Lori Cornell

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has announced that Lori Cornell has been appointed as the Development Director in Western New York for the Upstate New York Chapter.

Cornell has over twenty years of experience in government and politics, having worked at every level of local, state and federal jurisdictions in both elective and appointed positions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame as part of the school’s Honors Program in Public Service, and later earned her Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure University. She currently lives in Bemus Point with her husband and their four teenage sons.

In the role of Development Director, Cornell will serve as part of the Upstate New York Chapter’s leadership team. Lori will play a key role in the Chapter’s overall fundraising strategy, in advocacy, and in providing support for families and individuals living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Chuck Cornell

JAMESTOWN – A familiar name will be filling a recently vacated seat on the Chautauqua County Legislature.

Chautauqua County Democratic Party Chairman Norman Green tells WRFA that Jamestown Democrat and former county legislator Chuck Cornell will return to Mayville to represent District 12, which covers the northeast side of the city of Jamestown. Cornell will be taking over the seat recently vacated by Jamestown attorney and fellow Democrat Fred Larson, who was recently appointed by the city of Jamestown to serve as its second full-time city judge.

Green says Cornell was selected by delegates of the Democratic Party who live in the 12th district. Cornell will still need to accept the appointment and the legislature is also required to act on it, which will most likely take place during the May 28 voting session.

Cornell currently serves as the director for the Center of Regional Advancement at SUNY Fredonia. He also served on the Chautauqua County Legislature from 2006 to 2009. During his time on the legislature, he served as Majority Leader, Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee, and member of Audit and Control Committee. In 2004 and 2005 he also served as the County Legislature Clerk. Cornell also ran as the Democratic Candidate for county executive in 2009, losing to Greg Edwards. He is the husband of Lori Cornell, who sat on the county legislature for two terms, from 2010 through 2013.

Cornell is currently out of town so WRFA was unable to reach him for comment.

Chautauqua County Home in Dunkirk, NY.

MAYVILLE – More details are coming out about the proposed sale of the Chautauqua County Home that will go before county lawmakers next month in Mayville.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan announced on Wednesday that he has signed an asset purchase agreement to begin the process of selling the county-owned skilled nursing facility in Dunkirk to two corporations formed last year by VestraCare of Roslyn, N.Y.

• VIEW ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

According to Horrigan, VestraCare’s latest offer is for a purchase price of $16 million as compared to its $16.5 million dollar offer last September.  However, the new agreement includes a provision confirming that VestraCare is considering up to $1,000,000 in capital improvements to the County Home.

The Chautauqua County Legislature will be holding a special meeting on February 5 to have a presentation and question and answer session with representatives of VestraCare. The purchase is then scheduled to go up to a vote for the legislature during its monthly meeting on Feb. 26, where it would need 13 of 19 votes to be approved.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan.

During an interview with WRFA earlier this month, Horrigan said that even if the sale does go forward, it would still take some time before the sale is completed. “If the county legislature approves privatization, there is a process called ‘Certificate of Need.’ This is where the state health department does a complete review. They review the potential buyer, they review all the details… and they also look at the need for the number of skilled nursing beds in Chautauqua County, at that relates to the Medicaid piece.”

Horrigan says that in all, it could take anywhere from a few months to nearly a year for the review process to be completed. “During that time i want to make sure that we are very carefully taking care of the employees, taking care of the residents and continuing to operate a very top-quality nursing home.”

According to the county executive, VestraCare’s current offer to purchase the County Home will expire on February 27 – a day after it is slated to go up for a vote.

VestraCare, which would be doing business as Dunkirk Reality Holdings LLC and Dunkirk Operating LLC, first showed interest in the Chautauqua County Home in August 2013.  This will be VestraCare’s second attempt to purchase the home. The first purchase offer fell one vote short of approval by the County Legislature last October.  Several of those who voted against the sale, including former legislature minority leader Bob Whitney, Jamestown’s Lori Cornell, Brocton’s Tom DeJoe and Fredonia’s Billy Coughlin – are no longer on the legislature.

Proponents say that selling the home will alleviate the county’s growing property tax burden by reducing expenditure’s in the annual operating budget. Those who want the county to keep operating the home say that the quality of service for residents in the home will diminish if it were to be privatized.

Larry Barmore, R-Gerry (Photo from Facebook.com)

JAMESTOWN – In addition to a major victory for the GOP in the Chautauqua County Executive’s race, the other two county-wide offices up for election on Tuesday also went to the Republican Party.

