Would Samuel Jones approve?

Jones Manor, a non-profit residential home operated by the Jones Fund to assist the poor and indigent, is about to become for-profit. The staff at the assisted living center, located at 59 Bayville Ave., in Bayville, were informed at a meeting on June 12 that the non-profit had been sold. The majority of the 31 people working at Jones Manor live in Bayville.

“The doors were opened and owners Brian [Rosenman] and Steven [Lowinger] were introduced, to us,” said former Jones facilities manager Dan Ravid, of Bayville. “Steven was there every day and started interviewing the staff. I was told they were bringing in their own facility manager so on June 16, I resigned.”

Ravid is upset for several reasons. “Last Oct. we saw new faces looking at the property,” Ravid said. “We kept asking who they were and we were told they were possible investors. I said, it’s a non-profit and you can’t accept investors. The staff had been lied to for a year.”

He said many of the staff are afraid they will no longer have a job.

Jones Executive Director Ann Cardello said as far as she knows there are no plans to replace the staff. “There may be some changes but I’m not aware of it,” she said, adding that she has committed to staying on for a while to make sure the turnover is smooth and then will probably retire.

The Guardian received an anonymous letter from someone who claimed to be an employee that asked for our help. Additionally, we received a very long voice mail message from another employee who said she could not go on the record. Both were worried about their jobs, but like Ravid, also about the fate of the elderly residents.

“They wouldn’t tell me where the residents will go,” Ravid said. “I heard they will transition them out and place them in their other facilities.”

Partners Rosenman and Lowinger, of Lawrence, own for-profit facilities in Queens and East Northport.

Pastor David Czeisel from The Village Church of Bayville said many of his congregation lives at Jones Manor and he is worried.

“My concern is that residents living there will continue to have a place to live and being the only non-profit on the North Shore we will lose a valuable asset for that segment of the population,” Czeisel explained. “It’s the only non-profit in Bayville. These people have deep roots in Bayville and not staying there will be problematic for many of them.”

Cardello said the sale has not been finalized yet but that a preliminary contract has been signed. The new owners are waiting for approval from the Department of Health, which she said could take up to a year.

“[Social security insurance] residents will be permitted to stay because they are contractual,” said Cardello, adding that the rent will not be increased for the social security insurance [SSI] residents because, “We can’t increase the SSI payments.”

There are no doctors or nurses on staff at Jones Manor. Some residents are in their late 60’s but many are older, in there 80’s. One resident is 99.

Jones provides 13 beds for SSI residents. Two SSI residents are currently in the hospital and not expected to return. The Department of Health will allow for 46 maximum residents at the facility.

“We have a charter and take care of the poor and have been doing so forever,” Cardello said. “I’m not sure if the [new owners’] other for-profits in Queens and East Northport have beds for SSI residents. Some for-profits do have them.”

Bayville’s new mayor, Paul Rupp, said he was not aware of the sale of Jones Manor. Former Bayville Mayor Doug Watson said after hearing much talk around town he stopped by Jones Manor after he lost his election.

“The town [of Oyster Bay] bought redevelopment rights, so the property will not be redeveloped,” Watson said. “You won’t recognize any changes.”

Cardello confirmed Watson’s assertion. “Because the town bought development rights it can only be an adult home or for assisted living,” she said. “Residents don’t have to worry about condos being built here.”

The reason why Jones Manor was sold, says Cardello, is because it has become too expensive to run as a non-profit.

“SSI doesn’t pay us very much per person and with the prices these days it is incredibly expensive to run Jones Manor,” she added. “The Trust will still exist and along with the funds from the sale of Jones Manor it will be used for the poor and indigent in Oyster Bay and North Hempstead.”