Judge approves Meadowlands Hospital sale; to be finalized Dec. 7
The sale of Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in Secaucus is scheduled to be finalized on Dec. 7 now that a Hudson County judge approved the sale last Wednesday.
The Dec. 7 closing date for the sale between hospital owner LibertyHealth System and buyer MHA, LLC will end a lengthy review process that began 10 months ago when LibertyHealth announced that it would sell Meadowlands Hospital.
The sale attracted extraordinary scrutiny from various state agencies that had to approve the deal because, if approved, the sale would shift Meadowlands Hospital from the nonprofit LibertyHealth to the for-profit MHA, a limited liability corporation comprised of individual investors.
“The new owners feel it’s been a very rigorous, comprehensive process. They look forward to working with the physicians, staff, community, and other constituent groups that are concerned about a strong Meadowlands Hospital,” said MHA spokesman Bill Maer on Thursday morning.
MHA is purchasing Meadowlands Hospital for $15 million, although the state required the group to put an additional $2 million in escrow as a condition of the sale, Maer said.
The Town of Secaucus, where the hospital is based, stands to benefit financially from the sale. Because LibertyHealth was a nonprofit, the town did not collect property taxes from the hospital site. Once under MHA ownership the town stands to generate about $500,000 in property taxes annually from the facility, according to Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli.
School Board employee back on payroll
The Secaucus Board of Education has been required by state law to put suspended employee Natalizia “Natalie” Busnelli Aljallad back on the payroll.
Busnelli, who has recently gone back to using her maiden name, was initially suspended with pay from her job as a tenured administrative aide in the board office on Jan. 21, following allegations that she sexually harassed a school safety officer, made false statements to the same officer, and made slanderous statements against two Board of Education trustees.
The alleged incidents took place in December 2009, according to an affidavit from Schools Superintendent Cynthia Randina which the Reporter obtained last spring.
Busnelli’s status was later changed to “suspended without pay” in April and she remained off the payroll until last month. The Board of Trustees later voted to terminate her in June. Her case is now being heard by Administrative Law Judge Ellen S. Bass in Newark.
“The four month time period typically set aside to resolve these matters had expired,” said school board spokesman Gene Manfra last week. “By statute, the employee must be paid until the judge issues a ruling, even if the final determination indicates wrongdoing.”
Busnelli, Manfra said, is also receiving other benefits associated with her old position. She is not, however, back at work.
Testimony before Judge Bass is scheduled to resume this week.
North Hudson Community Action Corp. coming back
The North Hudson Community Action Corp. mobile medical unit will be in town for three days this month to conduct health screenings for residents.
On Thursday, Dec. 9 the mobile unit will conduct blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings at two senior buildings, Kroll Heights and the Elms. The unit will be at Kroll from 9:30 a.m. until noon, and then head over to the Elms at 1 p.m. The unit will be there until 3:30 p.m.
Then on Thursday, Dec. 16 the mobile unit will be at the Secaucus Senior Center, at 101 Centre Ave., from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The next day, Friday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the mobile health unit team will be conducting medical check-ups in the parking lot of the Secaucus Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Road.
Residents without insurance are welcome, but people who have health coverage should bring their insurance cards. For more information, call Secaucus Social Services at (201) 330-2014.
Secaucus library to offer citizenship classes for residents
The path to U.S. citizenship can be a long one. People must obtain a U.S. resident visa (commonly known as the “green card”) – no easy task – and must live stateside for five years before applying for naturalization, according to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, which now oversees Citizenship and Immigration Services. (People who are married to citizens need only live in the U.S. for three years before applying.) The application fee alone costs hundreds of dollars.
Next, applicants must have an in-person interview with an Immigration Services agent and take an oath of allegiance.
To help residents navigate the process, the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center will offer a free seven-week citizenship class, beginning Saturday, Jan. 15. The course, which will be offered each Saturday through Feb. 26, will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 1379 Paterson Plank Rd. Attendees must be Secaucus residents.
Because the course is limited to only 20 people, those interested in participating are strongly encouraged to register soon.
The class will be taught by Dennis Pope, who holds a doctorate in American Government and Constitutional Law from Rutgers University and who taught on the university level for 36 years.
The Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center has recently updated its materials for those preparing for citizenship, including three useful “toolkits” that are often used in citizenship prep classes: “Literacy Skills,” “Civics and Literacy,” and “Ready for the Interview.”
Those interested in registering should contact Library Director Jenifer May or Literacy Coordinator Louise Rittberg at (201) 330-2083. May can also be reached at may@bccls.org. Rittberg’s email address is louiserittberg@yahoo.com.