Washington Co. commissioners may hire law firm to assist in sale of health center
Washington County Director of Administration Scott Fergus recommended Wednesday morning that the commissioners hire the law firm of Eckert Seamans to represent the county in the sale of the county health center in Arden, Chartiers Township.
Fergus said the firm’s attorneys will be paid $260 per hour for its efforts if the commissioners approve the contract at their meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Courthouse Square office building.
Paralegals will bill at their “normal rate,” but that was not discussed at an agenda-setting session. The county will also be paying “reasonable costs associated” with representation, which were not immediately enumerated.
The health center has been hemorrhaging red ink, losing $9 million over the past four years. Commission Chairman Larry Maggi has said the board intends that the facility continue to be used as a nursing home.
The county’s contract with the Service Employees International Union expires Dec. 31, and Maggi previously said the potential sale is part of the negotiations.
Maggi claimed federal and state government are pushing the counties out of direct ownership of nursing homes by reducing formulas for payment.