Making Democracy Work
Extensive reports and research materials regarding Solid Waste issues along with FACT SHEETS for various Shared Services in Ulster and Dutchess Counties.
NEW The Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency Flow Control FAQ
The League has been integral in shaping policy at the state level and continues to voice the views and positions of its membership regularly to the Senate, Assembly and Governor's office. Visit the League of Women Voters of New York Advocacy page for more information. And visit the national League's Take Action web page for issues of national significance.
You should also visit Ulster County's Municipal Services pages to find what services are being shared and/or in the planning stages.
Ellie Charwat and her committee have prepared the following FAQ sheets you may find interesting as well.
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Jail Fact Sheet Version 4-1 Fire Districts in Dutchess County Justice Courts in Ulster County |
Highway Departments in Ulster County Purchasing in Dutchess County Municipalities Bus Transportation |
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Summary |
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Pros & Cons |
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Below are the 2010 and 2008 materials and resources used by the League in formulating its consensus. We recommend you study them. |
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| LWVMHR STUDY GROUP
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ULSTER COUNTY TASK FORCE
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| 1. Golden Hill Heath Care Center: A LWVMHR Study at http://lwvmidhudson.org/files/GHHC_-_A_LWVMHR_Study.pdf
2. LWVMHR Study Group meeting on July 16, 2010 at http://lwvmidhudson.org/files/GHHC_-_Study_Group_7-26-10.pdf 3. Interviews about GHHCC: Marshall Beckman, Deputy County Executive of Ulster County at http://lwvmidhudson.org/files/GHHC_LWVMHR_Study_-_Beckman_Interview.pdf 4. Golden Hill Health Care Center Demographic and Fiscal Issues Influencing Long-Term Planning prepared by Marshall Beckman, Deputy County Executive, presented to the League on September 21, 2010
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1. Observer Corp: Golden Hill Task Force Committee Meetings 6/1/10-8/3/10 at http://lwvmidhudson.org/files/GHHC_Task_Force_Meetings-6-1-10_to_8-3-10.pdf
2. Long Term Care Financial Considerations: Golden Hill Health Care Center; David Bonk, CMA, CISA at http://lwvmidhudson.org/files/Golden_Hill_Financial_Considerations_2010.pdf. 3. GOLDEN HILL SPECIAL TASK FORCE PRESENTATION TO THE LEGISLATURE: The presentation video and full report can be viewed at http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=ulster# (the UC Legislature's "Webcast" page.) Select the November 30, 2010 entry from the menu. Also notice the "Documents" where you can view/download the full report.
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Additional links of interest:
The national League of Women Voters has published a "Strategies for Best Practice" regarding privatization of government services. See its Executive Summary and the companion Appendix Resolution No. 115 at http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolutions/115-10.pdf adopted on April 20, 2010 creating the Golden Hill Task Force. Resolution No. 214 at http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolutions/214-10.pdf authorizing a sixty (60) day extension for reporting to the Ulster County Legislature the full findings of the Special Task Force on the Golden Hill Health Care Facility. You can find information on the May 25th summit on county-run nursing homes convened by the New York State Association of Counties and hosted by Ulster County reported in the Daily Freeman May 13th issue at http://www.freemanonline.com/articles/2010/05/13/news/doc4beb815d9e160368704114.txt Daily Freeman Story: Published: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 ; by PATRICIA DOXSEY - Golden Hill Health Care Center renovations put at $84M (with video) Click on or type the following URL: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/06/02/news/doc4c05ba1ba069b691342793.txt NYS Department of Health - Nursing Homes in New York State - at http://www.nyhealth.gov/facilities/nursing/ NYS Department of Health - Dear Commissioner: Evaluation of the 709.3 Nursing Home Bed Need Methodology and Recommendations for its Revision at http://www.health.state.ny.us/facilities/state_hospital_review_planning_council/nursing_home_bed_need_methodology_recommendations_2008-01-23.htm
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| 2008 ULSTER COUNTY BLUE RIBBON HEALTHCARE SERVICES ADVISORY PANEL LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE REPORT |
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| Chapters 1- 10
Title-TOC
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Appendices & Related Materials
Appendix 1- Vosburgh - Facility Evaluation, Needs Assessment And Identification Of Alternatives Appendix 2 - SWBR Architects - Golden Hill Healthcare Center Cost Study This document is the summary only; the full report was unavailable Appendix 3 - CGR - 2007 - County Nursing Facilities In New York State This document is the summary only; it contains a link to the full report Health Commitee Minutes - 9-18-08 at which the GHHC report was presented and summarized.
