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Public raises staffing and authority concerns at Sullivan County Adult Care Center; officials say recruitment is ongoing
Summary
Speakers at public comment pressed the legislature about the Adult Care Center’s management and nursing leadership, alleging the current director of nursing lacks civil-service qualifications and that a consultant may have overstepped hiring authority. County staff said the position is being advertised and two applicants have been received.
Public commenters at the end of the Sullivan County Legislature meeting urged the body to address staffing and management practices at the county-operated Adult Care Center (ACC).
Lou Setra, a resident and frequent public commenter, summarized written concerns he said were provided to the legislature: staff and former employees had submitted a letter alleging the Nursing Director “fails to meet the minimum civil service requirements,” and more than 30 employees previously documented problems with the incumbent’s experience, communication and infection-control decisions. Setra said an eligible civil-service list exists for the director-of-nursing job and told the legislature the county should consider that list rather than relying on an outside consultant’s appointment power.
Setra and other commenters raised a related issue: the county uses a consulting agreement to manage parts of the nursing home’s operations, and Setra said the legislature should be cautious about delegating hiring authority to a consultant. “When a consultant is performing actions outside the scope permitted by the consulting agreement, including giving complete power over the appointment of management level employees and medical staff,” he said, “that is the illegal delegation of authority.” He urged the county to follow civil-service requirements for municipal facilities and to safeguard residents and staff.
A legislator asked for an update on recruitment for an ACC administrator. County staff said the position was being advertised aggressively and that, as of the meeting, two applications had been received. Staff said the ACC is administered as part of the Division of Health and Human Services; the county’s appointing authority for the position was identified in the meeting as the commissioner overseeing that division. Several legislators asked for a list of advertising outlets and suggested putting a deadline on the posting so the hiring process could proceed.
County staff also said the New York State Department of Health had reviewed and signed off on the credentials submitted for the current director-of-nursing candidate. Commenters disputed relying solely on the Department of Health’s review for a municipally owned and operated facility, arguing civil-service criteria and local hiring rules apply when the county remains the operator.
Legislators and staff agreed to follow up: staff committed to provide details on where the position has been advertised and to return with further information about candidates and the hiring timeline. Several legislators urged a more formal review of the process so interviews and appointment decisions comport with civil-service and county procedures.
