$170M Strafford County nursing home falls short, for now. Here's what is next.
DOVER — Amid much debate about costs, the Strafford County delegation of state representatives could not come to a consensus Wednesday night about funding a new county nursing home.
The delegation debated passing a motion for a $170 million bond to construct a new 330,000-square-foot nursing home facility, to replace the aging Riverside Rest Home facility at 276 County Farm Road.
The delegation voted 21-13 in favor of the bond, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for it to pass.
The leaders agreed to meet again Tuesday, Sept. 6 to consider the project again and possibly hold another vote. (The meeting was initially schedule sooner, but later changed.)
There is roughly $25 million in state and federal funding on the line for this project, with a fast-approaching deadline in two weeks.
The delegation was told by Gov. Chris Sununu's office Wednesday that Sept. 9 is the cutoff date for counties to apply for the state funds, which is a mix of federal America Rescue Plan Act money and funds earmarked by Sununu for nursing home improvements. Sullivan County is the only other county eligible to apply for the pot of $50 million dedicated to nursing home construction, according to Strafford County commissioners chair George Maglaras, who made the presentation to lawmakers urging passage of the project.
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Delegation debates cost of nursing home
Maglaras first pitched the nursing home plan to the legislative delegation in May. It received initial bipartisan support and funds were approved to hire an architect with the intention of reviewing more detailed plans on the facility and how to fund it in August.
The new facility is part of Maglaras' and the commissioners' three-pronged approach to addressing the need for modern nursing care, a shelter for the homeless population and the lack of affordable housing in the county.
It all hinges on the building of a new nursing home. Once the nursing home is built, the existing Riverside Rest Home would be converted into a transitional housing complex for the homeless, similar to Cross Roads House in Portsmouth. Meanwhile the county would work with city and town leaders to review zoning and planning ordinances that could promote development of more attainable housing.
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During the public hearing portion of Wednesday night's meeting, several residents spoke about concerns about cost and rushing the project, but all spoke in support of the project.
Immediately following the public hearing, a caucus was requested by Republican representatives, and they came back with concerns that they did not want to be pressured by potential loss of federal funds. Several Democratic delegation representatives questioned why the nursing home bond was becoming a partisan issue.
The $170 million cost for the new nursing facility is based on $520 per square foot. Site preparations are expected to cost $3.6 million, building construction and design was quoted at $156.9 million, equipment and facilities are expected to be $9.5 million.
The proposal estimates the project could receive $20 million in state nursing home funds and $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Additionally, there’s an estimated $5 million in offset from: $1.3 million in additional Medicaid reimbursement, $1.2 million in jail bond retirement, $1.7 million from city complex solar farm, $200,000 to additional bond retirement and $600,000 in other reimbursements.
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Maglaras was criticized by some Republican members of the state delegation for not having more definite budget numbers in place, as several representatives shared concerns about the price tag.
“I’m not asking for a $170 million check,” Maglaras said, explaining that the number is more of a price ceiling and as an estimate, it isn’t a hard number to be cashed out right away. The bond itself wouldn't be issued for at least three years, and even then, it doesn't have to be used in full, Maglaras said.
What would the nursing home look like?
The Riverside Rest Home is a 215-bed Medicare and Medicaid certified facility. The original facility was built in 1971 and a newer one opened in 1978. Maglaras said a new nursing home would have a 215-bed capacity, too, and would be built on county land behind Hyder Family Hospice House, which is located at 285 County Farm Road in Dover, not far from the existing nursing home.
The building would be built with options to be expanded upon if needed in the future. At the center of the facility will be an area of amenities for residents and families that he calls “Main Street Commons.” It could house a cafe, restaurants, a bank, barber shop, library, health care providers, post office, retail and theater. There would be common dining, conference and activity areas.
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Maglaras called it a “senior center on steroids,” able to meet not just the medical and physical needs of residents, but their social needs by allowing them to feel a sense of normalcy and independence.
“This is not the nursing home of my father’s generation,” Maglaras said. “It will be cutting edge of doing business in a different way. We were successful with the jail because we thought out of the box.”
Maglaras said that the nursing home would be a Telehealth hub, allowing the county’s elderly to remain home as long as possible before they end up in the nursing home prematurely.
Assisted living buildings would ideally be built around the nursing home by the private sector, to help alleviate the bottleneck in the nursing facility.
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The mayors from Dover, Rochester and Somersworth spoke about their combined commitment to this project.
Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard told the delegation all three city councils have unanimously supported the reopening of the Willand Warming Center shelter this winter, as their way of “doing our part” to support the county's long-term plan.
