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Public commenter alleges county nursing-home director of nursing lacks required qualifications; requests review
Summary
A public speaker presented resumes and job descriptions to the committee and charged that the director of nursing at the county Adult Care Center does not meet New York State Department of Health or the county contract qualifications; the commenter requested review and accountability from county HR and the contract operator.
Liz Kennedy, a county resident and commenter, presented documents to the Sullivan County Executive Committee alleging that the current director of nursing (DON) at the county Adult Care Center (ACC) does not meet the job’s posted qualifications. Kennedy said she provided the committee a copy of the DON candidate’s resume and the ACC job description and cited a requirement in the job posting for a bachelor’s degree in nursing and six years of professional nursing experience, three of which should be supervisory.
Kennedy said the current DON received her bachelor’s degree in May 2023 and an RN license in July 2022 and therefore, in her view, does not meet the specified experience threshold. She also said the assistant director of nursing at the ACC is an LPN, which the commenter argued is not equivalent to the professional RN experience referenced in the posting. Kennedy cited the county’s contract with InfiniteCare and the contract clause that hiring must comply with civil-service rules and expressed taxpayer concern about errors, quality of care and fiscal risk if the ACC lacks qualified management.
County staff present acknowledged receipt of the documents and said the email and materials were forwarded; no resolution or committee action was taken at the meeting. Kennedy asked the committee to clarify who holds the operator accountable for hiring decisions and requested that the county review whether the DON meets state and contract requirements.
The committee did not take immediate formal action; staff said the documents would be entered into the record and follow-up would occur through the appropriate oversight channels.