In the only other contested county-wide race, Gerry Republican Larry Barmore defeated Jamestown Democrat Lori Cornell by a margin of 10 percent. Barmore collected 13,458 votes to Cornell’s 11,139.

Barmore said that there will be a couple of major challenges as the new County Clerk. He said the first challenge is building on the success of long-time clerk Sandy Sopak, who is retiring after five terms in office. He said another major challenge will be preparing for new state laws regarding drivers license renewals, which have been a major revenue generator for the clerk’s office.

“We’re moving into a three-year period where we will not be having any driver’s license renewals – seeing as how the state moved us from a five-year to an eight-year driver’s license – so we’re hitting that eight year period right now,” Barmore said. “It’s going to be challenging but we’re going to keep the revenue coming in and try and keep the clerk’s office profitable.”

Both Barmore and Cornell are current Chautauqua County legislators. Barmore has served as the majority leader for the GOP, while Cornell was minority leader prior to 2013.

In the other county office that was up for election, Incumbent District Attorney David Foley ran unopposed to pick up his third term as the county’s top prosecutor.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE

In the county-wide races, residents will be selecting the county’s next county executive. Earlier this year, County Executive Greg Edwards announced he would not be seeking a third term in office. As a result, there will be a new county executive sworn into office come January 1, 2014. The Republican Candidates for the position is Vince Horrigan from Bemus Point. The Democratic Candidate is Fredonia’s Ron Johnson.

OTHER COUNTYWIDE RACES

The other contested countywide race is for the open seat of the county clerk. In that race, Jamestown Democrat Lori Cornell is facing Gerry Republican Larry Barmore.

There is also an election for District Attorney, but incumbent David Foley of Fredonia is running unopposed.

Voters throughout the county will also be selecting the candidate for Supreme Court Justice. The candidates are Mark Montour (D, C, WF) and Paul Wojtaszek (R, I).

COUNTY LEGISLATURE RACES

In addition to the countywide offices, voters will also be selecting their representative in the recently downsized county legislature. Starting in 2014, the size of the legislature will be only 19 seats – which is six fewer than the current cont of 25.  Of the 19 seats, 10 will be contested:

• District 1: Keith Ahlstrom (D,WF-Dunkirk)
• District 2: Sean Heenen (D-Dunkirk)
• District 3: Bob Scudder (R,C-Fredonia); Billy Coughlin (D,WF,I-Fredonia)
• District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia); Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
• District 5: Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton); Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk)
• District 6: George Borello (R,C,I-Irving)
• District 7: John Runkle (R,C,I-Stockton); Tom DeJoe (D,WF-Brocton)
• District 8: Pierre Chagnon (R,C-Bemus Point)
• District 9: Chuck Nazarro (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 10: P.J. Wendell (R,C-Lakewood); Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
• District 11: Dave Wilfong (R,C-Jamestown); Bob Whitney (D,WF,I-Jamestown)
• District 12: William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown); Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 13: Paula DeJoy, (D,I) Jamestown
• District 14: Mark Tarbrake (R,C,I-Jamestown)
• District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott); Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
• District 16: Ron Lemon (R,C-Frewburg); Tom Erlandson (D,I-Frewsburg)
• District 17: Jay Gould (R,C-Ashville)
• District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake); Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)
• District 19: John Hemmer (R,C,I-Westfield)

JAMESTOWN CITY COUNCIL HAS THREE CONTESTED RACES

Voters in Jamestown will also be selecting members of the city council. Six members of the council are running unopposed for reelection. They are:

• Ward II: Anthony Dolce (R,C,I)
• Ward V: Maria Jones (D)
• Ward VI: Paul Whitford (D,WF,I)
• At Large: Kimberly Ecklund (R,C,I); Gregory Rabb (D,WF,I); George Spitale (D,WF,I)

There will also be three contested races:

• Ward I: Tara Hall (D); Brent Sheldon (R,C)
• Ward III:  Regina Brackman (D); Tamara Dickey (R,C)
• Ward IV: Marie Carrubba (D,WF,I); Richard Elardo (R,C)

The Chautauqua County Legislature spent over two hours on Wednesday night hearing comments and discussing the future of the County Home prior to a failed vote to sell the facility to VestraCare. The proposal to sell failed by one vote. (Photo by Jason Sample/WRFA)

MAYVILLE – For the third time this year, the effort to privatize the Chautauqua County Home has been defeated.

Wednesday Night the Chautauqua County Legislature voted to sell the county home to VestraCare at a cost of $16.5 million. The final vote was 16 to 9, which was one vote short of the 17 that is required for a property sale under the county charter.

