Should Strafford County build new nursing home? Election for commissioners could decide it

DOVER — The future of a proposed project to replace Strafford County's Riverside Rest Home could be determined by the outcome of the 2022 county commissioners' race.

The current commissioners — all Democrats — are Chairman George Maglaras of Dover, Deanna Rollo of Rollinsford and Robert Watson of Rochester. They have been pushing for a $170 million new nursing home and using the old nursing home at 276 County Farm Road in Dover as a transitional shelter, modeled after Cross Roads House in Portsmouth.

The Republican challengers in the election for the three-seat county commission are Fergus Cullen and Jonathan T. Otterson, both of Dover, and Susan DeLemus of Rochester. Cullen said the nursing home project is being rushed and options to privatize it should be considered.

A final vote by the county's delegation of state representatives on whether to build a new nursing home is currently on hold. County commissioners are awaiting word on a $25 million federal funding request through the state of New Hampshire and other funding sources.

Voters across the county will decide the commissioners election Nov. 8, when they head to the polls for the general election.

What Republican candidates for county commission are saying about nursing home

Cullen was clear about his feelings.

“We need to hit the brakes hard on the proposed $170 million nursing home and permanent homeless facility at the county complex,” Cullen said. “I'm for building a modern nursing home facility for our local Medicaid eligible residents who have very limited financial means. I'm for some kind of transitional housing with high barriers for a homeless population, but I'm against what has been proposed. I don't think it's been well thought out.”

Cullen said he is running with the same fiscally responsible mindset he used to be elected to his seat on the Dover City Council. He said there needs to be more public input about what the county needs to figure out what it can afford and how to pay for “what would be the biggest project the county has ever seen.”

Cullen questions if the county should rethink being in the business of running a nursing home. He said he believes a public-private partnership could be a better approach. The nursing home could be built and managed by a private experienced entity, but funded jointly by the federal and state governments and county taxpayers. He said he’d like to see a transitional homeless shelter focused on services and getting people stabilized and back on their feet, instead of a long-term permanent shelter.

Otterson, another Republican candidate, said supporting the Riverside nursing home is important to him, but more research and discussions need to take place before he can take a stance on what action should be taken.

Otterson recalled his mother’s time at Riverside several years ago. He said the staff and care was top-notch, but the building had begun to show its age even then.

“We have to find a balance that satisfies the needs of citizens as well as the taxpayers,” Otterson said. “I do know that the over-65 crowd, which I’m a part of, is going to double in our county in the next five to 10 years. The facilities that we have in service are inadequate. Other opportunities need to be explored closely.”

More news: Dover, Rochester tolls on Spaulding Turnpike going cashless: What you need to know

DeLemus did not respond to multiple attempts to reach her to comment on her views.

Republican county commissioners have been few and far between, with Strafford County traditionally voting for Democrats. Catherine Cheney was the last Republican commissioner, serving from 2011 to 2012, according to county records.

What Democratic candidates for county commission are saying about nursing home

Maglaras, a former Dover mayor, has been a Strafford County commissioner since 1983, currently serving his 19th two-year term. Watson is wrapping up his seventh term, and Rollo has served two-and-a-half terms since stepping in after the passing of Commissioner Leo Lessard in 2017.

Maglaras has called for the construction of a  “modernized health-care facility complex with a homecare delivery network.” He said he has many goals to continue "reinventing the way government serves people" if elected this next term, but the nursing home remains a top priority.

“The government needs to support the elderly and ensure they get the best care in the twilight years of their lives," Maglaras said, noting the project funding would be designed to stay within the proposed tax caps of the county’s communities. "The new proposal will provide additional services to keep people home and living independently as long as possible, and at the same time, provide attainable housing and service opportunities for the most vulnerable population in our region."

Previous story: Strafford County project is bigger than a new nursing home

Watson shared similar optimism for a new county nursing home.

“Riverside provides great care, but we need to do more. We can support Riverside’s residents by building a new nursing home,” Watson said. “There is broad support in the community and on the delegation. If the nursing home is approved, it could offer some long-term solutions in both nursing care and transitional housing. The linchpin is the nursing home.”

Watson said in his tenure, the commissioners have focused on “being good stewards of the taxpayers' money” and noted the county has come in under the local tax caps 13 years in a row. He said that remains an important priority as well.

Rollo believes the need for a new nursing home is shared by all legislators, and hopes to reach a bipartisan agreement.

"The current nursing home is 50 years old and financially lacks the ability to be renovated to meet the day to day challenges the residents and staff currently experience," Rollo said. "I’m committed, along with my colleagues, to not exceed the tax caps with the construction costs, as we have done for the last 13 years. With the new revenue that is expected from the new nursing home, we believe this will offset the associated bond costs.”

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Strafford County commission election focused on nursing home project