MAYVILLE - The full County Legislature will have its chance to sit down with a marketing firm regarding offers on the Chautauqua County Home.
County Executive Greg Edwards, in an email forwarded to the entire legislature body and obtained by the OBSERVER, said he was canceling a meeting Thursday with Marcus & Millichap - a group chosen in November to market the Dunkirk nursing facility for sale or lease.
Edwards said due to concerns raised by several legislators, a special meeting, instead, would be scheduled in July to allow all county lawmakers and the public the chance to sit down with the Chicago-based marketing firm.
The county executive said he had hoped to avoid getting into politics when it came to discussing the offers on the home.
"I've been doing everything in my power to limit the impact of politics on this," he said. "I found having that type of meeting wasn't the best approach. I believe the best way to avoid concerns and focus on the business would be to have the meeting open to anyone interested."
During a legislature meeting last month, Edwards said only lawmakers previously involved with County Home discussions would be sitting with representatives from Marcus & Millichap. Those involved include Majority Leader Larry Barmore; Legislature Chairman Jay Gould; and Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown.
Some legislators, however, voiced concern over the lack of representation.
"I'm pleased to hear the county executive took our suggestion to give us this information," said Minority Leader Lori Cornell, D-Jamestown, who pressed Edwards last month to open the meeting.
"It's critical that all 25 legislators have access to this meeting regarding the future of the County Home," she added.
The special meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m., and according Gould, the update from the marketing firm will be the only item on the agenda.
Edwards has declined to say how many offers have been received for the home, but said he looks forward to sitting down and discussing the options currently on the table.
"They will all hear it at the same time," he said. "They will will hear it from Marcus & Millichap and it will result in business instead of politics. It's a delay but it's worth the time that will go by."