“Not only will we be able to move forward and address some of the most critical issues involving people that are experiencing homelessness, but again, being able to open a new facility that will be able to offer dignity, and hope to those who have already built our communities in their final days of their lives. They deserve this,” he said.
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Dover Mayor Bob Carrier assured the delegation the project “moves us forward in the right direction.” He noted that combined, the Tri-Cities represent 75,000 people in the county, and the need is certainly there.
“When we were building the (Dover High School), everybody said you can’t do this, you’ll never be able to afford that, and look at it now,” Carrier said. “Later you want to look back and say you made the right decision.”
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Dover Housing Authority Director Ryan Crosby praised what he called a “forward-thinking” proposal. Dover has only 300 units of elderly affordable units, with a waitlist of 600 elderly, which ranges from 18 months to four years.
“One of the reasons that the elderly remain in public housing, even if they need more care, is because they have nowhere else to go,” Crosby said. “This is an opportunity to address problems at the nexus of homelessness, mental health and a rapidly aging population who desperately need attainable housing.”
Will Arvelo, director of Cross Roads House, spoke before the delegation. He said that of the 427 residents the Portsmouth organization served last year, 35% came from Strafford County. Annually, it costs the organization $700,000 to house Strafford County residents alone, he estimated.
“This vision put forth by county and city mayors begins to address the issue so the problem does not get pushed on to another county," Arvelo said. "I support this vision because Strafford needs its own facility. We help 150 Strafford residents per year, but we know that the problem is larger than 150 people.”
How lawmakers voted on nursing home project
The 21-13 vote fell largely along party lines.
Twenty-one of 24 Democrats voted in favor of the bond. Rep. Casey Conley (D-Dover District 13) was the only Democrat who voted no, Rep. Catt Sandler (D-Dover, Rollinsford, Somersworth, District 21) left the meeting early and Rep. Amanda Gourgue (D-Barrington, Lee, District 25) was absent.
All 12 of the Republicans present voted against the project. Rep. Michael Harrington (R-New Durham, Strafford, District 3) was absent.
Full list of reps. who voted in favor of the project: Rep. Peter Bixby (D-Dover, Somersworth, District 17); Rep. Gerri Cannon (D-Rollinsford, Somersworth, District 18); Rep. Wendy Chase (D-Rollinsford, Somersworth, District 18); Rep. Donna R. Ellis (D-Rochester, District 8); Rep. Kristina Fargo (D-Dover, District 14); Rep. Timothy Fontneau (D-Rochester, District 7); Rep. Sherry Frost, (D-Dover, District 16); Rep. Chuck Grassie (D-Rochester, District 11); Rep. Timothy Horrigan (D-Durham, Lee, Madbury, District 6); Rep. Cam Kenney (D-Durham, Madbury, District 6); Rep. Cassandra Levesque (D-Barrington, District 4), Rep. Ariel Oxaal (D-Dover, District 15); Rep. Cecilia Rich (D-Rollinsford, Somersworth, District 18); Rep. Jeffrey C. Salloway (D-Lee, District 5); Rep. Peter Schmidt (D-Dover, District 19); Rep. Marjorie Smith (D-Durham, Lee, Madbury, District 6); Rep. Thomas Southworth (D-Dover, District 20); Rep. Judith Spang (D-Durham, Lee, Madbury, District 6); Rep. Susan Treleaven (D-Dover, Somersworth, District 17); Rep. Kenneth S. Vincent (D-Dover, Somersworth, District 17); Rep. Janet G. Wall (D-Durham, Lee, Madbury, District 6).
Full lists of reps. who voted against the project: Rep. Glenn Bailey (R- Milton, Middleton, District 1); Rep. Casey Conley (D-Dover District 13); Rep. Aidan Ankarberg (R- Rochester, District 10); Rep. Susan DeLemus (R-Rochester, District 24); Rep. Fenton Groen (R-Rochester, District 23); Rep. Peter T. Hayward (R-Middleton, Milton, District 1); Rep. James Horgan (R-Farmington, District 2); Rep. Thomas Kaczynski, Jr. (R-Rochester, District 22); Rep. Mac Kittredge (R-Rochester Ward 5, District 12); Rep. Clifford Newton (R-Rochester, District 9); Rep. Joseph A. Pitre (R-Farmington, District 2); Rep. Len Turcotte (R-Barrington, District 4); Rep. Kurt Wuelper (R-New Durham, Strafford).
In an earlier version of this story, the party affiliation of state Rep. Michael Harrington (New Durham/Strafford) was incorrect. Correctly stated, Harrington is a Republican.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: $170M Strafford County nursing home falls short in first vote
