Nursing home only, no homeless facility: Strafford County Republicans make demands known
DOVER — Leaders from the Republican minority in the Strafford County delegation are demanding a new nursing home project be vastly scaled back from a $170 million plan rejected late last year. And they don't want to see transitional housing for the homeless included.
"Everything promoted and discussed prior that is not related to a nursing facility is off the table, no expensive solar farms, geothermal projects, transitional housing, or homeless shelters," reads a letter sent by Republican state Reps. Claudine Burham, Cliff Newton, Kelley Potenza and Len Turcotte.
The letter was sent to the Strafford County Commission, led by commission chair George Maglaras. The commissioners had put forward the $170 million plan to replace the existing Riverside Rest Home with a new facility on County Farm Road in Dover. They also wanted to turn Riverside into transitional housing to help with the county's homeless population.
In the December vote, the nursing home plan received 21 yes votes, all from Democrats. It received 15 no votes, 14 from Republicans and one Democrat. With 36 voters in attendance, it fell three votes short of the 66% it needed for passage.
"The letter was written and signed by four Republicans representing the Republican caucus on the delegation," Maglaras said. "The majority of the delegation are Democrats and support our efforts. We are more than willing to meet with (the Republican caucus) to discuss their concerns and flush out what they might support moving forward."
Maglaras said it’s imperative to get serious about preparing Strafford County for the inevitable aging of the population.
"We can’t kick this can down the road," he said. "It's a huge disservice to the people we serve."
Newton commented on the plan commissioners have called a "three-legged stool," which would bring a new nursing home, solar farm and transitional housing.
"This so called master plan has had no public meetings to invite the residents of Strafford County to ask them what they want," Newton said. "Every master plan I have been involved with, the first step is to get input from the residents on what their vision is for the future. That hasn’t happened at county level. It has all been done by thepowers that be, i.e. the county commissioners."
Newton also criticized commissioners and county administration for spending $1.9 million developing a plan he said won't work.
Republicans seek to control project, but they don't have power to do it
State Rep. Peter Schmidt, D-Dover, chair of the county delegation, said he fully agrees with the need for a new nursing home, and he believes the other Democrats in the delegation do, too.
"We did not have the two-thirds vote we needed to pass the proposal last year," he said. "We are working with the commission to come up with something we can pass. I fully support the need for the nursing home and for the use of Riverside for short term transitional housing. Both needs are great."
The letter from the Republican delegation criticized the county commissioners, saying they had a "myopic focus" on a single desired solution. It indicated their actions in pursuing a large facility had already wasted $2 million of county funds.
One big facet of the letter was to take away control of the project and assure delegation building committee oversight, with no significant alterations to the plans without delegation approval. They proposed a Republican chair and a committee with final oversight of all decisions.
"That is not going to fly," Schmidt said. "The Democrats do have a majority, and we are not going to create a new center of power. We are not giving away veto control for this project."
Commissioners, Democratic leader say nursing home can't be renovated as an updated nursing home
The Republican delegation said the county needs to remember its focus is to care for the needs of the indigent population, and not to seek to rival private care facilities. They asked for a much smaller nursing home proposal, similar to one built by Carroll County.
Commissioners have agreed the Carroll County nursing home is a good concept, But they noted that alterations would be needed to bring the facility up to current Medicaid requirements.
A letter by the commission indicates they agreed that the county mission is to care for those on Medicaid. However, they said the mission can be better accomplished in a new facility that is enhancing revenues to help with costs by expanding revenue sources.
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The Republican delegation acknowledged construction costs are high currently, suggesting perhaps now is not the time, and waiting until costs go down to pursue the plan or to consider renovating the current Riverside Rest Home location while adding a smaller new construction site.
}Would it be better used for a nursing home for residents that only need assisted living? That discussion has yet to happen and again, the citizens of Strafford County have not been included in this discussion," Newton said.
Schmidt said he and the other delegates know renovating Riverside is not an option for a nursing home.
"There is asbestos and other hazards there," Schmidt said. "That work could not be done with the elderly residents living there. So, where do they go while it takes place? It can't be done. It can't be heated adequately in the winter, or cooled in the summer. It is not suitable. but it could be worked to make short term housing for people in transition, and who are not prone to the health conditions our elderly are."
Newton has a different view.
"I can only speak for myself. I have been in favor of a new nursing home and am on record as such," Newton said. "I trusted Commissioner Maglaras and (County Administrator) Ray Bower (who have at least 60 years rest home experience) to come up with a reasonable quality new nursing home plan. They let me down with the two overpriced conceptual plans they pursued knowing they could not get the votes for the bonding. It’s time to try something different. I believe that a new nursing home can be built for much less than $200 million."
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Strafford County Republicans make demands on nursing home project
