Despite a tongue-lashing from Executive Tara Zrinski that they were stepping on her toes, NorCo Council voted last night to establish a Gracedale Oversight Committee proposed by Council member Dave Holland and supported by fellow Council members Lori Vargo Heffner, Tom Giovanni, Jason Boulette, Theresa Fadem and even Jeff Warren. It was opposed by Council members Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan and Nadeem Qayyum. Qayyum had argued in support of the committee, so I think he probably intended to vote Yes.
Zrinski, who had just finished chiding Council over their refusal to go along with her choice of a Fiscal Director at the salary she wanted to pay, amazingly claimed that County Council has no authority to provide oversight of her administration and was crossing the line into actual administration. She argued that Council's sole role under the Home Rule Charter is to adopt legislation, enact a budget and confirm appointments.
This is nonsense.
Northampton County's Home Rule Charter specifically grants 13 specific powers to County Council, including the power to require periodic special reports, conduct investigations and even issue subpoenas. In short, it has oversight authority. The Home Rule Charter also clearly states that all residual powers of the county are vested in County Council.
In contrast, the Executive has no residual power. She does have administrative authority over day-to-day matters, but is specifically required to present information regarding the business and affairs of the county as Council might request. That is the whole point of County Council Committees.
The problem with government, on all levels, is that the Executive branch has grown too strong. This is how we end up with statewide lockdowns or executive orders that bypass the legislature. There has been too little oversight.
Zrinski's fear, as I understand her, is that County Council would be taking over the administration of Gracedale. Nothing in Holland's resolution (you can read it here), remotely suggests any such intent. It specifically states it is being formed because Council "has a unique duty of oversight to ensure that Gracedale residents are receiving medical, respite and rehabilitation care under the auspices of Northampton County in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations."
Something wrong with that?
When asked by Council member Kelly Keegan why this Committee was needed, Holland noted that Council has just established a new department for Gracedale, and it makes sense to have a standing committee for that department as it does for others. Without it, there would be no oversight of Gracedale at all.
Kraft argued that Gracedale could be included as part of Human Services and accused Holland of "overreaching." But as Boulette pointed out, Human Services includes a wide array of different departments, from Aging to Children and Youth, and even Veterans Affairs. He noted that in a committee earlier that day, Gracedale was covered for just 15 minutes. He and Vargo Heffner both argued that Council does have the authority to provide oversight. "I see nothing wrong with the term 'oversight,' "said Vargo Heffner. "People could be uncomfortable with it, and I don't think it implies that anybody is going to be telling anybody else what to do." She added that every Council Committee is, in fact, an oversight committee.
Fadem made the point that an oversight committee is necessary because Gracedale is "in crisis mode. They have a Provisional II license."
Next week, I'll fill you in on the other matters considered by County Council last night during its regular and committee hearings.
Happy 4th!
59 comments:
She's not very smart and she's very immature. When a child is brought to heel, the child usually lashes out before having a good cry and accepting the rules designed to bring them to heel. She's also very untrustworthy and will be closely monitored from this point forward. She can't be left to run things on her own. That's good.
TZ has become a major disappointment. She's got the tRUMP mindset. I refer to council as the island of misfit toys. If they weren't so sad they would be funny.
Wolf's unscientific and authoritarian lockdowns earned him a nomination for Man Of The Year from the Ohio Restaurant Association. The man is a legend. In Ohio.
"Qayyum had argued in support of the committee, so I think he probably intended to vote Yes"
Fumbling the football like that is just more evidence to support that his wife is ordering him how to vote and writing his questions.
As for Commissar Tzara, she really shows how vacuous she is when she's dealing with county matters that don't have a photo ops for campaign agitprop.
From the original post: “Zrinski…amazingly claimed that County Council has no authority to provide oversight of her administration and was crossing the line into actual administration.”
Every time I think that Zrinski can’t prove herself be a bigger idiot, I’m proven wrong.
Think for a moment about what she’s claiming above, and how ridiculous such a belief is.
Then remember that she served on county council (and as controller) before she became county executive. If I take her at her word, she spent X amount of years on council believing that she SHOULDN’T provide any oversight to the administration! That certainly explains a lot!
I wish someone would have asked a follow-up question about whether the controller’s office also shouldn’t be providing any oversight as well.
