County Listens to Union Pushback on Privatization of Crest Haven Nursing Home

COURT HOUSE – Advised by county counsel not to answer questions from the public, the county commissioners listened to comments objecting to the privatization of the Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at the Aug. 22 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

The public, then, had to be content to scold the board about its decision to seek requests for proposals from private vendors to begin operating the nursing facility beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Members of the American Federation of Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) turned out in force to tell the county commissioners that, at a minimum, they were making the decision too quickly and without hearing from the people most affected by the change. County employees from various departments came out to support the Crest Haven employees, who said they feared for their jobs and future.

Jeff Trout, a county library employee whose grandmother worked at Crest Haven and later became a resident, told the commissioners they were taking away the quality of care for which the facility has been known.

Nicole Hebron said there was no discussion of a nearly $30 million deficit, referred to by County Counsel Jeff Lindsay in his opening statement, when the county shut down the business office in Crest Haven.

David Beckett, an attorney for AFSCME Council 63 who helped settle the AFSCME contract in Cape May County, also said there was no mention of the $30 million deficit when the contract was being crafted.

Employees and family members of residents said problems with billing for private pay clients were obviously part of the problem. The daughter of a Crest Haven resident told the commissioners the nursing home would not send out a bill for six months and she had to essentially badger the facility to get a bill.

Megan Fitzmorris said she has a child who is being monitored by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

“What you are doing is terrible,” she said.

She said the commissioners were taking away jobs while preserving their own, adding that the Crest Haven staff worked during Covid while the commissioners stayed home.

Another county employee said they were forced to work during Covid because they were “essential employees,” while getting an extra $2 or $3 per hour.

Fitzmorris said the county commissioners care more about the animals in the county zoo than they do about the residents and employees of Crest Haven, who will experience potential negative impacts from the change.

“Why them? she asked. “Why are their benefits being taken away? Why do you get to keep yours?”

She suggested the commissioners charge for parking at the zoo as a way of raising revenue.

Several workers mentioned they sought – or kept – employment with the county for benefits. One said those benefits, including a pension, were promised to them when they were hired.

Greg Reid, a 15-year county employee, said he could make at least twice as much money by taking a job on the outside, but he has a wife with health problems and he stays for the county health benefits. Reid said his boss works around 60 hours a week in overtime because they are short-staffed.

Joe Griffies, who is a veterans advocate and hosts a weekly radio show, said the county could offer services to veterans and make up some of the losses the county suffers at Crest Haven. He said if they set aside 25% of the 180 beds in Crest Haven and offered them to veterans, he would be able to fill the beds.

Griffies also claimed he could use connections with Gov. Phil Murphy to make the nursing home viable. He and others told the commissioners they needed to look at the management of Crest Haven rather than quit operating it.

Griffies interrupted his own comments to tell Lindsay, “You’re laughing. You think it’s funny – you’ve got a job.”

Griffies concluded his remarks by saying Crest Haven could not only be saved, but could be made bigger and better.

Henry Hayes told the commissioners that he has worked in a number of facilities, and he said the Crest Haven staff were hard workers. He said for the commissioners not to listen to them would be a mistake.

Chris Lev, another library employee, brought a book to show the commissioners – “Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America” by Brendan Ballou.

She said of the nursing homes that are purchased by private equity firms, 20% file bankruptcy in 10 years. She said the book also cites these firms being responsible for 20,000 nursing home deaths in the past decade. Several members of the public commented that Crest Haven was one of perhaps two nursing homes that experienced no deaths during the Covid pandemic.

Ronald McMullen, who identified himself as the president of AFSCME Council 63, was the most animated of the public in giving his comments, even stepping away from the podium to conclude his comments.

McMullen cast doubt on the county’s statistics, saying, “People can manipulate statistics.” He also accused the commissioners of not representing their constituents, saying, “You guys ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You’ve got something backward here.”

McMullen said the five-member Board of County Commissioners was backing a decision that was affecting tens of thousands of constituents without even asking them how they felt about it.

“You work for them,” he said.

McMullen also criticized Lindsay’s instructions to the board not to answer questions. He said he is likewise an elected official and is obligated to answer questions from those he represents.

Kaitlyn Kelly, a library employee who has worked for the county for five years, said, “A private vendor will put profit over people every time.”

“I hope you are all considering this and not just tuning out,” she said.

Beckett summarized the union’s position on the move to privatize, saying the county was moving too fast and was ignoring the needs and desires of the employees, residents, and citizens of Cape May County.

The county issued a statement shortly after the meeting concluded, saying it has spent the past two years trying to stabilize the management and staffing of the nursing home. According to the statement, half a dozen other counties have made the decision to privatize, and the industry itself has moved toward a home health care model. The county said the nursing home operated from 2018 to 2021 with a $26 million deficit. Members of the public called that mismanagement.

“We know not everyone will agree with this decision, but as so many of our fellow counties have done over the past several years, it is time for Cape May County to ensure the long-term care of the Crest Haven residents while relieving taxpayers of an unsustainable and growing multimillion-dollar annual deficit,” the statement said.

There was no public comment in favor of privatizing the nursing home.

Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.