County Freeholders' Moves Could Affect Wall Care Center

A move on Thursday by the Monmouth County Freeholders could lead to the sale of one of the county-owned care centers and also may affect the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center in Wall.

The Freeholders approved a resolution seeking bidders on the John L. Montgomery Care Center in Freehold Township. The county is exploring the possibility of selling the 205-bed facility after years of running a deficit.

The county also owns the Thompson center on Hospital Road. The board is not currently moving to sell the Thompson center, but Freeholder Director Robert Clifton did not rule that out.

“Because of the scope of the investigation of the project, we dealt with this one (Montgomery) first," Clifton said. "That’s not to say we’re not going to deal with the (Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center).”

Clifton said the resolution would allow the board to seek information about a possible sale.

“We’re unfortunately at a juncture where we’ve been running in the red and have been for quite some time,” Freeholder John Curley said.

Montgomery, unlike many nursing homes, serves both young and old. It houses temporary patients and permanent residents.

“This vote is not to sell or to close. It’s to look at the process. We’ll be meeting with the union. We’ll be meeting with the families (of residents). This is a long process,” Clifton said.