Concerns Raised Over Future Sale of Willow Point Nursing Home

Some Broome County legislators and residents say they are worried about the possible future sale of the Willow Point Nursing Home.

The county opened the Vestal facility 53 years ago. Lawmakers now are concerned about a proposed consulting contract with a Bronx-based company.

Under the plan, Centers for Care LLC would provide professional services for the facility on Vestal Road for four years. The company then would be given the opportunity to acquire the nursing home for $7 million if the county chooses to sell it.

Legislator Mark Whalen said he "found some very disconcerting things" in the contract's language.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Whalen said the section of the proposal addressing a possible sale of the facility "is one of the most bizarre provisions I've ever seen in a contract." He said he and other lawmakers "though $7 million was woefully inadequate."

Jason Shaw, who chairs the legislature's health and human services committee, said it's clear something needs to be done to address the financial challenges facing the nursing home. But he questioned the way County Executive Jason Garnar has been working on the matter. Shaw said "we need a more transparent process."

Debbie Thorpe, an Endwell resident who is a member of the Willow Point Community Advisory Board, said she's "very disturbed" that discussions involving Centers for Care "went on behind everybody's back."

Thorpe said the nursing home residents and family members "don't know what's going on." She said they are very concerned about what will happen to the facility in the future.

The proposed legislation dealing with the nursing home was held over at the legislature's February meeting. The measure is expected to be voted on this month.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.