated.

Demanded to know whether the county attorney advised legislators before the closure decision that they couldn't discuss it publicly, and said leadership from the chair has been absent; Chairwoman Ward responded the advice came after the decision.

Said the Adult Care Center costs just pennies per taxpayer daily but closing it displaces elderly and memory-care residents and risks transfer trauma and premature death.

Described a chaotic transfer process with half the staff holding pink slips and residents sent to a one-star facility with a recent abuse citation, despite promises of a peaceful transition.

As a member of the Senior Legislative Action Committee, she urged the committee not to close the Adult Care Center and thanked Legislator Scott for defending lobby security during elections.

Urged the legislature to reverse the Adult Care Center closure, arguing the cost to taxpayers is less than a nickel a day and threatening a potential Article 78 legal challenge.

A Senior Legislative Action Committee member questioned the closure vote count, noting Blosser-Bernardo said she wasn't present at the March meeting yet the certified vote was 5-4 of nine legislators.

Criticized the county for spending tax money on airport hangars and casino-related projects while closing the Adult Care Center.

Called the closure 'an absolute moral outrage,' criticized the closed-door decision, and urged legislators to put the question to the people affected.

Argued the closure resulted from fear-driven decisions, called it a serious mistake, demanded accountability for a social media leak, and warned the action worsens the county's healthcare desert with 93 residents needing placement.

Recounted the history of closure attempts dating to 2020, criticized the executive session vote and Infinite Care's management, and argued the per-taxpayer cost of keeping the facility open is minimal.

A Senior Legislative Action Committee member cited the county's second-to-last health rankings since 2010 and urged legislators to find funding rather than 'dump' the facility.

Fighting tears, described her 95-year-old father in assisted living, accused legislators of hiding behind a gag order, and called the closure unforgivable.

Questioned the legality of the closure vote during the Infinite Care lease and asked who leaked the closure news to Bill Liblick.

Another Senior Legislative Action Committee member who detailed the facility's rating decline under Infinite Care, asked why Infinite Care's debt to the county hasn't been collected, and noted the county will be left with only two nursing facilities.

A former county legislator whose mother was a resident, he demanded the county either bond the repair money — which wouldn't hit the tax cap — or put the question to voters in a referendum.

A retired county employee whose mother lived at the facility, he blamed management failures under the consulting arrangement for the rating decline and pledged to pay higher taxes to keep it open.

Described visiting his bedridden, non-verbal brother at the facility three times a week, praising county staff but blaming the third-party operator for staffing churn and lower pay.