(BATH) – Steuben County Administrator Mark Alger Has Once Again Chosen to Travel Down the Road of Secrecy by Denying the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Access to the Sales Agreement for the County’s Health Care Facility in Bath, Union Officials Charge.

In Fact, the County Has Refused to Honor Multiple Freedom of Information (FOI) and Taylor Law Requests for Documents by the Union Representing Nursing Home Workers.

“Steuben County Taxpayers Should Be Infuriated that the Sale of the County Health Care Facility is Taking Place Under the ‘Cover of Darkness,’” CSEA Western Region President Flo Tripi said.  “What is So ‘Secret’ About the Sales Agreement?  What Does It Include that the County Does Not Want Taxpayers or Facility Residents and Their Families to Know?”

The Request for Proposals for the Sale of the Nursing Home included Protections and Safeguards for Both Residents and Current Workers at the Facility.  Without Seeing the Sales Agreement, “There Is No Way to Be Sure the Protections are in Place,” the CSEA says.

Said CSEA Western Region President Tripi: “We Need to be Able to Guarantee Provisions Exist for Future Access to Medicaid Beds for the County’s Frail Elderly and that Workers Who Have Dedicated Their Careers to Providing Quality Care are Offered Employment.  Unfortunately at this Point, We Can’t Even Confirm County Legislators Have Been Given the Opportunity to See the Sales Agreement.  It Still Amazes CSEA that a Legislative Body Would Authorize a County Administrator to Negotiate and Execute a Multi-Million Dollar Sales Agreement ‘Without’ Requiring Review or Approval by the Legislature.  It Seems Like a Wholesale Abdication of Their Fiduciary Responsibility.  The Steuben County Health Care Facility Still ‘Belongs’ to County Residents.  County Officials Should Not Withhold Information From Their Constituents and the People They Serve.  This has Become a Disturbing Trend and it Needs to Stop.”

In December 2012, the County Administration and County Legislators Tried to Sneak the Sale of the Facility Past Taxpayers and the Union.  The Legislature’s Agenda Simply Stated There Would Be a Resolution “Relative to the Steuben County Health Care Facility,” But It Said Nothing of a Vote on the Same.  At that December Meeting, Those In Attendance Were Also Denied a Copy of the Resolution and the Bid Proposal on which the Legislature Voted.

CSEA - New York State’s Leading Union - Represents State Employees in its Counties, Towns, Villages, School Districts, Library Systems, Authorities and Public Corporations.  Together with a Growing Population of Private Sector Members and Retirees, CSEA Represents 290,000 Current and Retired Public Workers.