Tail of the dog—and some fleas

Posted 5/22/24

Public meetings make clear that throughout 2024, requests to appear before Sullivan County’s Health & Human Services Committee to discuss matters of growing concern at the county’s …

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Tail of the dog—and some fleas

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Public meetings make clear that throughout 2024, requests to appear before Sullivan County’s Health & Human Services Committee to discuss matters of growing concern at the county’s Adult Care Center were repeatedly denied by Infinite Care.

Although in 2021 the county engaged them as a consultant, it’s common knowledge they run the show there.  And though the county remains the legal operator, with the potential liability that entails, Infinite has refused to cooperate with the committee that has oversight responsibility for the Care Center.

So it was on May 16 that the county legislature created an employee position specifically intended to address Infinite’s failure to provide requested information. 

Unwillingness to face the music is reported in the press as the reason behind Infinite’s refusals. It provides a window into what might come should the county continue on track to formally transfer control to them—a point ignored by several county legislators.   

If Infinite is already this dismissive, how responsive will it be, should it receive greater control? 

In the meantime, given the understandably risk-averse nature of the Office of the County Attorney on behalf of its client’s potential liability, one hopes the office is playing a constructive role.

Finally, the sizeable portion of the county’s workforce employed at the Care Center is notable. If the county does transfer its responsibilities to Infinite, one also hopes commensurate salary reductions for legislators, the county manager and others in the line of reduced responsibilities won’t be ignored. 

Dave Colavito
Rock Hill, NY

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