I can’t wait to read the comments from those in the moron brigade who continue to support Zrinski and make excuses for her. Their stupidity is almost as funny as Zrinski’s!
As this year has unfolded, a pattern has become harder and harder to ignore. In my view, there are commissioners who seem far more invested in proving Gracedale can't succeed than in helping it succeed. Which I literally thought impossible after the last Council was voted out.
If Holland believes he has the answers, there's a simple solution: apply for one of the leadership positions Zrinski is putting in place. Put your ideas into practice. Better yet, resign from Council and eliminate any questions about whether politics are getting in the way of progress. It's easy to criticize from the sidelines. It's much harder to step into the arena and be accountable for the results.
What stood out most was the reaction to Tara's announcement that the IJ tags had been cleared and lifted—a milestone that should be welcomed by anyone who genuinely wants Gracedale to thrive. Instead of celebrating positive news for the residents and staff, Holland appeared visibly disappointed. Whether intentional or not, that reaction spoke volumes.
Then there's the media coverage. Bernie has repeatedly portrayed himself as someone who supports Gracedale. If that's true, why wasn't the lifting of the IJ tags the headline? This was objectively positive news for the facility, its employees, its residents, and their families. Choosing not to highlight that development raises legitimate questions about what story is really being told—and why.
The people who live and work at Gracedale deserve leaders who celebrate progress, not people who seem frustrated when it happens. Every improvement should be welcomed, regardless of who receives the credit. Public service is supposed to be about outcomes, not political scorekeeping.
At some point, actions become more revealing than talking points. The public can watch the meetings, observe the reactions, and draw its own conclusions. From where I sit, and it was in my home since I had to call in, the contrast has become impossible to miss.
It’s time to reconsider Gracedale’s purpose for the 21st century. All the oversight and management right now isn’t enough to pull Gracedale out of the depths unless it’s reconfigured into an establishment that the residents of the county can be assured our elderly are properly being cared for. Move all geriatric services/offices into Gracedale. Make it a hub for senior care at all levels. Several senior centers were closed. Why not have seniors congregate at Gracedale for activities? There are plenty of seniors who are alone and could use a community home to keep them connected. Take senior health to another level. All options should be considered given the position the home is in presently.
If all these issues are staring her in the face, why doesn’t she stand up and demonstrate her expertise on how to problem solve using talented people around her?
Her stubbornness and unwillingness to tackle the main licensing issue should send a message to all of us.
Are you still crying about Covid lockdowns five years later?!?! Grow up or think of something more wittier to post.
If only you understood long term care, Ms. Keegan. Mr. Holland truly does so if he’s ruffling feathers about Gracedale, you know it’s as serious as having a Provisional II license but oh wait - Gracedale does.
Kelly, Inasmuch as you were not physically present at the Council or committee meeting, you are in no position to determine whether Holland was "visibly disappointed". I saw no evidence during the committee meeting in which Morton made the announcement that the tag had been lifted. An Immediate Jeopardy tag is the most severe regulatory deficiency any nursing home can receive and requires immediate intervention to protect vulnerable residents. This is the fourth time there has been an elopement at the home, and once again, police had to bring back a resident. The plan of correction was actually mandated by the state DOH, and it is no great victory that the tag was lifted after there has finally been some form of compliance.
What is important, and in my view the most important aspect of the meeting, is that a Gracedale oversight committee has been established. The Exec certainly has the mandate to manage the facility and the county, but it is Council who sets policy, often in collaboration with the Executive, but on its own if necessary. I find it very disconcerting that you are unaware of your own role as a member of the governing body. You are not there to be the rubber stamp you have been.
I have seen no evidence that Holland thinks "he has all the answers." But given his educational background and past employment history as an administrator at Gracedale and in Monroe County, he is certainly more knowledgeable than you or Zrinski. What you fight him every time he offers his insight is totally incomprehensible to me. You should be welcoming, not discouraging, his expertise.
As for resigning his position on Council to apply for the newly created Continuum of Corrector position, I question why anyone who is a health professional would want a position that is exempt and comes and goes with the executive. You need someone like Holland who is willing to devote a career to making Gracedale better, not some political hack or apparatchik.
The people who live at Gracedale deserve quality nursing care, not embarrassing announcements that an IJ tag has been lifted. The people who work at Gracedale need proper compensation for the work they do, and this could be said throughout the entire county. I am more than willing to celebrate progress when I see it, and believe Zrinski's continuum of care proposal is a step in the right direction. I have said as much.
