At two separate Schenectady County League of Women Voters Candidate Forums held in mid-October, it became clear whether or not the county should revise, review or withdraw plans to construct a new Glendale Nursing Home is a divisive issue among Schenectady County Legislature hopefuls.
Republican candidates running for the three seats in District 3, representing Niskayuna, Glenville and Scotia, questioned how the county would be able to construct the new nursing home “for free” as claimed in their opponents’ campaign literature.
Also, they questioned whether the county should look at alternative solutions by turning to private companies. Democrats contested the $50 million project is a necessary service for the county to provide for senior residents. The proposed project would be funded with the state covering 85 percent of the cost, they said. The county plans to increase the pay rate to market level prices to increase revenues and offset bonding expenses.
“I do know this, you can’t build something for free,” said Republican candidate Kurt Semon. “(Friends of the Indian Kill Field) have asked for a year and a half to protect the real estate from further development … and it has been denied.”
Semon suggested the county should possibly sell the facility off to allow a private company to operate it.
Fellow Republican candidate Michael Dieterich also questioned the “free” cost of construction.
“If we could get a free one, then every town should have one,” Dieterich said, with some audience members laughing in response.
Democrat candidate Cathryn Bern-Smith said the home is part of the range of services provided by the county for seniors and shouldn’t be sold off or let go.
“Schenectady County provides services to keep people home safe and independent; not everybody is able when they get to a certain age to stay home safely and independent,” said Bern-Smith. “The county nursing home provides a niche that private nursing homes can’t.”
She said the home is also an “economic engine,” because it provides jobs. Also, she said some residents who are harder to place would be at a disadvantage if the county nursing home weren’t available.
Dieterich conceded that people do need the jobs, but argued the county needs to spend money wisely and needs to look at how to get those employees “other jobs.” He also questioned the price of $50 million and stated it could be built for “substantially less” than proposed.
Republican incumbent James Buhrmaster said the discussion over the home has been going on for several years, but in 2009 a $50 million bond was approved to construct the home. He said he didn’t approve the county passing the bond without architectural plans. He said surrounding counties have been getting out of the nursing home business as Schenectady County is bonding to build a new home.
“We can’t afford to spend the money, $50 million, for the 184 people that are in there right now,” Buhrmaster said. “Our private sector is out there trying to take this burden away from the county taxpayers and I think we need to look at it again before we spend $50 million of your money.”
Democrat candidate Thomas Constantine said the population is aging and the need to provide the service is present. He did agree to revisit the funding of the home.
“I know where my parents will be staying in another 15 to 20 years, but not everybody has that access to assisting their parents,” Constantine said. “I will agree to look at the bonding and the funding if I am elected and I will no way support any nursing home if it is going to take away money from other areas.”
District 4 tackles nursing home
County Legislature District 4 hopefuls also addressed the proposed nursing home plan at a separate candidate forum.
Democrat incumbent Tony Jasenski said the best option for the county is to construct a new home, because costs are ever increasing in the current facility due to needed repairs, which can’t be easily done.
Republican Wade Abbott said the nursing home is a difficult issue to tackle, because the home is in rough shape, but yet doing nothing is not the answer. He said he was concerned discussions over plans for the home haven’t been as transparent as they should have been.
“I have serious concerns with the funding, because we are currently facing a 2 percent tax cap and that will make things more difficult to fund and I believe in essence that is a good thing,” Abbott said. “I think government should have to make difficult decisions when it comes to raising taxes and not automatically go to that.”
Abbott also was convinced state funding would come through as much as expected.
Fellow Republican candidate Stanley Marchinkowski also said the discussion process hasn’t been transparent enough.
“I think we are almost committed to building a new nursing home, but the question is how do we pay for it?” asked Marchinkowski.
Democrat incumbent Angelo Santabarbara said the county nursing home does serve a “unique mission” in the county, because it takes a lot of patients other nursing homes won’t take.
“It keeps families together, because you are able to have your relative nearby rather than sending them somewhere out of state and not being able to see them, or only seeing them once a month,” Santabarbara said. “The existing home is very old and it does need upgrading … a large portion is covered by state and the rest of it is going to be covered by … increasing rate to market level.”
Voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 8.
