DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING May 08, 2025
The regular meeting of the Town Board of Cherry Valley was held on Thursday May 08, 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-Excused
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
38 Millers Cleaning Service $842.40pd
39 Leona Johnson $110.00pd
40 Spectrotel $438.52pd
41 National Grid $353.70pd
42 Confidata Document Shredding $496.65pd
43 Ricoh USA Inc $21.75pd
44 Quill Corporation $202.32pd
45 Public Goods Pool $2,946.00pd
46 Bassett Healthcare $57,504.73pd
GENERAL FUND
80 Cherry Valley Outdoor Games Inc $3,000.00pd
81 ACCO Brands Direct $30.09pd
82 US Postal Service $84.00pd
83 Bruce Hall Corporation $26.76pd
84 Hometown Hauling $43.25pd
85 RH Crown Inc $195.31pd
86 RL Parsons Inc $3,326.76pd
87 State Comptroller $1,883.00pd
88 Spectrotel $256.09pd
89 Cintas Corporation #121 $448.44pd
90 Charter Communications $374.95pd
91 National Grid $1,119.92pd
92 Constellation Newenergy Inc $5.21pd
93 Grant and Lyons LLP $50.00pd
94 Jaird Johnson $2,084.25pd
95 Excellus BC/BS $329.00pd
96 Kassandra Cade-Laymon $36.40pd
97 American Wholesalers $138.77pd
98 Jeff Stiles Contractor $135.00pd
99 Hummels Office Plus $72.56pd
100 State Comptroller $2,603.00pd
101 United healthcare $17.35pd
102 Otsego Computer Experts $116.64pd
103 State Comptroller $828.00pd
104 Hummels Office Plus $21.43pd
Highway Vouchers:
Item 1 (342-344)
Item 3 (853-863)
Item 4 (236)
Councilperson Cornwell made a motion to accept the invoices and payments as presented; Councilperson Waterfield seconded the motion. The invoices and payments have been presented and accepted. All in favor 5 ayes 0 nay
Presentation of Invoices and Payments:
• udget reviewed as well as NBT Account balances
Community Center Alden Field and Park:
• Rentalsareup
Health Center:
• February Expense $67,535./Revenue $30,935
Village:
• Town and Village Board Minutes and info- www.cherryvalleyny.us
Highway Department
• Councilperson VanDerwerker sat in for HSField. Only business is a couple of estimates for upcoming paving jobs.
Laura Kim Thompson from the Health Center Board made a presentation to the Town Board tonight. Health Center Board members present at tonight’s meeting are, Laura Kim Thompson, Patricia Johnson, Tom Garretson, Stan King, Eletta Horth, Janet McCarty and Lori Laymon.
Requesting your consideration and approval of the following proposal. The proposal has an action plan which enables us to move forward. Are overall goal is to enable the Health Center to remain in
operation and in a reasonable amount of time have the HC operate close to or at a break-even financial point each year. This will take most of the financial burden off of the taxpayers of the Town of Cherry Valley. This will be a work in progress.
1. The action plan is to sustain implemented improvements as well as to identify new improvements to implement. Some of them have been to optimize the current billing system while implementing the new billing system Athena, resolve credentialing issues, continue to improve workflow and procedures. Some things identified are additional visits and new patient slots to increase productivity and there have been cross training initiatives.
2. The working committee is continuing to look at options to pursue funding and managerial opportunities to continue viability of the health center.
3. A campaign to solicit donations has been kicked off. A QR code has been developed to make it easier to make a donation. A donation letter has been constructed and will be mailed out. Current donations are at $9,500.
4. Several grants and funding programs have been identified and are being pursued.
5. Non-profit organization is being set up for tax free donations. This would be similar to the “Friends of Bassett”
In closing we are asking for support to keep the Health Center open. The HC is very critical to the residents of Cherry Valley and surrounding communities. The quality of the providers is high according to benchmark surveys and they have a high satisfaction rate among our patients. It is especially important to our community as currently there is no emergency squad. Many patients have their lab work performed at the HC as it is much more convenient. There has been a notebook at the health center that patients have signed and added meaningful comments. It is important for you as a board to hear them as they are truthful and heartfelt. The recorded comments were handed to the town board members for review.
Some samples of comments are:
“thank God for all the staff at our Cherry Valley Health Center always here for immediate care always with such empathy and compassion”
“we would be so unhappy if we lose this clinic all the staff and doctors are so special and helpful. They take care of my issues promptly.
