Editor, OBSERVER:
As the final chapter of the fate of the County Home unfolds I have noted that there are some legislators who will vote to sell the home no matter what the terms of the sale contain. On the other hand, in all fairness, I must say that there are other legislators who would vote not to sell the home no matter what the cost would be to maintain it.
We do, however, have some legislators who are still undecided. The meeting and introduction to potential buyer William Rothner earlier this month could only lead to more confusion and indecisiveness in making this all important decision.
In light of all the time and money that has already been spent up to this point with the extra meetings, the $80,000 CGR report that appears to be nothing more than a piece of very expensive paper and now the questionable reputation and intentions of Mr. Rothner, I feel that perhaps to allow these "on the fence" legislators a chance to make an informed decision on this matter that a thorough investigation should be launched into the background of Mr. Rothner and any family holdings that he is associated with.
This decision not only affects thousands of people now but it will also affect many thousands in the future. It disturbed me, when asked, that Mr. Rothner was unable to answer with any certainty if he obtained the County Home would the Alzheimer/Dementia unit continue on. It disturbed me to hear him say that he could not guarantee that people would not be turned away for inability to pay.
No stone should be left unturned and no expense should be spared before a decision of this magnitude is made to turn our safety net facility, the Chautauqua County Home, over to another party.
DEBBIE HAMERNICK,
Dunkirk