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April 26, 2008 League Meeting on the Future of Golden Hill
On April 26, 2008, the League held an informational meeting on the future of the Golden Hill Healthcare Facility at City Hall. About 70 people attended, and the meeting was reported in several local papers.
Richard Mathews was the moderator, and the panel consisted of Robert Parete, the chairman of the Health Services Committee of the Ulster County Legislature; Steve Kelley, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on the Future of the County Nursing Home for the Legislature; Sheree Cross, Director of the Golden Hill Healthcare Facility; Bette Moscowitz, speaking for the Ombudsmen; Patrick Cucinelli, a financial analyst for the State Association of Nursing Homes; and Stan Wojeiechowski, also from the state association.
The Blue Ribbon Commission (also known as the Berger Commission) required a comprehensive review of healthcare facilities, including county-run nursing homes. As a result of the report, the Kingston and Benedictine Hospitals were merged, and the legislature appointed the Blue Ribbon Panel to look at the future of the county-owned Golden Hill Healthcare Facility.
Although there is a surplus of nursing home beds throughout New York State, Ulster County beds are at 98% of capacity. Elderly people prefer to stay in their homes as long as possible, so there may well be greater demand for home care and programs outside institutions as an alternative to more beds.
Like other county nursing homes, Golden Hill serves as a safety net for county residents, which means that it accepts people whom for-profit nursing homes might refuse because of the extra care they require.
There are serious financial issues facing the Golden Hill facility; the subsidy required from the county in 2007 was over $5 million, or about $20 thousand per resident. Furthermore, a site review showed that the physical plant needs serious renovation or replacement in the next few years. It is 35 years old and should be modernized for resident comfort and efficiency. Renovations were estimated at $44 million in 2006, and a new facility was estimated at $94 million.
Although there can be money for capital improvement from the state, the county would have to pay for the work up front and be reimbursed over the life of the improvement. Present county finances make that an unpalatable action.
Sheree Cross has been Director of Golden Hill for six years, and told the audience about the routine. There is a separate wing for Alzheimer patients. Short term care is available as well as long-term care. There are arrangements for residents at various levels of infirmity. Personal care is provided as needed, and residents eat in the dining room or in their rooms. There are choices of various activities (such as crafts) supplied by the staff. There are two beauty parlors and a gift shop, and physical and occupational therapy sessions. Visitors are welcome, and they can take residents out if they are well enough.
In addition to a staff of nearly 400 people in 11 departments, there are 70 volunteers who contribute some 9000 hours of work every year. Golden Hill has an excellent reputation and meets known requirements.
Bette Moskowitz described the role of the ombudsmen and spoke of how well Golden Hill staff works with the two ombudsmen there to resolve complaints and improve residents' lives.
The financial arrangements for funding nursing homes are extraordinarily complex and outdated. The basis for costs has been 1983 and is only now being revised to 2002. This should improve reimbursement from the state and federal governments when the changes are complete.
Currently, the amounts paid to nursing homes by the state are very difficult to calculate and there are too few financial analysts in the state Department of Health to determine and allocate the funds that have been budgeted but not yet distributed. State and federal money has been held up because of calculation problems and because some states have used federal money for purposes other than health care. With the change in the basis year, money should be greater, but the timing is not definite and counties have obligations to pay operating costs as they come due.
In response to a question, Steve Kelley said that the Blue Ribbon Panel hopes to have its report and recommendations out by early June. It is being worked on now. He noted that the committee members were all at the meeting and expected to use the public comments in their deliberations.
The League's local study group continues to meet in hopes that the situation will be clarified and that a solution can be found which is satisfactory to all interested parties and is within the financial constraints under which the county has to operate.
Click the following link to view the League's report & recommendations:
Resolution for a Criminal Justice Council
To read the Daily Freeman editorial regarding our proposals, click:
Editorial
UPDATE: CRIMINAL JUSTICE COUNCIL CREATED
The LWV of the Mid-Hudson Region has promoted the formation of a Criminal Justice Council as a result of our study of the criminal justice system in Ulster County. The County Legislature adopted this idea and has now appointed 19 of the 21 members who will form this Justice Council.
The make-up of the council comprises decision makers from the following agencies: Public Defender, District Attorney, Corrections (Jail), Youth Bureau, Probation, County Court, Mental Health, Sheriff's Department, Department of Social Services, Drug Court, Community Corrections, and Alternative Sentencing.
In addition, there will be seven civilian representatives: Richard Barnhart, Catherine McCaffrey, Roger Rascoe, Eve Waltermaurer PhD., David Singer, Patrick Sheehan, Thomas P. Kadgen (an LWV member). The final appointments are awaiting nominations from the Magistrates Association and the Bar Association.