Anger Rising Over Proposed Gracedale Sale

Every day, Marylou Zimmer brings coffee and local newspapers to residents at Gracedale.

But one day last week, there was a news story that caught their eye more than most. In it, County Executive  that if Gracedale -- the county-owned nursing home -- wasn't sold, it could either be downsized or closed.

Speaking to County Council Thursday evening, Zimmer described those residents "running to the windows, crying their eyes out, asking 'Where are we going to go?'"

Stoffa's ultimatum was the source of a lot of anger at Thursday's meeting, with Zimmer reading an e-mail that called on council to censure the executive. Mario Martinez, spokesman for a group opposing the sale of Gracedale, took things even further, and said it might be time to recall Stoffa, who is not seeking re-election.

And still, the debate over Gracedale continued, with council making some forward movement on what's become its defining issue.

For example, members voted 5-3 that even if voters if  to keep Gracedale in public hands, the county will have a private firm handle the management of the home.

Councilman Ron Angle, who was one of the three voting against the measure, said council was "putting the cart before the horse," and wondered why a private firm would want to take over Gracedale when the county wasn't even sure it would be sold.

Councilman Mike Dowd countered that whatever happens with Gracedale, the county needs outside management.

Council also voted 5-3 to ask Stoffa to stop his appeal to keep the Gracedale decision off the ballot. But the vote appears to simply be symbolic, as Stoffa told reporters after the meeting that he had no plans to halt the appeal.

Stoffa had initially told opponents of the sale that he was fine with them putting the matter on the ballot, but has since said changes his mind on the matter. During a news conference last week, Stoffa argued that if a petition could halt the sale of Gracedale, future petition drives would be able to keep the county from taking action on other things.

"This is about the law. It's not about Gracedale," Stoffa said following the meeting.

But his reversal on the matter has angered people like Martinez, who accuses Stoffa of lying to his group. At the close of the meeting, he told Patch "We're certainly entertaining" the idea of trying to recall Stoffa.