“health center is needed for the area wait for appointments are to long at Bassett and longer travel time ie: as many as 40 miles not to mention for the older people plus staff is top notch”
“I have used the health center for myself and my family almost continuously since it opened 47 years ago. A wonderful service. Please keep it open”
“we have been coming here for over 40 years! Now we travel just to see staff here because of its extra quality in care”
“I’ve used this Community Health Center for 30 years and appreciate the great care they give me”
“the health clinic is critical to the success of our community. It would be a profound blow to the viability of Cherry Valley”
“patient at clinic over 30 years would be a huge loss if we can’t keep in town. Best providers anywhere”
“I love the clinic provider and staff. It would be devastation to lose my primary care here”
“patient here- credits Rachel Geyer for saving his life. Had open heart surgery last week after she insisted on him doing stress test”
“since 1979 the Community Health Center in Cherry Valley has been my go to place for primary and other health care. Other members of my family came here for many years also. I have so greatly appreciated the careful, consistent and competent individualized care at the center. I hope to much that the center can continue”
Laura Kim Thompson closes by saying thank you for your time and consideration. They will be back next month to give updates.
Public Questions, Comments and concerns…………..2 minute limit per request
Lisa Heinrich follows up with the committee she is working with. She recognizes Henry Weil from Bassett is present at tonight’s meeting as well. She is disappointed that the management agreement will not be moving forward that was presented at last month’s meeting. This is due to compliance issues.
The HC board is working hard to tighten things up at the HC to get expenses down. If people can spare the money for a donation to the HC it helps with other non-profits donating money. It shows the viability of how much the community values the health center.
The CO at the Wynn hospital in Utica has been contacted and the management idea has been presented to the Wynn.
Reached out to the Hamilton Hospital and waiting to hear back from them.
Community Care Physicians in Albany has been contacted as well. They have all of the HC information for review.
Lisa has been in contact with the deputy of the NYSDOH. There are two funding sources: Vital access provider funding. This funding helps with covering operating costs for rural health care. We fit the criteria for this funding. Lisa is in contact with the bureau of project manager and is helping her with what we need to apply for this fund. This is a process. The other funding is federal funding called essential plan extension funding. NYS has received money to support Medicare and Medicaid. Lisa has been referred to the proper people at the State to begin this process as well. There are many emails back and forth and this to is a work in progress.
We are currently in the process of setting up a non-profit support system to receive donations. If anyone is interested in being on the board as this gets set up legally would be great.
There is another non-profit called Community Foundation of Otsego County their mission is to support organizations that need help when NYS falls short of helping organizations stay afloat. It’s like an angel funding for rural communities. If the Town can show they have X amount of money in the bank from donations, then we see if this foundation can match it.
Lisa has a meeting with three people at the Otsego County foundation. They actually contacted us due to the article in the paper.
Everyone is working hard. People are encouraged to write letters to Bassett communicating concerns about keeping the HC operating. The letters can be directed Henry Weil at Bassett.
The people at the Department of Health are very interested in helping to keep the HC going.
Supervisor Garretson asked Lisa if the State and Federal funding are grants? They are not.
Supervisor Garretson also asked how many people are the donation letters going out to? This is a work in progress to make sure no HIPAA laws are violated.
A QR code is being set up for donations to the HC.
Henry Weil, president of the Medical Center physician group, he is not the CEO of the network. He is present at tonight’s meeting. He is here to listen and was not prepared to speak. He states Bassett wants to help, however with the existing regulations not only with the State but throughout the Country it is very complicated. For 50 years Bassett has supported the CVHC by providing the practioners. In NYS and the US there are very strict laws about relationships like this. Basically, they are antikick back laws. Bassett would not be able to take over the clinic simply due to the building the HC is in because the facility does not meet current compliance issues just from a facility standpoint. The current CVHC as it stands today was grandfathered in to keep functioning as a health care facility.
From the public present hoping to hear that Bassett will throw its resources at this its legal department, lobbying its connections hoping to help get this done. Lawyers can tell us all the barriers there are and the regulations that are out there but to try and overcome those barriers. Has Bassett reached that level or when you think they will reach that level when we can push them to say yes we want to work with you to make this happen not crossing any lines or doing anything we shouldn’t do. Working with us to find a solution instead of sorry we know you have a log of questions…..
Henry Weil replied even that question is a complicated question. What Mr. Weil is thinking when this question is asked, what these kick back statues are looking at is something that goes beyond an arm’s length relationship. Where the exact boundaries are, I am not a lawyer, but some of what you are suggesting might well cross that boundary and I do not know the answer. What Mr. Weil is committed to and speaking for Bassett is if the State wants to make an exception, then yes, we are willing to work with you. Bassett has been in talks with Tom for a long time talking about exactly what you are asking.
Your question is almost like a challenge you’re saying your committed but are you really…. I don’t think the two follow each other. If you want evidence of commitment, it’s the fact we have done this for 50 years and we are committed to keep going. I am in sympathy with your point of view, I am not sure we can do what you are asking simply is because we do not own the health center. That is the issue.
The thing about the management agreement is it is us leasing the clinical services without having the financial additional benefit if you will. That’s what we have to work within those STARK Laws.
