Politics & Government

County Seeks Proposals on John L. Montgomery Care Center

The freeholder board approved a resolution seeking bid proposals for possible sale of facility.

Monmouth County will explore privatizing the John L. Montgomery Care Center in Freehold Township after the Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to seek proposals from prospective bidders.

Judge Cavanagh’s Courtroom in the Hall of Records building in Freehold was filled to capacity with employees and residents of the care center, as well as friends and relatives of residents. The John L. Montgomery Care Center is a 205-bed long-term care facility and one of two centers the county owns and operates. The second facility is the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center in Wall.

“We’re unfortunately at a juncture where we’ve been running in the red and have been for quite some time,” Freeholder John Curley said during the afternoon workshop meeting held before Thursday evening’s vote.

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The governing body opted to pursue a resolution on the John L. Montgomery Care Center instead of both facilities because of the complex issues involved with possible privatization, according to Freeholder Director Robert Clifton.

“Because of the scope of the investigation of the project, we dealt with this one first. That’s not to say we’re not going to deal with the (Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center),” Clifton said.

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He emphasized that the board had not made a decision on whether or not to privatize the facility, and the resolution would allow freeholders to seek information from the private sector.

“This vote is not to sell or to close. It’s to look at the process. We’ll be meeting with the union. We’ll be meeting with the families (of residents). This is a long process,” Clifton said.

Debbie Parks, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representative at the John L. Montgomery Care Center, said the union had proposed givebacks of two holidays and a wage freeze to help control costs at the facility.

“Our group has always been cooperative with the freeholders. We were one of the first groups to sign on with the wage givebacks in 2009,” Parks said. “We ask that the freeholders look at the proposals we have made, the givebacks as well as the cost saving measures. We are willing to continue to work with management to see if there is anything we can do to affect that.”

Lauren Cole, an employee at the center for 15 years, said the facility provides care for residents with complex medical problems who may not be accepted into a private care home.

“We recognize that restructuring needs to be done, but else other than selling or privatizing can be done to raise revenue?” Cole said. “We are not dealing with road and bridge projects. These projects are human beings.”

The John L. Montgomery Care Center also houses a young adult unit for residents under 45 years old that is not typically found in long-term care facilities, according to Freehold Borough resident Ahmed Siddiq, who worked in the center for 11 years. Freeholder Amy Mallet said the unit, which includes a computer lab for the disabled, provides a unique service.

“It really fills a void in our community and it’s one that we must continue regardless of what the outcome is,” Mallet said.

Members of the freeholder board said the well being of the John L. Montgomery Care Center residents would remain the governing body’s top priority throughout the process.

“You being out there and speaking from the heart this evening, you have touch my heart,” Freeholder Lillian Burry said. “What you have said this evening will weigh more heavily on me than any study.”

Freeholder Tom Arnone echoed Burry’s sentiment on the impact of the employees’ public statements.

 “I think the savings would have to be extreme for (privatization) to happen,” Arnone said.


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