ALBANY – The New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford that will be replaced with the adjacent, new facility has been recommended for demolition, a consultant’s study reports.

The October 2008 report, “Financial Analysis: Options for use of existing facility at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Oxford,” was obtained from state health department officials via the Freedom of Information Act.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors has showed strong support for continuing to operate the 30-year old building, or a part of it, for future social services-related uses. Recommended options have included replacing the county’s Preston Manor there, creating a new senior housing or other assisted-living facility, or transforming the approximately 150,000 square foot building into a rehabilitation center for veterans of the Iraq War.

Town of Smyrna Supervisor James Bays said he was “very disappointed” upon learning the fate of the building. “It could fulfill some important needs in the community as well as create jobs,” he said.

Bays has repeatedly questioned Chenango County Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne about the pending study. He said he was “perplexed” as to why the county’s Health and Human Services Committee had not been informed of the study’s results.

“We’ve been asking for this study for well over a year now,” he said.