I support doing everything humanly possible to keep Gracedale in the hands of the county. I do not think we are doing everything we can. You do not help the home by wearing blinders and refusing to see how badly the home has slid. You are hurting, not helping, what once was called the county's crown jewel.
Tara should take heart. Now that council has created an oversight committee, she will no longer have to take the blame for any more unfortunate missteps Gracedale takes.
Disappointed?
What, pray tell, were you expecting?
What is wrong with having an oversight committee? You seemed to have dodged that with that word salad you posted Ms Keegan. Instead you want to celebrate mediocrity. Given the ongoing litany of problems out there this should have done a long time ago.
Well you got your wish lol. Number One in your brigade has a long response full of nonsense below.
All of Gracedale problems are your fault Bernie!!!! Kelly says you’re too negative for telling the truth. Without you we wouldn’t even know about how messed up everything is at Gracedale. It would all be covered up. Thanks for keeping us informed!
You complain that announcing an IJ tag being lifted is "embarrassing" for Gracedale, yet your own posts are filled with negative stories, criticism, and content that paints the facility in the worst possible light. If your concern is protecting Gracedale's reputation, maybe start by looking at what you're choosing to post. Celebrating an improvement in care and compliance shouldn't be the thing that bothers you—constantly broadcasting negative narratives is far more damaging than acknowledging positive progress.
As for your Holland comment:
"I've seen the opposite."
David Holland has opposed every Gracedale initiative that County Executive Tara Zrinski has brought forward. Not most of them. Not almost all of them. Every single one that I've seen.
Tara Zrinski was elected by the public to lead the county and implement her agenda. Whether people agree with every proposal is one thing, but at some point, constant opposition stops looking like thoughtful oversight and starts looking like obstruction.
So when someone says they've seen no evidence that David thinks he has all the answers, I'd argue his voting record and public posture speak for themselves. If he supported even one of the administration's Gracedale initiatives, I'd be more inclined to believe he was interested in working collaboratively. I haven't seen that happen.
There's an old saying: too many cooks in the kitchen. If David believes he has the better plan, then perhaps he should be the one applying for an operational role instead of second-guessing every decision from the Council dais.
At some point, opposition for opposition's sake isn't leadership—it's just obstruction wearing a name tag. And boy have we all seen what obstruction is!
Do you actually read what you write, Ms. Keegan? Gracedale is one step
away from closure or DOH take over and you believe building Gracedale city is the answer? Morton admitted there are nine one on one residents (surely you remember what that means) Imagine the cost to maintain that physician order. Sue had to admit that county contribution will be necessary but that’s a to be determined. Census 472 when at least 520 is needed to survive. Do the math. Morton also had the nerve to blame another resident’s family for helping a resident to “elope”. There must be a lot more to this situation at Gracedale or certain people including you wouldn’t be so upset with more oversight. Attacking David Holland (as many of you are) only makes that more apparent. He appears to be unaffected by these written and verbal attacks, however. That’s an example of a true public servant, an advocate for good patient/resident care and above all, an individual with common sense.
Kelly, you're pretty much incorrect on all counts.
First, concerning the IJ tag. That is an embarrassment for the county and its mission at Gracedale. You think I should be celebrating the removal of a tag for something that never should have occurred in a properly managed home? You're nuts. I have just viewed Gracedale's own Facebook page, and there is no celebration there. The fact that this tag was removed is no cause for celebration.
Second, you confuse "negative" stories with truth. My function is to tell the truth about the county, at least from my own perspective. That will include a mix of the negative and the positive. I have done that. Unfortunately, most of the stories about Gracedale have been negative in recent years, and especially since the arrival of Michelle Morton. I have an obligation to share what I know and what is publicly available. That is my role. As Jefferson once said to a friend, "The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." Without the watchful eyes of the public, he added, "you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, judges and governors shall all become wolves."
