Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Hearing Friday on Muhlenberg Donations Use

Muhlenberg activist Nancy Piwowar urged Plainfielders to attend a hearing Friday where Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center and the Muhlenberg Foundation will seek to use past charitable donations for relocation of the satellite emergency room and for the school of nursing that remains on the campus.

The hospital closed in 2008 and activists argue that donors specified the use of their gifts, so they should not be turned over for other purposes.

Piwowar said in public comment at Tuesday's City Council meeting that she has just been hit with a $175 filing fee for documents she submitted in support of her cause. She also deplored a decision by the Office of the Attorney General offering no objections to use of the charitable funds for the uses proposed by MRMC and the foundation.

Attendees can arrive at 8:30 a.m. in the Union County Superior Court, Chancery Division in the New Annex Building, First Floor, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth for the hearing. Piwowar said the judge will arrive at 9 a.m. and there is no specified time for the hearing.

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2015 at 4:28 AM

    They put up a good fight .... just like when Macy's etc let town ... but it is over. The decision was made when when Plainfield became a place people were afraid to come to. Open your eyes.

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  2. Alan GoldsteinJanuary 21, 2015 at 6:22 AM

    Note to Nancy- show us the evidence. Putting stumbling blocks in the way of JFK's plans (i.e. their use of Foundation money, or the zoning changes proposed by the Heyer-Gruel study) will not count as much as determining a viable medical use that has real financial backing, and JFK's blessing.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2015 at 12:51 PM

    How much money is in question? If it were not used for relo/rebuild purposes what else would it be used for since there is no longer a hospital?

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  4. Deborah DoweJanuary 22, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    Nancy Piwowar responds. "There is a $152.9 million bond secured by the Muhlenberg land and everything on it, intact and maintained. (Evidence in Union County Land Records) This bond was issued by the New Jersey Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority, and rolls over debt from multiple Solaris ventures at other locations onto the land located in Plainfield.
    On June 10,2009, NJ Governor Jon Corzine signed into law the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act which replaced the1975 Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act. Muhlenberg RMC was closed by the Commissioner of Health Heather Howard on July 29, 2008. Another law passed after Muhlenberg closed.

    This new “Funds Act” dismantles century old trusts and endowments that were supposed tocontinue in perpetuity. This is the raiding and plundering of historic endowments tocompensate for property mortgages, pet projects, and failed investments,which are not for the benefit of the Public andcertainlynotthe donors' intent.

    Warren Buffet saw this too when it happened to his former business partners. (Evidence – CNBC , July 19, 2013 – “Warren Buffet sees ‘betrayal’ as hospital drains big endowment”)

    Why are the Muhlenberg trusts, endowments, and funds going to be controlled by an entity outside of Union County? Trinitas was directed to receive the births, why isn’t Trinitas receiving some of the funds? Why was the Plainfield Rescue Squad left out of the picture? Why was the Plainfield Health Center left out of the picture? Where is the guarantee that these dismantled funds will stay in Plainfield?"



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    Replies
    1. Alan GoldsteinJanuary 22, 2015 at 3:13 PM

      Thanks for the information. I looked over the 2009 UPMIFA. It would be good to get hold of the 'gift instruments' to see exactly what the donors stipulated as far as any restrictions are concerned. Upgrading and relocating the SED to Kenyon House might be an appropriate use.
      Do you know how much is in these restricted funds? I imagine any lower court decision could be appealed, but JFK may try to make a case that the purposes of the gifts are unachievable or impractical.

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  5. Deborah DoweJanuary 22, 2015 at 7:42 PM

    No care or concern for the assets or the people has been demonstrated since 1997 when a merger that does not exist was announced. They used Muhlenberg to acquire millions an created a health care desert after refusing to accept our births, psych and addiction services. This money was often designated for the needy, a mission they have not embraced. Look at this IRS filing data for intent. We have similar info about the foundation and auxiliary fuds diverted away from Plainfield.
    https://www.scribd.com/doc/96067026/Muhlenberg-2010-Financial-Issues

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  6. NancyJanuary 23, 2015 at 7:45 AM

    There is a $152.9 MILLION. bond on the property why wasn't a portion of that money used for the SED and Kenyon House?

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