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Sunday, November 02, 2014

IS POLLITT SELLING OUT WICOMICO NURSING HOME FOR CAMPAIGN DONATION?

Dear Editor,

While reviewing the donor list on Rick Pollitt’s campaign financial reports, I found a couple of donations that seemed very odd. The Berlin Nursing Home and Rehab Center has donated $1000. My first question was “why would a Worcester County facility donate to the Wicomico County campaign for County Executive” and then I immediately wondered “who owns the nursing home”? Continuing on in examining the donor list, I discovered another strange donation of $1000 from a Sovereign Enterprises, LLC in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Researching them, they are described as a healthcare industry medical supplier. Why would a corporation from Pennsylvania that deals with medical supplies contribute to a county executive race in little Wicomico County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore?

It didn’t take long to put the picture together about Berlin Nursing Home. It is owned by Mid Atlantic Health Care, LLC, whose principal owner is Dr. Scott Rifkin, the same man who has wanted to buy the county owned Wicomico Nursing Home. RICK POLLITT HAS ACCEPTED AT LEAST ONE SIZEABLE DONATION FROM SOMEONE THAT CLEARLY WANTS SOMETHING FROM THE COUNTY AND SOMEONE HE IS OR MAY BE IN NEOGIATIONS WITH. This has CONFLICT OF INTEREST written all over it. The jury is still out on who the Sovereign Enterprises donation is really from. Is
Dr. Rifkin associated with that donation too? A man of “unimpeachable integrity”, as Pollitt has described himself, should NEVER have accepted donations that don’t pass the “smell” test. This is QUESTIONABLE ETHICS and PERHAPS WORSE from County Executive Rick Pollitt.
Wicomico Nursing Home has a very rich history that I would like to share with you.

In 1960, Mrs. Agatha Polk presented the idea of building a Skilled Nursing Facility to her professional sorority, Beta Tau Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Mrs. Polk had an ill father who could benefit from the services provided in such a facility. The facilities in the area did not admit people of African American descent. Her vision was for a facility that would admit all people, regardless of race, color or creed.

Mrs. Polk approached John W. T. Webb, who was glad to help. Together they drafted a list of names of prominent people in the community to form a Board of Trustees. Over $500 was raised to begin the building fund at a “kickoff” dinner given by the sorority, In May 1961, the Nursing Home Project was incorporated. Finally on May11, 1965, the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to George Bert Cropper, Inc. He had submitted the low bid of $363,949 for a 50 bed nursing home. The dedication was held on June 20, 1966.


When the non-profit Board of Trustees ran into financial difficulty in 1972, the Wicomico County Council stepped up to take over the operation to avoid its closing. The non-profit corporation dissolved in September 1972.

Wicomico County has owned and operated the Wicomico Nursing Home since 1972.

Wicomico Nursing Home is known for its exceptional care and is the facility of choice by many. IT DOES NOT COST THE COUNTY A PENNY TO OPERATE. Why “fix” what isn’t broken? What possible gain is it to the County to sell it? Why would the Executive and his staff engage in negotiations to sell it at this time? Why would Pollitt accept $1000 (and possibly more) in donations to his re-election campaign from the man the County could be negotiating with?

Is this the kind of questionable ethics and poor judgement we want in Wicomico County? I sincerely hope not. 

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't support Pollitt, but there is no reason any conservative should support the county running a nursing home. Nursing homes should be run by private companies, not the county government.

You can question Pollitt's ethics with this donation, but don't use your dislike of him to shill for a government-run nursing home.

JoeAlbero said...

9:04, REALLY? Well, do tell us then why Rick Pollitt never told ANY of the Council he was in negotiations to sell it.

We elected SEVEN Council Members to PROTECT us from such BS.

Anonymous said...

UNBELIEVABLE! This goes hand-in-hand with the deal made on the States Attorney's office where one company was shown favor. This is like insider trading.

We need to CLEAN HOUSE...and not just Pollitt. His staff is just as bad as he is. In fact, Pollitt has gotten worse since a couple of them have joined his team.

REALLY PEOPLE - HOW MUCH OF THIS BS ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE. VOTE HIM OUT!!!!

Anonymous said...

If he were a Republican this would be all over the local media. Since he's a Democrat, it's ok, nothing to see here folks, move along.

Anonymous said...

Joe - unfortunately, only one or two of the ones we elected will actually PROTECT us from this BS - the rest will support Ricky...cuz they're just as corrupt!

Anonymous said...

Sovereign Enterprises is a registered lobbyist operation that is run by a James A Hickey.

