Post by admin on Feb 13, 2009 5:50:03 GMT -5
www.app.com/article/20090211/NEWS01/902110366/1285/LOCAL09
FREEHOLD — Advocates for troubled youths and Monmouth County Youth Detention Center workers scored a victory Tuesday night when two members of the Board of Freeholders said closing the center would be a mistake.
The position of Democrats John D'Amico Jr. and Amy A. Mallet is likely to be joined by another party member, Barbara J. McMorrow, who indicated she wants to study possible savings on the center's $5.48 million annual operating costs. The Democratic majority could effectively control any future action taken on the matter by the five-member board.
"Such a move will weaken programs and services that protect public safety and help young offenders turn their lives around before they become adult inmates," D'Amico said.
The remarks were made at the end of a special freeholders' meeting on possible closure of the Freehold Township facility. A report by Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who oversees the detention center, said closing it would save more than $1 million a year.
Guadagno's report says the county would save money by paying a tentative $176-per-day-per-detainee charge for housing in Middlesex County's facility.
Though most of the speakers from the 200 people who attended the meeting at the Hall of Records said they were opposed to a closure, the potential savings sounded like a good idea to others in the crowd.
"In my judgment it's the most efficient type of shared service imaginable," said Joseph DiBella, Howell's Republican mayor from 2005 through last year. "The reason why this state is in such horrible shape is nobody wants to work together. If we don't work with neighboring counties, there will be three words for us — foreclosures, foreclosures, foreclosures. I admit this is a tough thing to take action on, but to overlook the potential savings would be wrong."
But the Rev. David Parreott Jr., a former Asbury Park police captain and City Council member, said any savings could be burned up by costs in transporting the juveniles to Middlesex and back for court dates, and travel expenses for social workers and other professionals.
"How about the families? It takes a good half an hour to travel out there, plus an hour for processing, the visiting time, and a trip back. That could be a good three hours," Parreott said. "The travesty inflicted on those parents would be substantial."
After hearing 90 minutes of public comments, D'Amico and Mallet said they were strongly against closing the Monmouth center — a position that caught Republican Freeholders Lillian G. Burry and Robert D. Clifton off guard.
Burry told the audience, "The purpose of this evening was for us to listen to you, rather you listen to us."
The proposed closing would be in line with a state trend. Juvenile detainees from Warren and Hunterdon counties were moved to the Morris County center last month. Middlesex County already houses detainees from Somerset County. The Gloucester County center is slated to be closed later this year, with those youths headed to the Camden County facility.
At least 40 detention center workers would lose their jobs if the Monmouth facility closed.
Guadagno's 20-page report and 350-page appendix was issued after questions were raised about the high cost of running the Monmouth facility, which Guadagno said houses between 20 and 25 juveniles per day.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755, bjordan@app.com
FREEHOLD — Advocates for troubled youths and Monmouth County Youth Detention Center workers scored a victory Tuesday night when two members of the Board of Freeholders said closing the center would be a mistake.
The position of Democrats John D'Amico Jr. and Amy A. Mallet is likely to be joined by another party member, Barbara J. McMorrow, who indicated she wants to study possible savings on the center's $5.48 million annual operating costs. The Democratic majority could effectively control any future action taken on the matter by the five-member board.
"Such a move will weaken programs and services that protect public safety and help young offenders turn their lives around before they become adult inmates," D'Amico said.
The remarks were made at the end of a special freeholders' meeting on possible closure of the Freehold Township facility. A report by Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who oversees the detention center, said closing it would save more than $1 million a year.
Guadagno's report says the county would save money by paying a tentative $176-per-day-per-detainee charge for housing in Middlesex County's facility.
Though most of the speakers from the 200 people who attended the meeting at the Hall of Records said they were opposed to a closure, the potential savings sounded like a good idea to others in the crowd.
"In my judgment it's the most efficient type of shared service imaginable," said Joseph DiBella, Howell's Republican mayor from 2005 through last year. "The reason why this state is in such horrible shape is nobody wants to work together. If we don't work with neighboring counties, there will be three words for us — foreclosures, foreclosures, foreclosures. I admit this is a tough thing to take action on, but to overlook the potential savings would be wrong."
But the Rev. David Parreott Jr., a former Asbury Park police captain and City Council member, said any savings could be burned up by costs in transporting the juveniles to Middlesex and back for court dates, and travel expenses for social workers and other professionals.
"How about the families? It takes a good half an hour to travel out there, plus an hour for processing, the visiting time, and a trip back. That could be a good three hours," Parreott said. "The travesty inflicted on those parents would be substantial."
After hearing 90 minutes of public comments, D'Amico and Mallet said they were strongly against closing the Monmouth center — a position that caught Republican Freeholders Lillian G. Burry and Robert D. Clifton off guard.
Burry told the audience, "The purpose of this evening was for us to listen to you, rather you listen to us."
The proposed closing would be in line with a state trend. Juvenile detainees from Warren and Hunterdon counties were moved to the Morris County center last month. Middlesex County already houses detainees from Somerset County. The Gloucester County center is slated to be closed later this year, with those youths headed to the Camden County facility.
At least 40 detention center workers would lose their jobs if the Monmouth facility closed.
Guadagno's 20-page report and 350-page appendix was issued after questions were raised about the high cost of running the Monmouth facility, which Guadagno said houses between 20 and 25 juveniles per day.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755, bjordan@app.com