From the public present this person states I have been on staff for Bassett for 37 years and on staff for the health center for 29 years. Retired now. Over those years less than 20 of the people I sent for lab work x-rays, major surgeries went anywhere but Bassett. All my lab work went to Bassett. My salary came from Bassett, but the Town of Cherry Valley reimbursed Bassett. It has been a hand and glove relationship all the way through. Rural hospitals in this Country are in horrible shape. Just down the road not very far part of Bassett is one that has won awards. Cobleskill Hospital won an award for one of the best rural hospitals in the country. Community had the power to provide great health care. We happen to have two extremely nurse practioners right here. Wherever they go to practice I will go there. However, we need a local hospital. We had a great local hospital down the road. Bassett Healthcare has been one of the best hospitals. I was lucky enough that when I needed to send a patient to a Neurosurgeon there was a Neurosurgeon. I don’t know if it is that way anymore. I don’t want to partner with hospital in Utica. I do believe if we are going to move forward in this crazy crazy climate, we are in it is going to take a lot of imagination and a lot of dedications and exactly this kind of thinking outside the box. So, when you say it’s the STARK LAW, I get it I know what that means, but at the same time there has been a partnership. I have a lot of faith with the State Health Department currently and hope that can see a rural hospital survive and see primary care in a rural community survive. Maybe we can be a model for future health centers.
Lisa states we are going to need an exception.
If Bassett were to underwrite the health centers $300,000 deficit it would come off like a kick back. The way to get a head of this is to get a certificate of need and said we are going to do this we need an exception so we can continue to refer people. The Town has to keep the certification. So Bassett would have to get a management agreement with the Town that they will take over all the financial aspects of the health center and then the Town would have to go to the State and say we are losing $300,000 dollars on this facility, we are telling you we are going to do this before we do it so you are not catching us and we need this exception. So that is the glitch right there.
From the public is there someone out there with skills to help the health center with grant writing or set up a non-profit before or maybe you have lobbied the State before that could help.
Public present asked in four months the Board will be dealing with a tentative budget I would like to ask the board where they think they will be in four months given their fiduciary responsibility for a town whose budget is on the average is 60% higher than surrounding towns. There is no answer at this point.
The goal is to not have the Town be responsible for the health center. Supervisor Garretson gave an example. Say the HC brings in $500,000 in revenue per year there could be $500,000 in the expense line. Then it would be a wash and there would be no burden to the taxpayer. So that why it is important to get the “real” numbers for the HC for the tentative budget.
Billing is still bringing in past money and ATHENA is not 100% running. Waiting for Bassett to network us in. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than we want it to. It is a process to get all the players in place. EPIC has to work with Optum who has to work with ATHENA and to get all those contracts in place it takes time.
Question from the public why were there 7 different checks to Bassett? Those were for the past invoices of 2023 that Bassett had not invoiced us for. Why wasn’t this money escrowed knowing we were going to have to pay these invoices?
Lisa answered the question that has been discussed at many of the meetings we are in a forward momentum now and we cannot recover that. It has passed. Come to more meetings and participate. If you want to run for the board to help stay on top it all that will be great.
A volunteer from the public present is willing to help with creating the QR code for donations.
The current $9,500 donations is currently in a separate account.
Based on the past where did that money go? Lisa answered the question. Let’s say the HC costs $600,000 to run there are a couple of years we didn’t take in close to that we took in $200,000, $150,00 and it was related to billing problems that money was subsidized by the tax dollars. It’s horrible and it is unfortunate and there has been a lot of anger expressed about it. In order to recover from it there is no shenanigan’s there is no missing money. The HC didn’t bill enough, and the Town bridged the gap and now we are closing the gap. Sorry, that is not a great answer but that is the answer.
We have a town lawyer and why is he not here helping answer legal questions Supervisor Garretson answered by saying he is not sure a Town lawyer is going to be able to answer compliance questions for the HC. When that time comes, we may need to hire a compliance Lawyer who specializes in medical organizations.
Why aren’t other Towns paying for the health center with their tax dollars. Back when Bob Loucks was the Supervisor there was a decision you couldn’t co mingle Town funds. One town couldn’t pay for another town’s resources. We are going to revisit the surrounding Towns to start a conversation.
Are the committee meetings open to the public? No
The health center board meetings are open to the public and the next meeting is Monday June 2. They are every two months on the first Monday.
What is the function of the Community Health Center Board is? Supervisor Garretson answered he brings information from the HC board to the Town Board. Basically, the HC board runs the financial end of the health center.
Motion made by Councilperson Cornwell to adjourn the meeting 2nd by Councilperson Waterfield
There being no further business meeting adjourned at 8:26PM.
Next Town Board meeting will be Thursday, June 12, 2025 7:00PM
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Flint, Town Clerk
Town Board meeting was recorded
Monday, May 26, 2025
DRAFT ONLY TB MEETING May 08, 202
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