LAWRENCE COUNTY Official proposes nursing home layoffs

Layoffs are coming, but it's undecided who will be laid off and when.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Employee layoffs appear to be the only solution to getting the Lawrence County nursing home out of the red, county officials say.
Commissioner Brian Burick was expected today to formally propose the county human resources director meet with Hill View Manor's management to determine who should be laid off.
Commissioners had an emergency meeting Monday with the county controller, solicitor, chief clerk and treasurer after learning last week the nursing home didn't have enough money to meet employee payroll.
The county had to transfer about $8,300 from a contingency fund to cover paychecks.
Though it's not unusual for some departments that rely on state or federal money to fall short throughout the year, it is odd that no one knew about the shortfall before there was a deficit, officials say.
"Normally, the transfers are made before the money is expended," said Treasurer Gary Felasco.
Sale fell through
Commissioners had expected to sell Hill View Manor last month, but the buyer's financing fell through when the county would not agree to guarantee a bank loan for Sylvan Heights Realty Partners.
Commissioners gave the buyers until Sept. 30 to come up with $1.7 million to buy the nursing home and surrounding land.
County officials say the budget shortfall is a combination of the failed sale and a steady decline in residents.
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said the nursing home is averaging a loss of three patients per month. There are about 70 people living at the nursing facility, but more than 90 were living there in January.
The reduced number of patients and no staff reduction is the problem, commissioners said.
There are 110 employees who belong to two labor unions at Hill View Manor. The nurses are in one union, and all other employees, except managers, are in the other union.
Burick said that has caused a problem in the past when trying to cut staff.
The union contract requires the county to lay off people with the least seniority first, but those people might not work in areas where staff needs to be cut, he said.
Varying views
Burick said he intends to direct the nursing home management firm, Americare of New Castle, to lay off employees as needed.
But Fosnaught said he wants to see the firm's plan before anyone is laid off.
Burick said he prefers to let the managers and human resources department proceed with layoffs.
Commissioner Roger DeCarbo appears to support Burick's position. He said that he supported nursing home employee layoffs last year but that the others refused.
Burick said his motion today will depend on the county solicitor's determination of whether an agreement had been made with Americare not to lay off employees.
DeCarbo contends the commissioners signed an agreement stating that no employees would be laid off until 30 days after the nursing home sale. Burick and Fosnaught say they are unaware of that agreement.
cioffi@vindy.com