Prior to the vote, legislators spent an hour discussing the sale. Legislator Tim Hoyer (D-Jamestown) said he was opposed to the sale because he felt the county needs the skilled nursing facility in order to ensure its residents will be properly taken care of.

“When we own our own county nursing home, we can take care of our family. We can take them in, not needing a means test to see if they can help turn a profit,” Hoyer said. “When we own our county home, we can act with compassion for each and promise to provide for each others’ common needs because of our county home. There is no worry about whether or not we will be accepted, only if there is a bed available. That promise of care is what we are being asked to sell tonight.”

However, several lawmakers disagreed with Hoyer, saying that if the county doesn’t privatize the home, it risks being closed down in the near future. Legislator and Republican county executive candidate Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) said that selling the county home shouldn’t be considered a loss, but rather an opportunity.

“If we do not seize this opportunity, if we just continue like in 1987 until now to kick this down the road, I truly believe there will come a time when we will not talking about a buyer, at lest not this quality buyer. We’ll have to face the consequences that could be something much less than the opportunity to privatize. None of us want that.”

Legislator and minority leader Bob Whitney (D-Jamestown) said he was opposed to the sale because he didn’t feel legislators were given enough time to research VestraCare. He accused the process of being rushed for political reasons…

“You can slice it anyway you want but his is not a vote tonight to sell the county home. It’s a vote so one political party can try to make this election about the sale of the county home. Not about the record on job loss, tax increases and political gerrymandering of legislature lines,” Whitney said. “They control the agenda so they are going to use the legislative process in an attempt to influence the election…. you would have to be a fool to think the timing of this vote was just by chance.”

Besides Whitney and Hoyer, the other Legislators voting against sale were: Keith Ahlstrom (D-Dunkirk), Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown), Billy Coughlin (D-Fredonia), Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton), Bob Duff (R-Sheridan), Shaun Heenan (D-Dunkirk) and Bob Scudder (R-Fredonia).

LISTEN TO LEGISLATORS COMMENTS AND REACTION FROM COUNTY EXECUTIVE

OVER A DOZEN SPEAK OUT AGAINST SELLING THE HOME

Prior to the legislature discussing the sale of the county home, members of the public were given an opportunity to offer their thoughts on the proposed sale.In all, 15 people spoke, including County Home Resident Joe Carrus, who serves as the president of the home’s resident’s council and made an impassioned plea to the lawmakers.

County Home resident Joe Carrus was one of 14 individuals who spoke out against the sale of the county home on Wednesday. (Photo by Jason Sample/WRFA)

“Can’t you hear that the sick and old and employees are calling out to you, the county legislator? Can’t you hear their cries?” Carrus asked. “Will you grasp their outstretched hands or let them cry in vain when you cast your vote for the buyers? Please don’t cast that vote for the buyers! You did not do enough research to begin with.”

Another who spoke out against the sale was Dunkirk resident Frank Gawronski, who said that several lawmakers have said selling the home will help reduce taxes. Something he doesn’t believe.

“My county taxes come out to about $400 a year. How much are you going to save me by selling the county home? You might save me five buck. It’s not worth the five bucks you’re going to save me to do what you’ve done. You’ll further divide this county into north and south with the false promises of a tax deduction that we’re never going to see.”

Several members of the CSEA Unit 6300 also where on hand and spoke out against the sale.

Of the 15 speakers, only one spoke out in favor of selling the county home, and that was Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce president Todd Tranum, who said that if the county doesn’t sell the home soon, it will risk having to close the facility down. He also said that a sale would benefit more residents than it would hurt.

“For some here tonight, voting ‘yes’ to sell the county home may be a difficult decision,” Tranum said. “However, if you look at it from the framework of saving jobs, saving important services for our elderly, saving an asset, doing what is fiscally and financially right to do, and doing what is right for the taxpayers of Chautauqua County, then it really should not be that hard of a decision.”

EDWARDS PREDICTS VOTERS WILL SHOW DISPLEASURE WITH FAILED SALE

Following the failed vote, Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards admitted that the result was what he had anticipated, although he also said that he was still disappointed. He also said that when he contacts VestraCare, he will let them know that the decision was not based on how they run their operations.

“I’m going to compliment them on the fact that despite immense efforts by people opposed to the [the sale] of trying to find something bad VestraCare, not one single negative word was mentioned about the performance of VestraCare,” Edwards stated. “So he should be taking this vote as a compliment, in the sense that not a single person could say anything bad, just not enough people could recognize the value and the opportunity that he proposed.”

