DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING APRIL 10, 2025

DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING APRIL 10, 2025

The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday April 10, 2025 with meeting called to order at 7.00PM by Supervisor Garretson

Pledge to the Flag was said

Roll call of Officers was taken:
Tom Garretson-Supervisor P
Jim Johnson-Councilperson P
Ed VanDerwerker-Councilperson p    
Mark Cornwell-Councilperson P
Holly Waterfield-P
Highway Superintendent Marty Field-P
Mary Beth Flint-P

Reading of last month’s minutes will be dispensed of and minutes accepted as presented and or corrected.    

Presentation of invoices and payments:
HEALTH CENTER FUND
18 RICOH USA Inc $72.86pd
19 RICOH USA Inc $47.25pd
20 Quill Corporation $571.02pd
21 Quill Corporation $1,033.43pd
22 Leona Johnson $160.00pd
23 Spectrotel $413.88pd
24 Bassett Healthcare $61,027.01pd
25 RL Parson Inc $466.40pd
26 Public Goods Pool $78.00pd
27 Bassett Healthcare $59,839.01pd
28 Bassett Healthcare $39,174.49pd
29 Bassett Healthcare $48,339.83pd
30 Bassett Healthcare $50,708.94pd
31 Bassett Healthcare $70,959.07pd
32 Bassett Healthcare $50,432.29pd
33 National Grid $401.37pd
34 American Wholesalers $106.70pd
35 Quill Corporation $143.56pd
36 RICOH USA Inc $21.75pd
37 RICOH USA Inc $72.86pd


GENERAL FUND
56 Erin Flint $106.81pd
57 Jackie Delong $500.00pd
58 Grant and Lyons LLP $1,100.00pd
59 Hummels Office Plus $25.06pd
60 Millers Cleaning Service $777.60pd
61 Elan Financial Services $63.20pd
62 RL Parsons Inc $4,447.20pd
63 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
64 Bruce Hall Corp $238.61pd
65 Tri-County Communications Inc $179.10pd
66 Spectrotel $250.42pd
67 Jeff Stiles Contractor $805.00pd
68 Cherry Valley Fire District $102,003.52pd
69 Charter Communications $280.00pd
70 Charter Communications $94.95pd
71 Cintas Corporation #121 $553.95pd
72 Excellus BC/CS $329.09pd
73 Oneonta Garage Doors $445.50pd
74 Constellation Newenergy Inc $10.19pd
75 NYS Association of Tax receivers and collectors $25.00pd
76 National Grid $1,877.38pd
77 Grant and Lyons LLP $1,260.00pd
78 United Healthcare $17.65pd
79 Grant and Lyon LLP $20.00pd

Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (339-341)
Item 3 (843-852)
Item 4 (233-235)

Councilperson VanDerwerker made a motion to accept the invoices and payments as presented, Councilperson Cornwell seconded the motion.  The invoices and payments have been presented and accepted.   All in favor 5 ayes 0 nay

Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
•        Budget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances

Misc. information to the Town Clerk:
•    tsego County Sales Tax for the month of FEB $7,722.21
•          Snow and Ice $22,377.75
•          U.S. Specialty Insurance Co. $7,528.16 for truck repair


Community Center Alden Field and Park:
•    Rentalsareup
•    Successful biddy basketball program
•    Sunday at 2:00PM there is a fund raiser taking place for the Health Center

Health Center:
•        February Expense $67,954./Revenue $33,955

Village:
•    •    Town and Village Board Minutes and info- www.cherryvalleyny.us

Highway Department
•    HSField reports getting ready for spring work to begin

Public Questions, Comments and concerns…………..2 minute limit per request

Before opening up to public comment Supervisor Garretson gave an update on the Health Centers progression.  The Health Center has been working with an old DOS system since the late 1970’s for submitting for payments.  It is getting almost impossible to keep this system maintained and working properly to submit for payments.  We are in the process of trying to get an electronic billing system at the HC.  Bassett had to sign their contract first to allow the HC to work with other people.  Optum is the middleman and they have sent their service agreements which have been signed and now the billing partner we are going to use has assigned their person to work with the HC for the billing.  The electronic billing is getting closer.

Supervisor Garretson has spoke to a couple of non profits looking for funding.  The Scriven Foundation being one and Community Foundation of Otsego County being the other.

As a board the Town wants Healthcare in Cherry Valley.   The Town cannot afford to be doing what we have been doing to keep the HC going.  We have to find something that is going to work.  It is going to take a lot of people and different ideas.

Supervisor Garretson introduced Lisa Hershey to give a presentation on what the committee has been working on for a solution.  

In summary:
The committee was formed by Supervisor Garretson with individuals who have different experiences to approach different solutions.  Three solutions that were presented were, close the clinic, privatize the clinic and or another larger medical facility to absorb the practice.  Privatizing is not a great option no matter how you look at it the HC looses approximately $300,000 a year.  The HC is owned by the Town all the employees are leased by Bassett and the billing person is employed by the Town.  The billing person collects the revenues from the insurance companies and the town pays Bassett for the employees.

The HC is an Article 28, which means it is a referral diagnostic center.  The town has the certification on the building and Bassett gets the referrals from the clinic and the specialty revenue.  

The committee has come up with Bassett would sign a management agreement with the town.  The billing person would become a Bassett employee.  Bassett would take over all the HC ’s functionality, which means the town would have no financial involvement in running the clinic.  The town would only be responsible for the building we already own.  It is not a lease it is a management agreement.

Bassett has all the information, and this has been referred to the person who signs the contracts.  Supervisor Garretson has a meeting with them next week to discuss this plan.  Bottom line is it is up to Bassett to absorb the CVHC.  Bassett’s mission is they are very committed to keeping rural healthcare.  From a business standpoint Bassett cannot absorb approximately 4800 prime care patients to come to Cooperstown, so for about $300,000 they can take care of 4800 patients through the CVHC.  This is a viable solution.  Bassett has reviewed the financial records, and Bassett is open to this idea.   The gap is no money is missing; insurance companies do not pay, and employees cost money and that is the gap.  If this agreement goes through Bassett gets all the funding and the town sees no money.  

Bassett will be responsible for direct and indirect costs.  The town would be responsible for maintaining the building only.

The billing employee discovered there were three insurance companies that were not paying due to a glitch with how Bassett not checking a box with a new doctor.  That has been corrected.

The HC has been trying to accept at least 2 new patients a week.  

How will this affect the taxes?  There would not be town taxes going to the HC.  Looking at the 2026 budget versus the 2025 budget taking out the HC will show a dramatic difference.  If the agreement does not go through raising taxes would be substantial to keep the HC open, it is not viable to do this.  Over 60% of the budget is going to sustain the HC and the other 40% is going to keep our roads maintained, pay salaries, health insurance etc.

The affordable care act was beneficial to the HC.  Most people can get health insurance and receive health care, and this has been beneficial to the HC in terms of billing insurances.

Will the new billing system close the deficit?  No there will always be a deficit, but the deficit will be shrunk.

Insurance companies do not allow discrimination of zip codes, and you cannot charge user fees for the facility.

The timeline will be as fast as Bassett wants it to be.
There were many comments and questions from the public present.
Motion made by Councilperson Waterfield to adjourn the meeting 2nd by Councilperson Cornwell

There being no further business meeting adjourned at 8:05PM.

Next Town Board meeting will be Thursday, May 08, 2025 7:00PM

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Flint, Town Clerk
Town Board meeting was recorded