County Union Irate Over Possible Shift to Private Contractor

CREST HAVEN — Privatize preparation of some 1,500 senior citizens’ Meals on Wheels a day to save money?
Don’t even consider it, members of AFSCME Local 3596 told Cape May County freeholders on March 24. A group of some 40 union members attended the freeholders’ meeting to express concerns about their jobs.
Every county department is subject to scrutiny and possible shifting of workers, they were told.
Lead by Local 3969 Vice President Lamar “Woody” Lewis, and followed later by the local’s President Joseph Garifo, members pelted the board with questions of who it was who would support such a shift away from food preparation in the Crest Haven kitchen. Answers were not forthcoming.
When Freeholder Gerald Thornton watched events unfold and union members voiced concern for their jobs if the county outsources senior citizens’ meals to a private contractor, away from the kitchen at Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, he became angry.
It was, after all, a department under his leadership, yet he knew nothing about the possible shift until informed by a series of e-mails between affected workers, and that didn’t h happen until March 20, he said.
Thornton was irked at the prospect that Aramark, the firm that provides meals at the county jail, and services the County Park and Zoo, had been given privileged information before a bid was even sought. He asked County Counsel John Porto the priority of such action. Porto did not have time to respond, as the debate became heated.
County Administrator Stephen O’Connor, visibly irritated, said the administration did nothing but what had been asked of it immediately after passage of the 2009 budget earlier this month, and that was to prepare for a rough economic year in 2010. Part of that preparation, he said, includes studies of how much money may be saved by taking various actions, including using private sector contractors for some services.
O’Connor said county management had fully informed union leadership what it was doing, and stressed several times that nothing had been finalized in any department.
“We’ve got together this year and recognized that 2010 will be worse than the current budget,” said O’Connor. It was up to both parties to work out what will happen in the 2010-2011 budget year.
O’Connor reaffirmed that no jobs would be lost, but that no jobs, other than those in public safety or health, would be filled once they become vacant.
Studies would be done to “see how things can be done more efficiently and cost saving measures taken,” O’Connor said. “We’ve got to reduce our workforce,” he added.
But kitchen workers were not convinced faced with the prospect that a firm, perhaps Aramark, which freeholders denied, would take over meal preparation.
“Before we took over Meals on Wheels there were tons of problems,” said Lewis. “Not there are almost none, and we prepare 1,500 meals a day. We may get one call that the food was cold. How good is it going to be when you outsource?” he questioned.
Lewis said no one from the county administration had spoken with anyone at Crest Haven Nursing Home about the possible outsourcing. He said it was in a Friday (March 20) memo that he became aware of the possible action.
Thornton, who said he was in office and presided over the institution of Meals on Wheels when it began, serving county senior citizens in 1978, cited the lack of complaints from seniors since the Crest Haven kitchen had been preparing the meals, as reason to maintain status quo.
Thornton said none of his peers “said one word to me” about the possible change to the $522,000 project to prepare those Meals on Wheels that many senior citizens count on for their daily nourishment.
“It is very disturbing to me I did not know anything about this until last Friday,” said Thornton. That was when Garifo talked to him. After reviewing a series of e-mails regarding Aramark, “I have difficulty with that,” Thornton continued.
“I want you to know I should have some say,” he said. Applause followed from union members.
Thornton said any policy change, even if it is being considered, ought to be discussed at a pre-meeting caucus so that no member will be left wondering what is happening.
“Jerry, none of this stuff is done,” said Vice Director Ralph Sheets, who presided over the meeting in Director Daniel Beyel’s absence.
“We don’t want to take jobs away. That won’t happen,” said Sheets. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, in every department the budget is being explored to see exactly where it can be changed or done better,” he said.
“Does that mean giving senior citizens surplus food?” Lewis questioned.
“I don’t know that,” replied Sheets.
“We were assigned to come up with fact finding,” said O’Connor. “The administration does not make the decision. We present facts to the freeholders. It’s not a given that Aramark would get this to look and explain.”
Garifo said part of the problem he has experienced follows county management meetings. He said almost immediately after those meetings, rumors begin to fly around the county offices, including those of “hit lists.”
“Somewhere along the line, managers should not rule with fear,” he said of some of the rank and file.
“It is not fair that county employees have to work in fear (of their jobs,” Garifo said.
“We keep this county beautiful, yet anything that goes on, it looks like we’re the red-headed stepchildren,” Garifo said, citing illusions some people have that all county workers are overpaid. His neighbor thought that, said Garifo, until he showed him his pay stub.
George Wells, manager of the Ocean City Senior Center, where some of those 1,500 meals are eaten daily, said, “Complaints at my center are very rare” with the present food preparation location.
If a problem arises, he said one call to the kitchen would rectify the matter.
“Just leave Crest Haven alone,” Lewis urged at the end of the meeting.