Edwards believes that the sale of the home will happen at some point in the near future, and that’s because voters will not re-elect those who voted against the sale.

I’m confident that on Tuesday, voters are going to vote at the polling places with a clear agenda on their minds. That they are going to look to replace those legislators who voted in opposition to their wishes and that their going to put people in those spots that are going to do what they are hired to do, and that is to represent the majority of the people in Chautauqua County.”

As for the buyer of the home, VestraCare co-owner Edward Farbenblum told WRFA earlier this month that if the sale was voted down, he would reconsider submitting another proposal, although there’s no guarantee because he was also looking into purchasing another similar facility, and stated that it would be one or the other, but not both.

There will also be elections for the downsized county legislature, which will have just 19 seats starting in January 2014, compared to the current 25 seats. In all, there will be 10 contested races for the legislature:

• District 3: Bob Scudder (R,C-Fredonia); Billy Coughlin (D,WF,I-Fredonia)
• District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia); Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
• District 5: Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton); Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk)
• District 7: John Runkle (R,C,I-Stockton); Tom DeJoe (D,WF-Brocton)
• District 10: P.J. Wendell (R,C-Lakewood); Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
• District 11: Dave Wilfong (R,C-Jamestown); Bob Whitney (D,WF,I-Jamestown)
• District 12: William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown); Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott); Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
• District 16: Ron Lemon (R,C-Frewburg); Tom Erlandson (D,I-Frewsburg)
• District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake); Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)

There are also three Jamestown city council seats that will contested:

• Ward I: Tara Hall (D); Brent Sheldon (R,C)
• Ward III:  Regina Brackman (D); Tamara Dickey (R,C)
• Ward IV: Marie Carrubba (D,WF,I); Richard Elardo (R,C)

For more details on this year’s race, including audio from candidate, visit www.WRFALP.com/election-2013. Information regarding all races for 2013 can also be found at www.VoteChautauqua.com.

Chautauqua County Executive Candidates Ron Johnson (Left) and Vince Horrigan are two of the candidates who will be in attendance Thursday night, Oct. 24, during the Meet the Candidates session at the James Prendergast Library.

JAMESTOWN – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters will sponsor Meet the Candidates for local, countywide positions, and the Chautauqua County Legislature on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the James Prendergast Library’s Fireplace Room.

The audience will be able to question candidates for County Executive, County Clerk, and candidates for the Legislature from the new districts 10,11, 12, 15, and 16. The candidates for County Executive are Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) and Ron Johnson (D-Fredonia). Candidates for County Clerk are Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown).

Among the candidates for the Legislature are incumbents and new faces: Sharon Lisciandro and Paul Wendel Jr. in District 10, Robert Whitney and David Wilfong in District 11, Fred Larson and William Prieto in District 12, Samuel Ognibene and Lisa Vanstrom in District 15, and Thomas Erlandson and Ronald Lemon in District 16.

The League and AAUW time-keepers are strict about keeping the candidates’ statements brief so that many members of the audience can ask questions. Candidates are also encouraged to question one another in true debate form. The event is free and open to the public.

Representatives from VestraCare spent nearly two hours meeting with Chautauqua County Lawmakers on Oct. 9, 2013 to answer questions and provide details on their interest in purchasing the Chautauqua County Home. From left to right: Cookie Travis, Admissions Director of Golden Hill Nursing Home; Hector Rodriguez, Golden Hill Community Relations Director; Jaqueline Sylvia, Golden Hill Chief Administrator; and Edward Farbenblum, VestraCare co-owner. (Photo by WRFA)

MAYVILLE – It was a long and at times confrontational special meeting of the Chautauqua County Legislature last night in Mayville as lawmakers met with the latest prospective buyers of the Chautauqua County Home.

Four representatives of VestraCare – including co-owner Edward Farbenblum – sat before the legislature and answered more than two dozen questions regarding their interest in buy the skilled nursing facility in Dunkirk at a cost of $16.5 million.

• VIEW COUNTY HOME PROPOSED PURCHASE CONTRACT FROM VESTRACARE (59 PAGES)

Lawmakers were especially interested in what VestraCare’s immediate and long-term plans would be for the home, including what services they would offer and what type of staffing they would provide for patients in their care. Officials with VestraCare explained that they would like to eventually expand services that would include a medical daycare facility as well as a provide homecare services.

