Valley View

GOSHEN – Orange County Executive Edward Diana maintains he doesn’t want to defund the county’s Valley View Health Care Center, but given the rising costs and $19 million in county subsidy, the only other choice is to try to sell the facility.

If it is closed, some 450 county employees could lose their jobs. Officials of the CSEA presented a plan to increase revenues and cut costs as a means of saving the facility and keeping it in county hands.

County CSEA President William Oliphant believes it is a doable solution.

“We believe that these two items together will substantially reduce the operating costs out there at Valley View, therefore, precluding any necessity to defund those positions,” he said.

While the county owns the nursing home, it is operated for it by a contract company. Legislator Christopher Eachus welcomed the input from the union.

“Having sat at these meetings now for six years, this is the first time that we as a committee have actually welcomed these workers to the table to hear what they have to say,” he noted.

Diana, too, wants to hear any ideas on how to retain the nursing home.

“I am open to those suggestions and I have always said from day one my first choice was sale because I believe you retain the services, you retain the case for the seniors that avail themselves to that care and service,” he said.

Legislator Michael Anagostakis, proposed, and the Health Committee approved, a resolution maintaining that the primary focus of the county should be to continue to operate Valley View at less expense to county taxpayers.