THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY

JAMES SKOUFIS Member of Assembly 99th District

COMMITTEES Agriculture Consumer Affairs and Protection Insurance Labor Transportation

February 24, 2014 Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan Acting Commissioner New York State Office of Mental Health 44 Holland Avenue Albany, NY 12229

Dear Commissioner Sullivan: I write to you out of frustration with your Intergovernmental Relations Office due to its complete lack of responsiveness on a critical local issue in my district. In the past two months, I have called no less than six times regarding what should be a very simple question on the proposed closure of the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center in New Hampton. In mid-December, I spoke with Leesa Rademacher, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, to inquire about a figure in the Office of Mental Healths Regional Centers of Excellence report. Specifically, the report cites: Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center currently operates in a facility that is nearing the end of its useful life, with an estimated capital reconstruction cost of $220 million; an option that OMH and the New York State taxpayers cannot afford.1 My question to Ms. Rademacher was simply where the $220 million figure originates from. Public Employee Federation President Susan Kent testified in Middletown on September 19, 2013 that the estimated capital reconstruction of Mid-Hudson Psych was actually closer to $500,000 an extremely large discrepancy. During our conversation in mid-December, Ms. Rademacher assured me she would get back to me with an answer as soon as possible. Over two months have passed since that first phone call, as have numerous attempts to follow-up, always to be told that Ms. Rademacher is in a meeting or on the other line and will call me back; she never has. In my most recent attempt to reach her on February 20, 2014, I called three times throughout the day she was in a meeting on the first try (told she would call me back), she was on a phone call the second try (I offered to hold told she would call me back), and I left a voicemail on a third try demanding a
1

http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/excellence/rce/docs/rceplan.pdf

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884 DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914 EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us

response back by the next day or I would be writing the Commissioner, as I am now. Even a response by Ms. Rademacher to let me know she is continuing to look into the matter would have been appreciated. I am left to assume one of two things: either Ms. Rademacher is incredibly incompetent at her job or she and her office are stonewalling me on the Mid-Hudson Psych issue. Either one warrants her removal as Intergovernmental Relations Director. I look forward to your response on the $220 million figure as well as an explanation as to why Ms. Rademacher has not returned a phone call in over two months and what actions are being taken by you regarding Ms. Rademachers job performance. Thank you for your time and attention to these matters. Sincerely,

James Skoufis Member of Assembly

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884 DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914 EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us