LAWRENCE COUNTY Commissioners seek assistance in Hill View sale

Layoffs are being considered at the nursing home.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are looking for professional help with the sale of the county nursing home.
County Commissioner Roger DeCarbo said he has contacted attorneys and auditing firms that deal regularly with nursing homes. None has responded yet, he said.
DeCarbo suggested that the attorney could handle future negotiations for the sale of Hill View Manor and the auditor will check the home's financial status.
The sale of the home fell through earlier this month when the buyer asked the county to guarantee its bank loan and county officials refused.
Commissioners agreed to give the buyer, Sylvan Heights Realty Partners -- a group that was formed specifically for this sale -- until Sept. 30 to buy the home and surrounding land. The $1,715,000 price is not expected to change.
Cutting costs
Commissioners said they are also looking at cost-saving measures at the nursing home over the next few months, including possible employee layoffs.
Commissioner Brian Burick said they must work within two labor agreements that require layoffs by seniority in each union. He noted that the nursing staff is part of one labor union and all other employees, excluding managers, are in the other union.
"Even though we have less patients, we still have the same number of hallways that need to be mopped and the same number of acres of grass that need to be cut," he said.
Earlier this month, commissioners said the home had 68 patients. Earlier in the year, there were 80 patients.
Deal with manager
DeCarbo said commissioners must also renegotiate an agreement they made with the management firm, Americare, that does not allow anyone to be furloughed until 30 days after the business is sold.
DeCarbo said the agreement was made because commissioners did not want to lay anyone off during an election year.
Burick and Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said they were unaware of that agreement with the management firm.
Burick said it's unlikely that the county will terminate its agreement with Americare before the sale is final.
The county solicitor had sent commissioners a memo last week recommending the agreement be terminated.
Burick said it is unlikely the county could find anyone to manage Hill View Manor, knowing the commissioners are trying to sell it. Americare is owned by one of the potential buyers, John Hadgkiss, commissioners have said.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners agreed to solicit bids for two trucks for the countywide recycling program. The program is expected to start this fall.
Amy Labi Carando said the trucks will be used to pick up recyclables from bins placed throughout the county. The trucks are estimated to cost a total of $100,000 or more, she said.