jaredw@myweeklysentinel.com
Bradford County Commissioners accepted a proposal to begin the process of transitioning the Bradford County Manor from the county to be sold and privatized at the Thursday May 12 meeting. The commissioners went into detail about the move while answering questions during the visitors remarks.
“This is not a happy day… This is unfortunately something that needs to be done,” said Vice Chairman Doug McLinko.
The commissioners said they believe there will be a market for proposals for purchase of the manor based on Clinton County which privatized its nursing homes earlier this year.
Chairman Daryl Miller explained the decision to privatize the manor is mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eventual end of COVID related funding at the state and federal levels. Miller also explained that the manor has spent about 2.7 million dollars above the normal budgeted figures for its operation due to COVID rescue money and federal and state money.
“Going forward if the trend continues because of regulation changes and the amount of care provided that is being proposed per patient by the state department of health, it will cost us exponentially more to provide that care,” said Miller. “The reimbursements are not going to keep up and have not been for some time.”
Miller clarified that the reimbursements are for the county to cover the funds that it has given to the manor. Miller also warned about possible future consequences if the manor isn’t privatized.
“(This) means in essence that at some point in time in the not too distant future, we’re going to be looking at having to pass those costs onto the taxpayers in the form of a tax increase. Which we don’t want to do,” said Miller.
Miller and McLinko later expanded on this and said that a minimum of at least $1 million will be needed to transfer to the manor each year from the county, and that this would eventually result in a tax increase which would start at 10% for county taxpayers if the manor isn’t sold.
McLinko also added that an issue like this has never happened since he has been a commissioner.
“This has nothing to do with the employees,” said McLinko when reassuring the Commissioners’ commitment to them. “The employees have done an outstanding job going through COVID. It has got to be a qualified operator that we would look at. It can’t be just anyone.”
Miller also stressed the commitment of the commissioners to the manor, “This is something that we’ve agonized for some time over and the point of the whole thing is we want to ensure that the quality of care that is given at the manor is able to continue on into the future.”
McLinko also added “Long term employees that are employees that stay with the manor after the sale will be given a severance package that is an incentive to stay that is graduated to help with the transition.”
Miller and McLinko also gave their support for the manor by explaining that they both have had a parent stay at the manor previously. McLinko’s father stayed there previously, and Miller’s mother also stayed there.
“We want the employees to understand fully that we’re going to be completely transparent and their residents are of our utmost concern,” McLinko added. McLinko also said that he plans on going to the manor weekly to answer any questions with employees.
Final Comments
McLinko also added some final comments on Act 77, which was passed in 2019 and allowed mail in ballots for Pennsylvania elections.
“We want myself and all Republican county commissioners in Pennsylvania which recently voted, a record number, to repeal Act 77,” said McLinko.
“Our election directors in Pennsylvania have more responsibility than the Secretary of State. People don’t know that. It’s time for our representatives to step out and do what’s right and stop listening to leadership.”
McLinko also encouraged people across Bradford County to vote at the primary elections on May 17, “The most important thing people can do is go vote, and don’t get discouraged. I don’t care who you vote for, but just get out to the polls…”
The next Bradford County Commissioners meeting will be held on Thursday, May 26, at 10 a.m.