This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Voters Approve Change in Deep River Nursing Services

Almost 22 percent of town voters turned out to approve a change in the future direction—and costs—of public health nursing services in Deep River in a May 18 referendum.

By a vote of 392 to 296, voters chose to contract with the Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley, Incorporated, at an agreed upon cost of $25,000 for fiscal year 2010-2011 (does not include $15,000 for social services. As of July 1, the town will discontinue the Deep River Public Health Nursing Association, which was projected to cost taxpayers approximately $188,530 over the same time period.

The Board of Selectmen brought the issue to a referendum vote following months of debate over the costs and operation of the Deep River Visiting Nurse Services (DRVNS), a report from a study committee, presentations before the Board of Finance, and an independent audit of DRVNS accounts.

Deep River was one of only six municipalities in Connecticut that continued to operate a locally funded visiting nurse service. Other communities have contracted with regional non-profit visiting nurse organizations. Deep River's costs for nursing services continue to climb and the selectmen and the Board of Finance have raised questions about the long-term financial viability of the Deep River nurses and the taxpayers' ability to pay for revenue shortfalls.