Administrator Jaqueline Syliva – who is the head of VestraCare’s Golden Hill skilled nursing facility in Ulster County, NY – said that they would most like expand the number of nurses they have on staff at the facility. And both Sylvia and Farbenblum explained the company’s hiring practices, saying they would interview all current staff of the county home and work toward hiring those individuals, prior to going out and seeking other candidates. They also said wages would be similar to what is currently being offered, but could not make any guarantee that they could match the current benefits.

Oct. 30 decision deadline too soon?

One of the main issues of concern that was brought up by some lawmakers was the timeline given for the legislature to act on the sale. Under the submitted contract, VestraCare is requesting the county act on the contract by Oct. 30.

However, legislators Billy Coughlin (D-Fredonia), Bob Whitney (D-Jamestown) and Chuck Nazarro (D-Jamestown) questioned the date, saying they felt more time would be needed.

Coughlin was especially confrontational with the buyers, questioning their past history with other facilities and alleging they did not have strong oversight with some companies they subcontracted for certain services. He also said he wanted more time to investigate VestraCare.

Twenty of the 25 legislators were in attendance for the Oct. 9 meeting. (Photo by WRFA)

“This is what I’ve been able to come up with in nine days, just nine days,” Coughlin said, pointing to his notes on the company. “This is very difficult for me. I think we need an extension, for our due diligence, to maybe get an answer to some of these things. Real answers.”

Nazarro was also against the deadline, but for a different reason. He felt that it was poor timing, considering a local election was just around the corner and it may led to some legislators voting against the sale.

“I have been on record that I want to see the home privatized to the best buyer,” Nazarro said. “I think that’s a trend your going to see for all the reasons stated. However, I think that putting that October 30 date on there is going to jeopardize the entire process.”

Despite Nazarro’s and Coughlin’s concern with the Oct. 30 deadline, other lawmakers felt that it wasn’t a major issue. Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point), Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Keith Ahlstrom (D-Dunkirk) all pointed out that lawmakers actually had since the end of August to research the buyers, since that was when they were first introduced to lawmakers.

In addition, legislator Mark Tarbrake (R-Ellicott) said delaying the vote would only result in more money being lost in the long-run.

“The problem with postponing the vote, is the fact that we’re losing money on this facility every single day,” Tarbrake said. “I agree with what Mr. Ahlstrom said. He’s got a lot of wisdom here and he’s served on this body for a long time. We’re here to serve our constituents and if you can’t vote now with your conscience, then there’s a problem. I don’t think we should postpone the vote. I think it is important for the citizens of this county.”

Waiting to vote could be a gamble

Farbenblum said that he would prefer the legislature stick with the Oct. 30 deadline since that was what was agreed to during negotiations. After the meeting, WRFA asked him what would happen should the legislature vote against the sale on Oct. 30, which is a likely scenario. One of the options is that another vote could come forward later this year or even early next year, although Farbenblum said he can’t guarantee VestraCare would still be interested.

“if it comes to it, I’ll play the waiting game, but I can’t promise that I’ll be here,” Farbenblum said. “I will tell you that there are two county facilities for sale right now that we are interested in and it’s going to be this one or that one at the end of the day. And if that one turns into a sure thing, I can’t say ‘no’ because this one is a maybe.”

The legislature is expected to act on the sale of the home on during a special voting session on Oct. 30. A total of 17 ‘yes’ votes would be required in order for the sale to go through. In January of this year, the legislature voted 16 to 9 in favor of selling the home to Altitude Health Services of Chicago – which was one vote short of the required 17. A second attempt in February to sell to Altitude Health Services also failed.

In all, the special meeting lasted an hour and 45 minutes. A total of 20 legislators were in attendance, with Bob Duff (I-Sheridan), Shaun Heenan (D-Fredonia), Bob Stewart (R-Conewango), Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown) and Tim Hoyer (D-Jamestown) all absent – although Farbenblum said that both Cornell and Hoyer have been in contact with him to ask questions about VestraCare.

Lori Cornell

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Independence Party has announced who it will be endorsing for the office of Chautauqua County Clerk.  Independence Party Chair Thom Shagla on Thursday said that his party is throwing its support for Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown) in her bid for the county clerk’s office.

Shagla pointed to Cornell’s non-partisan position on several issues, including the recent county legislature reapportionment process, as the reason why she would pick up his party’s endorsement.

Cornell is facing Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) in the race for the open seat, which is being vacated by long-time clerk Sandy Sopak, who announced earlier this year she was not going to seek another term in office.