AUBURN - Cayuga County legislators have scrapped plans to move mental health services into Auburn Memorial Hospital and opted to move forward with renovation of its nearby North Street facility Monday.
The full county Legislature unanimously voted to advance a proposal that would add up to 16,000 square feet to the Community Mental Health Center at 146 North St. and cost up to $4.5 million. Legislator Ann Petrus, R-Brutus, endorsed the option as a cheaper alternative to previously proposed AMH upgrades and a sounder investment for the county.
“If we're going to put our name on a mortgage, we'd like it to be on a building we own,” said Petrus, the chairwoman of the county Health and Human Services Committee. “This one is a building we own and we would have to clean it up anyway.”
Mental health services have been mired by state sanctions that began in November mainly due to the poor condition of its clinic in the basement of the Historic Post Office on Genesee Street. Last month, Holt Architects of Ithaca unveiled four options that would consolidate services in the west wing of AMH.
The most expensive was a renovation plan estimated at more than $6 million. The hospital would've leased the space to the county.
The new plan would consolidate services at the center's administrative and day treatment headquarters on North Street, which sits within view of the hospital. The county will immediately go to bid on renovations estimated at $2 million with the option to add a $2.4 million addition, Petrus said.
“It's probably going to be a year before we even get started,” Petrus said.
In the meantime, the county has approved touch-up work at the Historic Post Office clinic. Petrus insisted the North Street project is not a snub of the hospital.
Many legislators, including Petrus, had lauded the cooperation between the county and AMH.
“The hospital wants to work with us and we want to work with the hospital,” Petrus said. “This is just a positive synergy for both of us. The hospital will be working with us, there's only a door that divides us.
“If something happens and there are emergency services that are needed there's only a door we have to walk through,” she said.
The cooperation may include turning mental health services over to the hospital down the road, Petrus said. AMH Chief Executive Officer Scott Berlucchi said Monday's decision would not have a negative impact on the hospital's own renovation plans or its relationship with the Legislature.
“We're highly supportive of whatever the county would like to do,” Berlucchi said. “We all provide health care services to same constituency.”
“I think it doesn't set the hospital back in any particular way,” he said. “I think they're decision to renovate their facility is probably a wise one.”
The county came to the hospital to explore the possibility of moving to vacant space at the facility. AMH will be willing to work with the county just the same in the future, Berlucchi said.
“If the county feels this is the best option, then we support it,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
“If we're going to put our name on a mortgage, we'd like it to be on a building we own,” said Petrus, the chairwoman of the county Health and Human Services Committee. “This one is a building we own and we would have to clean it up anyway.”
Mental health services have been mired by state sanctions that began in November mainly due to the poor condition of its clinic in the basement of the Historic Post Office on Genesee Street. Last month, Holt Architects of Ithaca unveiled four options that would consolidate services in the west wing of AMH.
The most expensive was a renovation plan estimated at more than $6 million. The hospital would've leased the space to the county.
The new plan would consolidate services at the center's administrative and day treatment headquarters on North Street, which sits within view of the hospital. The county will immediately go to bid on renovations estimated at $2 million with the option to add a $2.4 million addition, Petrus said.
“It's probably going to be a year before we even get started,” Petrus said.
In the meantime, the county has approved touch-up work at the Historic Post Office clinic. Petrus insisted the North Street project is not a snub of the hospital.
Many legislators, including Petrus, had lauded the cooperation between the county and AMH.
“The hospital wants to work with us and we want to work with the hospital,” Petrus said. “This is just a positive synergy for both of us. The hospital will be working with us, there's only a door that divides us.
“If something happens and there are emergency services that are needed there's only a door we have to walk through,” she said.
The cooperation may include turning mental health services over to the hospital down the road, Petrus said. AMH Chief Executive Officer Scott Berlucchi said Monday's decision would not have a negative impact on the hospital's own renovation plans or its relationship with the Legislature.
“We're highly supportive of whatever the county would like to do,” Berlucchi said. “We all provide health care services to same constituency.”
“I think it doesn't set the hospital back in any particular way,” he said. “I think they're decision to renovate their facility is probably a wise one.”
The county came to the hospital to explore the possibility of moving to vacant space at the facility. AMH will be willing to work with the county just the same in the future, Berlucchi said.
“If the county feels this is the best option, then we support it,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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