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Tuesday, March 17, 2015 poststar.com 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner

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Members of the public listen Monday at Warren County Municipal Center Change in Queensbury Westmount as Centers Health Care CEO Kenneth Rozenberg is eyed speaks about Westmount sale on hold Health Facility. at arena NYC company’s CEO halts process pending New Civic Center owners possible vote on facility weigh managerial options By DON LEHMAN By MAURY THOMPSON [email protected] [email protected]

QUEENSBURY ◆ The company GLENS FALLS ◆ The local business hoping to buy Westmount Health group that took over Glens Falls Civic Facility from Warren County has Center on Jan. 1 is advertising to inde- asked the state Department of pendently hire a general manager while Health to hold o on processing the group’s board evaluates whether its application to operate the nurs- to negotiate an early end of a contract ing home in light of e orts by some with the current management fi rm. county leaders and residents to sub- “Part of our job is to look at all the marine the sale. possibilities of how to more cost-ef- Kenneth Rozenberg, chief execu- fectively manage the building. We’re tive o cer of Centers Health Care, trying to weigh our options,” said Dan the City company that Burke, president of the board of Ad- hopes to buy the nursing home, said irondack Civic Center Coalition, the he wants to see if an e ort to force a local business group. vote on the sale is successful before The search comes as Jeremy Huel- his company goes through with the sing, general manager for about two application process. years, said Monday he is transferring “I asked them to stop processing with Global Spectrum “within the next the application until I have further couple of weeks” to take a management guidance from you,” Rozenberg told “support role” at Chaifetz Arena, a county supervisors on Monday. 10,600-seat arena on the campus of Rozenberg and representatives St. Louis University. of his company spent more than Huelsing said his last day at the Civic 3 1/2 hours fi elding questions from Center has not yet been determined, Warren County supervisors, resi- ASHLEIGH ABREU PHOTOS—SPECIAL TO THE POST-STAR but he will be here through the State dents and others during a meeting Centers Health Care Chief Executive Of cer Kenneth Rozenberg speaks on behalf of his company Monday at Warren that got heated at times, as Rozen- County Municipal Center in Queensbury. He and his representatives spent more than 3 1/2 hours answering questions See INTERIM, Back Page berg objected to some of the ques- from Warren County supervisors about the potential sale of Westmount Health Facility to the company. tions he was asked. The meeting was organized as Rozenberg sought to clear up what Healthcare in Johnstown. “The outcome was good for our versarial at times, as Queensbury his company and county leaders Opponents have questioned community,” she said. resident Travis Whitehead grilled Market watch have described as “misinforma- whether Westmount’s employ- Rozenberg defended his company, Rozenberg about concerns over the Monday, March 16, 2015 tion” about Centers Health Care and ees would leave en masse when a pointing out that the state Depart- sale. Whitehead has been leading the $2.3 million sale. Opponents are sale occurred because their wages ment of Health reviews all purchase the petition e ort. Dow Jones collecting signatures to try to force and benefi ts would be cut. A rep- applications and regulates the nurs- Rozenberg became angry when Open: 17,749.31 a public vote on the sale, claiming resentative of Fulton Center said ing home industry. Whitehead asked about any ties Centers Health Care has a ques- fear of change prompted some to “Every one of our applications the company might have to state +228.11 tionable record at some of its other leave when the nursing home fi rst has been approved,” he said. “We Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Close: 17,977.42 homes. changed hands, but many have since do a good job.” accusing Whitehead of “throwing Attendees heard from some who come back. All but three members of the red herrings out” and saying White- NASDAQ S & P 500 said they had fi rsthand experience The employee, Stacia Stock, a Board of Supervisors attended the head “besmirched” his name. He Open: 4,871.76 Open: 2,053.40 with what they considered substan- 30-year worker at Fulton Cen- meeting, but most of the questions said questions about other real es- dard care in Centers Health Care fa- ter, said the transition from public from board members came from tate deals and partners were irrel- +57.75 +27.79 cilities as well as from employees of to private ownership was “tough,” Queensbury at-Large supervisors evant to the Westmount sale. Close: 4,929.51 Close: 2,081.19 two other regional nursing homes but the home improved because of Mark Westcott and Doug Beaty, the “I’m here to answer real ques- that Centers Health Care owns — it. She said her salary is the same as two most vocal opponents of the tions,” he said. For more on the stock market’s Washington Center in Argyle and it was when Centers Health Care sale. gains, please see Page A2. Fulton Center for Rehabilitation and bought the home. The conversation became ad- See ROZENBERG, Back Page Fugitive’s tale twists again Investigator moving on The tab would have been Police: Durst had Leader in Siemens “It has been a paid for by money seized from gun during arrest, probe is accepting very thorough drug dealers. But the state Of- fi ce of Court Administration agrees to job as court attorney investigation.” put the kibosh to the idea, say- ing Donlon was not allowed By JANET MCCONNAUGHEY By DON LEHMAN BUD YORK to have outside employment and BRIAN MELLEY [email protected] Warren County sheriff, saying the along those lines. police probe into the Siemens Hogan said her office is QUEENSBURY ◆ The pros- cogeneration project at Westmount looking at its options for the ◆ Wealthy ecutor who has guided Warren Health Facility is nished case. eccentric Durst agreed County’s investigation into al- Warren County Sheri Bud Monday to face a legations of fraud in an alter- York said his agency’s involve- charge in in native energy project is leaving ment in the inquiry was close the shooting 15 years ago of the Warren County District district attorney’s o ce for to wrapping up. His agency a mobster’s daughter who ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE Attorney’s O ce, and the state 13 years. and the district attorney’s of- vouched for him after his Robert Durst was arrested Saturday on an extradition warrant to has said no to a proposal that Warren County District fi ce are in the process of put- wife disappeared. But one of Los Angeles in a 15-year-old murder case. would have allowed him to Attorney Kate Hogan had ting together a report to be his lawyers said the trip may continue working on the case asked the county Board of submitted to the state Attor- be delayed by new charges in while in his new position. Supervisors for permission ney General’s O ce, he said. . fl ed into a courtroom with his to a judge’s questions about Warren County Assistant to hire Donlon as an indepen- “The police investigation The heir to a New York real hands shackled at his waist, waiving extradition. District Attorney Kevin Don- dent contractor for up to six part is fi nished. It has been a estate fortune was arrested at wearing sandals and an orange Magistrate Harry Cantrell lon accepted a job as court at- months to help fi nish up the very thorough investigation,” a New Orleans hotel over the jumpsuit. He appeared to fall said Durst could now be torney for Washington County investigation into the Siemens he said. weekend and had a revolver asleep before the hearing, and taken to California, and that Judge Kelly McKeighan, start- Buildings Systems natural gas Hogan said Donlon will be on him, according to a police later turned to the gallery and ing March 27. cogeneration project at West- report. On Monday, he shuf- smiled. He answered “yes” See POLICE, Page A5 Donlon has been with the mount Health Facility. See DONLON’S, Back Page

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