Members of the public had an opportunity to put their views about the sale of two county-run care centers on the record at a recent public hearing.
The meeting focused on the John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township, and the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center, Wall Township, and took place on Aug. 3 at the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Freehold Borough.
About 25 people attended the meeting which was chaired by Brian Nelson, a partner with Archer and Greiner, the law firm hired by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders to address the legal matters of the issue.
“The purpose of the hearing is to establish procedures. There will be no formal action tonight, just comments on the proposed sales,” Nelson said.
Monmouth County personnel in attendance at the meeting included Monmouth County Counsel Andrea Bazer, Monmouth County Administrator Teri O’Connor and Monmouth County Finance Director Craig Marshall.
Abe Magid of Manalapan attended the hearing in order to get answers to his questions, but learned he was only able to comment on the county’s plan to divest itself of the two care centers.
“I want to know the exact nitty-gritty of the procedure. What plans do they have to date? If they don’t have plans, when will they? Will pensions stay intact?” Magid asked.
Although Magid did not receive answers to his questions at that time, the county representatives said they would get back to him.
Adam Shiffrin of Manalapan has worked as a recreational therapy aide for 10 years at the Montgomery care center and said he found the planned sale of the facility “unsettling.”
“Other routes could have been taken. This is not the best solution for our community and the most vulnerable members of our community,” Shiffrin said.
He said he attended the hearing to show “support for my residents (at the care center) and their future.”
Carol Rizzo of Ocean Grove, a Democrat who is running for a seat on the all- Republican Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, said she was interested in finding out a “rationale for what we are doing.”
“We have a responsibility to take care of the residents (of the two care centers). What are the qualities you are looking for in buyers?” Rizzo asked.
She said the county’s representatives should “ensure that buyers were not previously fined.”
“The state will qualify and approve bidders,” Bazer said.
James Martin of Spring Lakes Heights said he was dissatisfied with the hearing.
“I am disappointed at this meeting – the number of people, the small number of people who spoke. Responses were minimal,” Martin said.
In accordance with local land use law, evaluation reports for the John L. Montgomery Care Center and the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center on the proposed sale of the county property were available for participants at the hearing.
The reports, prepared by T&M Associates, Moorestown, address the reasons for the sale of the two care centers; the advantages and disadvantages of selling the care centers; assessments of value; and other information.
The reports state the reason for the proposed sale of the care centers as follows: “Due to low occupancy rates, annual deficits and capital improvements needed to the structure, the county has been subsidizing the facility’s operational costs.”
The value of the Montgomery care center in Freehold Township, according to the evaluation report, is between $5.4 million and $6.3 million, and the value of the Thompson care center in Wall Township is between $5.7 million and $6.4 million.
In March, the freeholders voted to permit the county administration to move forward with the privatization of the care centers. Officials said the two care centers have been losing millions of dollars each year.
“We are dealing with people, not items. I want protection and total assurance these people will receive the TLC they are getting now,” Magid said.
According to the county’s website, the next step in the process will occur in late August when the freeholders anticipate acting on a resolution for the advertisement of the sale of the two care centers. In early October, there will be a public auction for receipt of bids, the county website states.