Foley Letter

7/28/2019 Foley Letter

1/5

SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATURE

WILLIAM J. LINDSAY, PRESIDING OFFICER

April 11, 2013

County Executive Steve BelloneH. Lee Dennison Bldg.12th FloorHauppauge, NY 11788

Daniel Farrell, PresidentSuffolk County Association of Municipal Workers30 Orville Drive Suite ABohemia, NY 11716

Dear County Executive Bellone and President Farrell:

Over the past few weeks, we have followed the fate of the John J. Foley Skilled NursingFacility and we have concluded that the County now faces a clear choice. We will either proceedwith an agreement to lease the facility to the Shermans and keep patients in their beds and caredfor by the current Foley Facility workers. Or we will watch the facility close with all employees

terminated and all residents displaced.

After speaking with all parties, we are convinced that this is the end of the line. If we areto prevent the loss of 180 jobs and avoid disrupting the lives of the fragile patients residing atFoley, we must stop the closure and move forward with an orderly privatization of the Facility.

To achieve these goals, the agreement negotiated between AME and the Shermans mustbe presented to the Foley employees for their up or down vote as soon as possible. There is noreason for delay. Legislators Kennedy and Browning are not going to sign a stipulation ofdiscontinuance before such a vote, but they have agreed to respect the will of the employees andnot block the workers ability to stay employed at Foley. Further, a poll of our body shows that

Legislator Muratores resolution to cancel the Countys contract with CMS Compliance Groupdoes not have enough support for passage.

We enclose a letter that Legislator Browning sent to the Presiding Officer in which sheagreed to abide by the decision of the Foley employees and a press release from LegislatorKennedy in which he agreed to the same.


2/5

To save 180 jobs and avoid the displacement of the Foley patients, we, the undersigned,respectfully ask that the agreement between the Shermans and AME be presented to the Foleyemployees for their immediate consideration. Thank you.


3/5


4/5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 9th, 2013

CONTACT: Ali NazirLEGISLATIVE AIDE

PHONE: (631) 854-3735CELL: (631-767-6230

Email: [email protected]

Kennedy and Browning Urge Union to Allow Foley Vote

Pledge to Support Memberships Decision

Hauppauge, NY Today Suffolk County Legislators Kate Browning and John Kennedy, Jr. urgedthe leadership of the Association of Municipal Employees (AME) to allow its members to vote on aproposed deal regarding the future of the J. J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility. AME President DanFarrells claims that the two legislators are refusing to sign an agreement to end the lawsuit arecompletely inaccurate and baseless in fact. Both legislators have pledged to stand by the

memberships decision, but cannot act on any agreement until the employees have spoken.

As of this morning, the day after AME leadership held an evening meeting announcing the vote wascancelled because the two legislators refused to sign the agreement; Legislator Kennedy had not even

been provided the document he is accused of refusing to sign, and Legislator Browning received acopy of the document only hours before Mondays meeting.

In an e-mail to AME on Monday afternoon Legislator Browning stated that, I was clear that I willmake my decision based on the vote of the membership. That has not happened yet. I have alsorelayed that I would like the County Executive to speak with me and Legislator Kennedy directlyand to date he has not requested to meet with me. I believe it is appropriate for that meeting to occur

with the County Executive and his attorney and with the attorney representing the union, thelegislators and the residents.

Considering these facts it is unconscionable that AME leadership would blame a lack of signaturesfor the votes cancellation.

I have been very clear that I would be guided in any decision regarding continuation of the lawsuitby a vote of the membership at the nursing home, stated Legislator John Kennedy. I will notrestrict any review or speech about any matter going forward.

P R E S S R E L E A S E F R O M

L E G I S L A T O R J O H N M . K E N N E D Y , J R .


5/5

It is ridiculous that the union is not moving forward with a vote, and even more ridiculous that theyare blaming legislators for the cancellation, stated Legislator Kate Browning. We have notchanged our position that the vote itself will guide our decision, so let the membership decide theirfate. If they accept the deal the lawsuit will be dropped. Any action taken before this is premature.

Now that both legislators have had an opportunity to review the stipulations outlined in theproposed settlement, it is clear changes need to be made. The agreement reaches much farther thendropping the existing lawsuit. It goes on to prohibit legislators from publicly opposing a leaseproposal, even though the lease proposal never went through a public bidding process. A direct leaseto the Shermans as proposed would be illegal and unethical, and certainly not in the best interest ofSuffolk County taxpayers.

Legislators Browning and Kennedy are asking that AME and County Executive Bellone stop thepolitical posturing, and to allow the union membership to vote whether to accept or deny Bellonesoffer.

Documents

Foley Letter