He has donated to other candidates in Maryland. Frank Kratovil in 2010 being one of them.

Anonymous said...

Answer to the last question in your post Joe, is NO. This is not a person we need a county executive (if we need one at all).

Now, as to what possible gain in selling it? PROFIT. Why would someone from out of state, out of county be interested in Wicomico politics? PROFIT.

You buy an operation like this, a not for profit, and jack it for all its worth and make it a for profit operation. Real shame, this was started with all good intentions.

Anonymous said...

I don't know anything about this but I do know the Berlin nursing home smelled putrid and anyone should be ashamed to lend their name to it. I wouldn't let my dog stay their much less a human I care about.
I've been in a few nursing homes and not all smelled like this place did.

Anonymous said...

Desperation on Ricky's part.

JoeAlbero said...

Mary Ashonte should be all over this. Here we have yet another WHITE politician trying to take advantage of the African American community.

It was established to serve ALL walks of life at an AFFORDABLE rate.

Turning it over to a for profit interest will certainly not keep it as an affordable opportunity for so many people who deserve such respect.

Anonymous said...

First the man uses the county credit card to buy a cup of coffee every morning and now this. No wonder he is running to Jonathan Taylor for support on his joke of a blog.

JoeAlbero said...

TO ALL LIBERALS TRYING TO COMMENT HERE, If you have something to say to me, send me an e-mail. Don't think you can come here and hold an anonymous conversation with me.

I don't have time to chat here in comments. Besides, I'd like to know who you are.

Anonymous said...

Rick's campaign should have never accepted a campaign donation from anyone who they have county business with. This shows the level of desperation along with questionable integrity. I believe this could be illegal and should be checked by the MD Election Commission.

Anonymous said...

Very disappointing.

lmclain said...

Some call them "campaign contributions", more realistic citizens call them bribes.

Anonymous said...

Can't believe anyone would not realize they shouldn't accept donations or he might have but it just doesn't matter to Rick. It appears he is willing to do whatever to get campaign funds. That is very sad.

Anonymous said...

Wrong, simply wrong!!!!!

Anonymous said...

9:43 who should be notified about this donation.

Anonymous said...

9:43 who should be notified about this donation.

Anonymous said...

Report it to md election commission.

Anonymous said...

Berlin Nursing Home did not make any other campaign contributions to any campaigns but Pollitts. Ouch.

Anonymous said...

Berlin nursing homes has signs up. All democrat candidates.
Probably looking at them to expand Medicaid now just like the big food companies did with food entitlements.

Anonymous said...

Please put this at the top.

Anonymous said...

Joe should have seen Slicky Ricky in Fruitland. .....they even got rid of him...Wicomico county should do the same

Anonymous said...

10:04
Get your tin hat back on and climb back under you reserved rock!

Anonymous said...

I want to know why a Pennsylvania lobbyist donated $1000 to his campaign.

He needs to explain this.

Anonymous said...

Just saw this. How can an elected official take money from someone who is making a deal with them legally? This has got to be illegal.

Anonymous said...

This is reminiscent of the donation to Barrie Tilghman's campaign by Hebreaux St.Fleur, who, after the election, got special favors from the city council.

Anonymous said...

9:04AM - I have a comment about the county run Nursing Home. I have been in every nursing home in Salisbury for one relative or another and the Wicomico Nursing home is the BEST run on the shore. Making it private will certainly make it go down hill like the rest.

Anonymous said...

To 3:35 -- spoken like a true socialist.

Anonymous said...

9:04. I agree with you. I can't believe the county would even consider making changes there. It is obviously all about the money for the county and the campaign donations for Rick. He was crazy to accept a penny.

Anonymous said...

I had no idea that Wicomico Nursing Home was run by the county.

Anonymous said...

I have been a nurse for 40 years never worked Wicomnico SNF however it has always had the highest reputation! Watch not only that possible sale but guarantee you within ten years Norm Conway will ensure that Deers Head will be sold to PRMC or a developer that's what Omalley and Brown want!!!!

Anonymous said...

As a long term professional in the medical field in Wicomico County I have recommended Wicomico Nursing Home to many of my friends and colleagues. Choosing a long-termed facility for a loved one can be a difficult decision but knowing that there is one which sets itself apart with quality of care helps a family feel more comfortable. It is disappointing that Mr. Pollitt would consider making changes with Wicomico NH when his plate should be filled with the economic situation that exist locally.

Anonymous said...

My vote will be for anyone that is NOT in office now. A new broom sweeps clean. Don't trust anyone who is now in office.