FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 8, 2013

County Executive McCoy Faults Majority Leadership for Zero Transparency on Future of Albany County Nursing Home
Majority Leadership Choice Potentially Jeopardizes Residents
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today called on Majority Leadership of the legislature to end the stall tactics and begin operating in an open and transparent way in accordance with Resolution 123 of 2013 which passed just last month. Majority Leadership has not being forthcoming with my office, the residents of ACNH or the taxpayers, McCoy said. We have done our work and I believe the lease agreement with USG is the best option. The proposals to be voted on tonight are thinly veiled attempts by the majority to enable their preferred operator, Lowell Feldman, to operate the nursing home. Mr. Feldman was one of the owners of Julie Blair when it was taken over by the state for being so poorly operated. The legislature plans to vote on three proposals which have not been vetted through the committee process. The legislative majority leadership also circumvented its own process by not providing any way for the public to weigh in. Additionally there has been no documentation provided to the County Executives office or the public on the fiscal impact of these measures, in violation of the legislatures own rules. These resolutions include: A proposal that will be introduced and voted on tonight authorizing an agreement with Hodgson Russ LLP to assist the Legislature in deciding the future of the Albany County Nursing Home. There have been prior studies of the nursing home including one commissioned by the legislature, which they ignored. A proposal to enter into an agreement with Feldman, Liebman and Slatky regarding management consultant services pertaining to the operation of the nursing home. Lowell Feldman had Julie Blair, a facility under his ownership, taken over by the state for placing the residents in imminent danger and bringing the facility to the brink of financial collapse. Additionally, Mary Jane Blaney, a part of the proposed management team for

ACNH under this agreement, would be responsible for performance improvement. She was an owner and a nurse manager at Julie Blair when the state took over. This resolution relies on an RFP issued by the county in 2012 and it was determined at that time that the response by Lowell Feldman and Martin Leibman was not workable. The legislature, through its Chairman, was well aware of the proposal at the time of submission. Yet, the Majority Leadership claims that the firm is now able to operate the facility. A proposal to create a local development corporation to assist with the operation of the nursing home. As with the other resolutions, this proposal has not been considered by any of the legislative committees, there have been no public hearings or opportunities for the public or other entities to offer their views on this proposal.

The legislative proposals run counter to everything weve been doing to protect the residents, the taxpayers and live up to our responsibility, McCoy said. There has been no open process, no public discussion and no way for the public to know what is happening. What are the costs involved in these proposals and how do you pay for it? What this shows is that the legislative majority has little interest in providing an open and transparent process as it relates to the nursing home. ###

Mary Rozak Director of Communications Office of the Albany County Executive 112 State Street, Room 825 Albany, NY 12207 tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218 cell 518.368.9528 fax 518.447.5589 mary.rozak@albanycounty.com www.albanycounty.com