CUMBERLAND - Allegany County officials have expressed a continued desire to sell the Allegany County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. However, finding the perfect suitor who will treat the home's residents and its workers is a higher priority than "the bottom line" financial benefits of selling.

Cumberland resident Amy Callis said during Thursday's county commissioners meeting at Allegany High School that the Furnace Street facility's 142 residents and nearly 160 employees are concerned about their future.

She asked the commissioners and County Attorney Bill Rudd if full consideration of both groups of people would be given or whether the bottom line - "profits" - would be the deciding factor.

Rudd said the list of companies with which the county has discussed the potential sale of the nursing home have been told that a commitment to its residents and employees is a high priority. He said the three-person committee, including Rudd, acting County Administrator David Eberly and Jason Bennett of the finance department have toured facilities owned and operated by interested parties.

Rudd has met at least twice with representatives of the union of which the nursing home employees are members. Rudd said union leaders have been assured they will be involved in the negotiations "regarding employee benefits" and other worker-specific issues.

If the center is sold, Rudd said, the idea is to agree on a long-term contract beforehand.

"We're doing our due diligence," Rudd said, and making the effort "to find the company who will do a first-class job."

On Sunday, Eberly said the list of potential buyers had been narrowed down from six to three, including two with local ties. A decision by the commissioners whether or not to approve a sale could be made within six weeks, Eberly said.

By all accounts, the process appears to be taking longer than originally anticipated. The commissioners first expressed a desire to sell the nursing home in February and noted a decision was hoped for by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said in late June the decision would be delayed but by perhaps only two to three weeks. The county, one of just three in Maryland still operating a nursing home, said it wants to sell to avoid the annual financial losses the facility operates under. The nursing home lost $1,082,598 in 2005 and fell short by $747,657 in 2007.

Callis expressed a concern more for the residents than employees. The facility is many residents' "last earthly home," she said, and they want and need to know how new ownership will affect their lives.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.