Town of Saratoga, HMS to renegotiate lease

Discussion of the clinic lease between the Town of Saratoga and Health Management Services (HMS) returned to the council chambers during the Oct. 15 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. For the first time since the lease came up for discussion in May of this year, it would appear that HMS and the governing body may be moving forward to find a solution.

Following a healthcare update from Saratoga Care Center Administrator Mark Pesognelli, Councilmember Jon Nelson brought up the healthcare workshop held with the mayors of Encampment and Riverside on Sept. 27.

“We talked about moving forward with discussions to amend the lease and that would be something we take back to the Saratoga council. I don’t know how you guys want to proceed with that, but that was my interpretation,” said Nelson.

Councilmember Judy Welton, who was also in attendance at the workshop in September, agreed with Nelson’s interpretation, but voiced her concern for amending the lease.

Welton’s concern centered around a section of the lease that states that, upon amending the document, neither party involved in the lease are required to sign it, again.

Saratoga resident Glee Johnson, who has been a recent outspoken critic of the current lease and its lack of enforcement, repeated her concerns to the Saratoga Town Council. Welton responded with her concern about a lack of healthcare in the Valley if the lease were to go unsigned following amendments.

“You’re not talking about quitting the healthcare. You’re not talking about getting rid of the clinic. You’re talking about a legal document that’s not being followed. It’s not a reflection of the healthcare,” replied Johnson.

Will Faust, current chairman of the Platte Valley Healthcare Project and a former member of the Saratoga Town Council, addressed Johnson, stating that he agreed with her stance.

“I think, as the owners of the building, the town needs to provide clarity to the current operators and, especially, to their employees who spend their entire working days taking care of the people of the community,” said Faust, adding that the current ambiguity was a strain on the employees.

As discussion continued, Councilmember Bob Keel stated that he was not in favor of amending the current lease, but negotiating a new document.

“What I would be in favor of is having a special meeting with HMS, negotiating a new lease and having a new lease ready and to do away with the old lease on the same day that we sign the new lease with them. I think there’s enough question marks and concerns about this old lease. I say we just get rid of it and have something in place to have continuity of care with our patients and people here in the Valley,” Keel said. “I certainly understand what it’s like to practice medicine when the terms of your employment are in question.”

When Mayor John Zeiger asked for input from Tom Thompson, legal counsel for the Town of Saratoga, Thompson stated that he couldn’t see why the governing body wouldn’t amend or renegotiate the lease.

HMS President Karl Rude informed the council that he was in favor of meeting with them and discussing the implementation of a new lease.

“At the end of the day, I want to have six staff members up there feeling like they’re secured in continuing to have full-time jobs in this community and the community is feeling secure that they have trusted providers in this town and it’s a stable base I can use to recruit,” said Rude.

With the council in agreement to discuss a new lease with HMS, Zeiger directed Rude to work with Saratoga Town Clerk Suzie Cox on setting up a meeting between the municipality and the management company.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on Nov. 5 at Saratoga Town Hall.