Measure protecting Valley View fails Slim majority defeats 2-year plan for Orange County home

BY EDIE JOHNSON
GOSHEN – A legislative resolution to protect the Valley View Nursing Home and keep it in county hands for at least two years failed by a vote of 9-11 at this month's legislative session.
Chairman Michael Pillmeier protested that the request for a vote by consent was inappropriate due to ongoing budget hearings that will be held during the month of October.
While some legislators felt a consent vote would be improper and possibly illegal, others urged lawmakers to take immediate action on the home.
Legislator Matt Turnbull received a round of applause when he said, "Valley View is not a liability...It’s a place, a home to people…"
While many agreed the facility should remain in county hands at least for another year or two to see if better management can make it financially viable, they agreed that details need to be worked out by committee first.
A special meeting of the Health and Mental Health committee will be held later specifically for Valley View's budget.
Those who favor keeping the home will likely face an uphill battle, since County Executive Ed Diana has vowed to veto any budget that includes funding the home over the next year.
Diana is filing a closure plan for Valley view this week, which is required by law in the event that it is neither sold, nor funded for the year. The executive has said that further operation of the county home would leave the government with no choice but to raise taxes or cut workers. Diana has promised he will do neither.
Other legislators have disputed the executive's doomsaying about the home's cost.
A two-thirds majority of legislative votes would be needed to override Diana's budget, which provides for only one month of funding for Valley View. Any impact a legislative actions might have on the home is questionable due to the executive’s complete control over county contracts at the facility.

Funds for foreclosures

While the question remains whether the county will find reserve funds for Valley View, lawmakers supported Diana's request to purchase several buildings in Newburgh currently going into foreclosure.
The buildings include the Newburgh Armory, Woolworth Building and several office buildings at a total cost of about $5 million, legislators said.
Action on the Woolworth Building was sent back to committee until an engineering examination can be made this month to determine extent of mold and possible asbestos toxicity. Several legislators insisted the building should also have an environmental review.
In addition to the initial $2.5 million purchase price, it is estimated that the Woolworth Building will incur renovation costs including roofing, carpeting, elevator and possible window replacements totaling an additional $1 million. Major repairs will be made to the Armory as well.
The heft of these additional expenditures was not lost on some legislators, who argued that the county should perhaps attend to the 6 buildings they already own in Goshen that are in need of about $10 million in repairs.
Nevertheless, the prospects of saving about $900,000 in yearly rental fees at the buildings in Newburgh while scooping up properties at very low prices led Democratic caucus leader Jeffrey Berkman to endorse the plan.
"This gives the right message to the residents of Newburgh of our commitment to them," he said.