Suffolk rejected Foley nursing home bids

With budget deadlines looming, Suffolk County has rejected three potential buyers who made bids last fall to purchase the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank.

The bids came to light Wednesday after a discussion at the nursing home advisory committee. Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken said that letters were sent to bidders last week rejecting their offers as too low. Officials declined to identify bidders or their offers.

The county about a month ago rejected a proposal from Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center for a public-private partnership, saying the plan lacked enough detail.

The new administration of County Executive Steve Bellone must decide by next month what to do with the five-story, 264-bed nursing home that former County Executive Steve Levy repeatedly tried to sell or close as a cost drain on the county. A decision is needed because the nursing home is fully funded for only half the year, and layoff notices would need to go out next month if it is to be sold or closed.

Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider said officials are taking a "fresh look" at all options. "Clearly this has been a divisive issue," he said. "But we're looking at massive layoffs, a $530 million hole, and we can't continue to subsidize annual losses of seven figures."

Bellone aides estimate the annual nursing home losses at $7 million to $10 million, a figure similar to Levy's estimate.

Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset), the minority leader, said the county should continue operations because Foley is the only Suffolk site for hard-to-place patients, the lone site with HIV beds, and a last resort for those needing long-term care.

The rejected proposals were sought by Levy last summer and returned in October. In his final 2012 budget, Levy called for the county to close the facility if no buyer were found. After Bellone was elected, Levy left the decision to his successor. The county legislature restored nursing home funds through June.