Second, regarding Holland, he actually complimented Zrinski on her continuum of care. From the minutes: "Mr. Holland expressed kudos to Ms. Zrinski for having these discussions because for a long time there had not been any vision
or direction as to where they were going with Gracedale in their
services in general, and he appreciated that she had come up with
a plan to move forward; however, he did not think it was the right
plan. He advised they were talking about a quarter of $1 million
in salary and benefits available and they should instead use that
collectively to figure out the best way to move Gracedale forward
and utilized resources perhaps other than in new positions. He
further advised that the future of any kind of long-term care had
to be an integrated model, as they had behavioral health, substance
abuse, developmental disabilities, and mental health issues. He
advised they had to come up with a plan to address the residential
and programming component for all of these people with a variety
of needs. He further advised that they should talk about it more
to come up with the plan versus to high level administration
positions for this kind of money. "
The model that Zrinski presented at her state of the county is very much exactly like what Holland has suggested. He just wants the county to improve its management before it pushes ahead.
I see no obstruction, except perhaps from Qayuum. I do see three rubber stamps, and you are one of them.
Please go away Koo Koo- the best thing this blog has done in the past year, is smoke you out of your self-imposed hibernation.
You should resign instead of Holland!
"Second, regarding Holland, he actually complimented Zrinski on her continuum of care."
Yep, and then voted against it. 🙄
Going back and forth with you is like rolling in the mud with a pig. The only outcome is getting dirty.
Bottom line is, you are an enemy of Gracedale.
You can try and spin your 45, but for anyone with a brain, we see right through your need for 10 cent clicks.
Let's bring back Mr. Goffredo and Mr. Brown. They started asking tough questions a long time ago and were told that they didn't know what they were talking about
You can’t argue with idiots Bernie. She’s mad at you because you’re the only person reporting the truth. After all that back and forth she still wouldn’t explain why she’s against an oversight committee. She’s part of the problem, not the solution. I hope she’s voted out.
"Going back and forth with you is like rolling in the mud with a pig. The only outcome is getting dirty.
Bottom line is, you are an enemy of Gracedale.
You can try and spin your 45, but for anyone with a brain, we see right through your need for 10 cent clicks."
Kelly, instead of actually discussing this matter, you resort to the trusty ad hominem attack. This is not the way that "anyone with a brain" makes an argument.
I think we all get it. You want nothing but propaganda about Gracedale, no matter the truth. If I did as you wish, then I truly would be an enemy of Gracedale.
Bernie, you should have a Home Rule Charter and the Admintrative Code training session with the Director of Administration, Zrinski and Keegan .They just don't get it.
It appears they were on to something, right?
Woof, you weren’t kidding.
I was only expecting to hear from MEMBERS of the moron brigade, but apparently I got their LEADER.
Please make certain Ms. Keegan knows that IJ does not mean “Incredible Joy” but rather “Immediate Jeopardy “. Immediate means “now” and “jeopardy “ means “imminence of danger”. Any nursing home that has this in place and then has it removed deserves no kudos but distain and distrust. The administrator tries to blow this off as she did at the HS meeting. Supposedly the new QA person will be the savior. How do you direct nursing plans of correction if you aren’t a nurse?
Is it possible that Zrinski is barking at oversight committee because she fears the potential cover-up of misappropriated monies. One thing I have learned about Zrinski is that it is never about what she is showing people as much as it is more about what she is hiding I her other hand.
LOL! Truth!
incompetent and very immature, i cringe every time she opens her mouth w/o a script.
smoke and mirrors
They were replaced by the voters. Brown should have never won and goffredo was never good at the job.
Goffredo and Brown were voted out. All Rs lost bc county voters are upset by what Trump has done since assuming office. Their loss has nothing to do with them. I think Brown would have been in trouble bc he turns people off, but Goffredo was a good guy. I disagreed with him a lot, but I liked him.
The new QA person is not a nurse? At gracedale?
Happy 4th of july!! 250 years of freedom in the most amazing country in the world! Grateful! Bernie is know its a Saturday and a holiday but had hoped for a positive post on this historic day!!! Proud to be an American!!!
Doesn’t appear that way.
If the IJ was not lifted, Gracedale would be shutdown. The desire to want to celebrate the IJ being lifted can only happen here in Northampton County. There are several hundred nursing homes in our state and not a single one would celebrate the lifting of an IJ. County elected officials are the cause of Gracedale’s issues. There is little expertise on Council or the Executive office in running the operation and definitely not enough to keep the residents safe. Ultimately council and the executive are legally responsible to make the right decisions to keep the residents safe. If a resident is harmed in a new incident following a string of serious deficiencies county government elected officials may be in significant legal trouble for not fulfilling their responsibilities. Give the operations to a professional management operator before it is too late.
Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸
12:23, Kelly isn't reading what she's writing because it's all ChatGPT-generated. Lazy councilperson is letting her narrative be led by whatever GPT rather than her own brain.
Ombudsman and Recreational Therapy it appears
Totally agree! It is difficult to watch the present administrator say things aren’t so bad, could be worse and that some things are not “their fault”. How do we get anyone to listen?
3:16…you are correct, both of them did not know what they were talking about.
Gracedale has been a disaster for years. McClure did crap but let it go down the shitter. Zrinski is just clueeless unless she’s told what to say. Where is Gracedale headed, further down the shitter. Holland sees it and has often informed council. Kraft is not a business or financial expert, just a bully like McClure. Keegan’s been saying g Gracedale is good. Proves her nursing skills suck. She’s another lap dog for TZ like she was for McClure. Just a horrible individual. They are afraid of oversight because they will be caught in a cover up. Nail them!
Why, it's not your blog. Start your own if you want to be a King.
That is a great idea and would be wonderful of it could somehow happen.
Gracedale has had some really wacko employees in the past. One that comes to mind is the "SERIAL KILLER" employed in the nursing staff. Easton Hospital had a serial killer employed on their staff. No one tried to hide these facts. Everything was made public and rightly so. It's unfortunate but these are jobs that don't pay well and in recent years Northampton County has only added to that low pay situation. Pay decent wages and maybe, just maybe, you will start attracting decent employees. Therein llies a lot of your problem.
What an embarrassment to our county to have a woman like kelly spew such an uneducated and inexperienced viewpoint and be on council. It is unbelievable she got voted in. How could anyone want to celebrate lifting such an egregious appointment? What an idiot!
Another stupid unqualified hire. Do you have to now pay to have the person certified?
The job description for that job was changed from what it had been No idea.
It seems like Warren has learned that following Keegan and Kraft will get him nowhere in the future.
If he continues to stop being a rubber stamp he may even get a future vote from me.
Kudos to Holland for putting Kraft in his place and the new Solicitor makes Spadoni look like a 1st day paralegal at best.
This Council is democracy at its finest
BOH’s post at 4:18PM on 7/3 - best and most accurate analogy ever! Kudos.
I'm old enough to remember when KK said a widow of a murder victim would be better off without him. I read that here. When KK feigns concern for any of her fellow humans, she's doing just that: feigning. Go away you heartless freak.
The fear now is that the fellow council combatants have been distracted from the licensing and corrective actions. Time to sheath the egos and move on to problem solving, or they won’t need to worry because Gracedale will be removed from county control.
That has become the norm. Lower a positions qualifications because you can’t get a qualified person. Disaster waiting to happen!
Does anyone see that Gracedale has never had such tags until the last year or so.. is everyone blind to seeing what is really going on??? The IJ tag maybe cleared with a plan of correction but it’s still on record. It doesn’t just go away!! The plan of correction is words submitted on paper, Passed out to staff to “read” and do an audit. New agency people coming in all time and basically clueless to policies and procedures. Gracedale has to have no more “large” tags for the next six months. Which hasn’t been possible over the past year that is why the provisional 2 license is in effect. One more major issue and boom it’s over. People need to see the administrator for what she really is a narcissist in a head roll who thinks she is always right and it’s everyone else’s fault. She takes no blame or responsibility for this situation. It was all previous administration. But she was in charge with the previous administration and listened when the man in charge said “fill the beds”. Things have changed so much over the years it is very disgusting to see Gracedale this way. I remember Gracedale being so well run that the state really had to look to find any deficiencies. Holland was there when it was good except for finances. Premier came in and put Gracedale in the green. It has been in the red since they left. Poor management, poor oversight, a free for all for residents and staff. David Holland knows healthcare and nursing homes. He sees the bigger picture of what may come and wants to prevent it from happening. Without proper management & oversight this will not end well. Problems need to be addressed and handled now!!! Then once it’s better other things can be discussed. But if things keep going badly there will be no future!!! People open your eyes and see the reality of the situation. Leave all the political stuff out of it and focus on the real problems and find actual solutions!!!
What happened to the Gracedale Advisory committee?
Drop out Crooksy ! We can replace him by August 19th ! Ryan Crosswell is ready !
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