WEB EX: Council Tables Gracedale Decision

Northampton County Council has decided to continue its investigation into how to handle the future of Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home.

Tonight the Northampton County Council listened to the public about what should be done with Gracedale Nursing Home.

The county is looking to sell or lease it.

Council President Ron Angle calls Gracedale a money pit, costing the county more than 6 million dollars per year. He says the county is looking at a 20% tax hike if some cuts aren't made.

More than 150 people who packed into the courthouse say the county should save Gracedale.

I'm not hear to beg but to plead, said Donald Flyet.

Flyet says his wife, who's now paralyzed, has been in Gracedale Nursing home since March of 2009.

When you sell or lease I ask of you to show me one that is better than Gracedale, said Flyet.

Donald was one of more than 150 people, many covered in green, a few with signs, who packed into Courtroom one hoping to sway the Northampton County Council to save Gracedale Nursing home.

The county is considering either selling or leasing the nursing home to save money in the face of a 10 million dollar budget deficit.

Once it's sold it's gone forever an can't be bought back, said Charles Dirtininger.

Consultant Complete Health Care Resources presented a study costing the county $18,000, which showed Gracedale is out of date, un-competitive and not cost efficient. It recommended the county either sell or lease Gracedale with a lease earning the county 3 million dollars per year and a sale netting up to $35-million.

But many in attendance are worried what that will cost in care.

People are not being take care as well in private run companies, said Dirtininger.

However council pointed out the consultants figures are based on 2009 numbers only and discounted the 5 previous years, which a board member said Gracedale actually paid back 9 million dollars to the county.

Gave my life to Gracedale and it's killing me we could lose our house.

With the tabling of the decision union representative Jerry Green says Council President Ron Angle will form a committee to investigate concerns brought up at tonight's meeting. Angle wants a decision from that committee by the end of the year.