Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
BOS passes resolutions to build new facility at old Pine Haven site
By Francesca Olsen
The county Board of Supervisors officially passed resolutions to start the long process of building a new Pine Haven skilled nursing facility on the same land as the current location in Philmont.
Four separate resolutions relating to the new facility were passed. The first, voted into existence via a unanimous roll call vote, authorized Pine Haven Administrator Arthur Proper to prepare and submit a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the state for new construction. A CON must be approved before the process can begin.
Claverack Supervisor Jim Keegan introduced the resolution and requested the roll call vote.
The next two resolutions were passed together: one to authorize Proper to contract with a professional accounting firm to assist with the CON, and one for him to execute a provider/rate agreement, pending review from county attorneys.
The fourth resolution, also passed with a unanimous roll call vote, will allow the county to request proposals for an architect for the new construction.
Supervisor Lynda Scheer, R-Gallatin, offered a “broad thanks to Supervisor (Larry) Andrews, R-Ghent, for all the work he put into Pine Haven,” at the end of the meeting, and extended the thanks to county Commissioner of Public Works David Robinson, who prepared an extensive report for the Pine Haven subcommittee and was very involved in the process that resulted in the decision.
Andrews said, “it goes a lot further than myself and David Robinson. All the members of the subcommittee looked at the options very carefully.” He added thanks to Proper, and said that the careful review of options showed that the county is very concerned with giving adequate care to its aging residents.
Al Wassenhove, chairman of the “Save Pine Haven” petition campaign which gathered 3,350 signatures from county residents supporting keeping the facility in Philmont, said, “I’m elated that the BOS has decided to leave the Pine Haven facility in Philmont, where it rightfully belongs. Let there be no doubt the petitions signed... were in large part the deciding factor that has led the supervisors to this successful conclusion.”
Wassenhove commented that it was ironic, on the evening before Veteran’s Day, to pass resolutions on Pine Haven, because he has already begun advocating for a veterans’ rehabilitation and care center to be located in the old facility once a new one is built. He added that since the idea was initially published in the Register-Star, he has had conversations with several “key people”, including Benedict McCaffrey of Congressman Scott Murphy’s Hudson office, “who is aboard on this proposal.”
“We have 6,700 veterans in Columbia County, and I promise you I’ll be there to help cut the ribbon on a dynamic new service for those that we owe so much, and stand to honor tomorrow,” he said.
Also passed by the BOS with unanimous roll call vote was a local law to create and fill the position of county controller. Unlike the position of county treasurer, which is an elected role, the controller will be appointed.
The idea of appointing a controller came out of last month’s announcement that $9 million in receivables from the county Department of Social Services would be uncollectable from the state and federal government. The county has never had a controller or internal audit function, Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, told the Register-Star in October.
A public hearing preceded the resolution, but no public comment was offered and the hearing was closed. Supervisor George Jahn, D-Austerlitz, asked if the controller would also serve as budget officer; Baer said a separate budget officer would exist, independent of the controller position.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
Four separate resolutions relating to the new facility were passed. The first, voted into existence via a unanimous roll call vote, authorized Pine Haven Administrator Arthur Proper to prepare and submit a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the state for new construction. A CON must be approved before the process can begin.
Claverack Supervisor Jim Keegan introduced the resolution and requested the roll call vote.
The next two resolutions were passed together: one to authorize Proper to contract with a professional accounting firm to assist with the CON, and one for him to execute a provider/rate agreement, pending review from county attorneys.
The fourth resolution, also passed with a unanimous roll call vote, will allow the county to request proposals for an architect for the new construction.
Supervisor Lynda Scheer, R-Gallatin, offered a “broad thanks to Supervisor (Larry) Andrews, R-Ghent, for all the work he put into Pine Haven,” at the end of the meeting, and extended the thanks to county Commissioner of Public Works David Robinson, who prepared an extensive report for the Pine Haven subcommittee and was very involved in the process that resulted in the decision.
Andrews said, “it goes a lot further than myself and David Robinson. All the members of the subcommittee looked at the options very carefully.” He added thanks to Proper, and said that the careful review of options showed that the county is very concerned with giving adequate care to its aging residents.
Al Wassenhove, chairman of the “Save Pine Haven” petition campaign which gathered 3,350 signatures from county residents supporting keeping the facility in Philmont, said, “I’m elated that the BOS has decided to leave the Pine Haven facility in Philmont, where it rightfully belongs. Let there be no doubt the petitions signed... were in large part the deciding factor that has led the supervisors to this successful conclusion.”
Wassenhove commented that it was ironic, on the evening before Veteran’s Day, to pass resolutions on Pine Haven, because he has already begun advocating for a veterans’ rehabilitation and care center to be located in the old facility once a new one is built. He added that since the idea was initially published in the Register-Star, he has had conversations with several “key people”, including Benedict McCaffrey of Congressman Scott Murphy’s Hudson office, “who is aboard on this proposal.”
“We have 6,700 veterans in Columbia County, and I promise you I’ll be there to help cut the ribbon on a dynamic new service for those that we owe so much, and stand to honor tomorrow,” he said.
Also passed by the BOS with unanimous roll call vote was a local law to create and fill the position of county controller. Unlike the position of county treasurer, which is an elected role, the controller will be appointed.
The idea of appointing a controller came out of last month’s announcement that $9 million in receivables from the county Department of Social Services would be uncollectable from the state and federal government. The county has never had a controller or internal audit function, Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, told the Register-Star in October.
A public hearing preceded the resolution, but no public comment was offered and the hearing was closed. Supervisor George Jahn, D-Austerlitz, asked if the controller would also serve as budget officer; Baer said a separate budget officer would exist, independent of the controller position.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
Share this Article
 |
||
| City budget proposal includes 4 percent tax increase |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
