| 5.09.2003
House
Budget Includes Amendment to Prevent Closure of Fernald Center and Other
Facilities for the Severely Disabled
The State
House of Representatives took steps yesterday (see News story below)
to protect the state's most vulnerable disabled residents with the passage
of an amendment to the state budget that prevents the closure of facilities,
like the Fernald Center, for the severely mentally retarded unless those
residents are guaranteed equal or better care in an alternative setting
(there are no community settings that provide the level of care these
people need), that those settings actually exist (there are none that
exist at this time); and that the eviction of residents from these facilities
to community settings will actually save money (there is no way that
this can be accomplished). Kudos to State Representatives Tom Stanley
and Peter Koutoujian for their filing of this amendment and for their
efforts to win its inclusion in the House budget. And thanks to the
House members for voting in favor of this measure. Now, the fight to
protect these residents moves to the Senate, where Senator Susan Fargo
of Lincoln is pushing for a similar measure in the Senate budget.
If you
want to support this effort, please contact your state senator and ask
them to support language in the Senate budget that would prevent the
closure of the Fernald Center and the other state facilities for the
severely mentally retarded. If you don't know your state senator, visit
the web address below for help:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php
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Fernald
may get reprieve
By
Patrick Golden
The Daily News Tribune
Friday, May 9, 2003
WALTHAM
- The state House of Representatives has agreed to language in its fiscal
2004 budget proposal that would prevent closing facilities such as the
Fernald Development Center unless a cost-benefit analysis is submitted
and residents' well-being will not be jeopardized.
"I
believe it closes a huge loophole and prevents a rush to a premature
closure without ensuring cost savings and proper care," said state
Rep. Thomas Stanley yesterday.
The local
legislator pushed to include language regarding intermittent care facilities
for the mentally retarded in response to concerns that Gov. Mitt Romney's
plan to close Fernald will not save the state money and could be detrimental
to its mentally retarded residents.
Fernald
houses 308 severely retarded residents and employs 875 state Department
of Mental Retardation employees. A state court decision requires offering
displaced residents a new home that is equal to or better than their
current one.
The proposed
legislation needs approval of the Senate and Gov. Mitt Romney.
The original
House Ways & Means budget proposal stated that no facility such
as Fernald could be permanently closed until a cost analysis is submitted
and other criteria is met. In the new version, the word "permanently"
is removed. Stanley said this offers better protection against closing
the facilities.
"The
budget language is not obstructive to the governor and Legislature making
effective use of state facilities and fiscal resources," said Stanley.
The state
Executive Office of Health and Human Services originally estimated closing
Fernald would save the state $4.2 million, but has since reduced the
estimate to $2.3 million. Stanley said a more specific cost analysis
is needed.
The House
yesterday also approved legislation that calls for involving local officials
and residents in deciding a future use for the Fernald property.
In other
budget news, the House agreed to a budget amendment filed by state Rep.
Peter Koutoujian that keeps Weston in Waltham District Court's jurisdiction.
The proposed budget called for moving Weston, along with Wellesley and
Wayland, to Natick District Court. Wellesley is part of Dedham District
Court and Wayland is part of Framingham District Court. Both Wellesley
and Wayland are still slated to move. Weston is not.
"It
will save jobs at Waltham District Court," said Koutoujian.
Waltham
District Court Judge Gregory Flynn lobbied to keep Weston under Waltham's
jurisdiction.
Koutoujian
said Natick District Court is underused and lawmakers wanted to increase
its business by removing communities from the more heavily used courts
and send them to Natick.
Romney's
budget proposal calls for closing Natick District Court as part of a
plan he estimates would save the state $3.5 million.
Koutoujian
also successfully pushed through budget amendments for local agencies
that serve the mentally retarded, such as the Greater Waltham Association
for Retarded Citizens and WCI.
The House
agreed to restore $1.2 million for day programs, $1 million for transportation
and $1 million for adult services and an individual support program.
Link
to the story here
|
