The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal Aboutr 12-186�eovluktgu of fhe �OMUB4 elf &mere, �° T. No. 12 -186 Date of Adcptiat 6, 2 012 II OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF THE WOODBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER WHEREAS, in an effort to reduce New Jersey's reliance on institutional care, the Task Force on the Closure of State Development Centers was created by the state legislature and charged with reviewing certain criteria of each of the state - operated facilities including but not limited to the local economic impact of losing a center; the ability of a community to provide or develop services for those leaving who wanted to leave or didn't oppose moving outside the region; the state's ability to maintain operations, and projected repair and maintenance of each center; and WHEREAS, among the seven state - operated facilities for this purpose is the Woodbridge Development Center (hereafter referred to as WDC), a residential facility, established in 1965 for persons with developmental disabilities and located on 68 acres in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township; and WHEREAS, in July (2012), the task force recommended WDC (and North Jersey Development Center in Passaic County) be shattered by 2017; and WHEREAS, while indicating that no one piece of information or experience was a determining factor in which of the seven state - operated facilities would be recommended for closure, there are other factors that should have been considered before making their decision. These factors include the rights (federal law requires government to meet the needs of the individuals) of the clients at WDC to have treating professionals make judgments about how their needs are best met and that transferring clients from long -term institutial care to community housing has its own set of problems including higher rates of mortality and an increased likelihood of abuse in a community; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret are deeply concerned by not only the recommendation by the task force to displace WDC clients but the wide- reaching economic effect with the loss of approximately 1,600 jobs in our area communities. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret, that it expresses its disagreement with the findings and conclusion of the Task Force on the Closure of Development Centers; opposing the closing of the WDC as it is a vital and valuable resource that should be kept in operation for the benefit of its clients and employees; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret, that certified copies of this Resolution be forwarded to Governor Chris Christie, 19 District Senator Joseph Vitale, Assemblymen Craig Coughlin and John Wisniew ski, and the surrounding communities of the Borough of Carteret. Adopted this 6u' day of December, 2012, and certified as a true copy of the original on December 7tI 2012. KATHLEEN M. BARNEY, MMC Municipal Clerk RECORD OF COUNCIL VOTE COUNCILMAN YES NO NV A.B. COUNCILMAN YES NO NY A.B. BELLING X KRUN DIAZ X NAPLES X DI t1ASCIO X SITARZ X - Indicate Vote AB - Absem NV -Not Votin& XOR - Indicates Vote to over ule Veto Adopted at a rneeline of the Municipal Council CCA L. p Council Members at Large Kyle Anderson James V. Carroll Gregg M. Ficarra Brenda Yori Velasco Ward Council Members First- Charles Kenny Second - Richard A. Dalina Third - Michele R. Charmello Fourth - James H. Major Fifth- Robert Luban September 20, 2012 as eF w000e90 � � c n b o, ` y4'DrEREO \6 Office of f4c (Loru tcif MEMORIAL MUNICIPAL BUILDING ONE MAIN STREET WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY 07095 TEL: (732) 634 -4500 FAX: (732) 602 -6053 www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us Hon. Chris Christie State of New Jersey Office of the Governor, State House CN -001 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 RE: WOODBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER Dear Governor Christie: Council President Gregg M. Ficarra Council Vice - President Charles Kenny Municipal Clerk John M. Mitch, RMC, CMC, CMR Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 19 (sponsored by 3` Ward Councilwoman Michele R. Charmello) which was adopted by the Municipal Council of the Township of Woodbridge on Tuesday, September 18, 2012. This Resolution expresses the governing body's opposition to the Task Force on the Closure of State Developmental Centers recommendation that the Woodbridge Developmental Center be shuttered by 2017. The Municipal Council is deeply concerned for the welfare of the clients currently housed in Avenel (Woodbridge) as well as the economic effect to our community with the loss of approximately 1,600 jobs. The Municipal Council has asked that I forward a copy of the Resolution to you for your review and consideration. holy yours,�� / �� i IvL itc, RMC, CMC, CMR Clerk h Township Web Address 7 �v www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us -INN Pg. 2 cont. Hon. Chris Christie Attachment c: John E. McCormac, Mayor (w/ attachment) Municipal Council (w/ attachment) Robert M. Landolfi, Business Administrator (w/ attachment) Hon. Joseph Vitale, 19' District Senator (w/ attachment) Hon. John Wisniewski, 19' District Assemblyman (w/ attachment) Hon. Craig Coughlin, 19 District Assemblyman (w/ attachment) City Council of Rahway (via Municipal Clerk Jeffi•ey Jotz) Borough Council of Carteret (via Municipal Clerk Kathy Barney) City Council of Perth Amboy (via Municipal Clerk Elaine Jasko) Township Council of Edison (via Acting Municipal Clerk Cheryl Russomanno) JMM/gs 19. 17oRill IJIY fUl WHEREAS, in an effort to reduce New Jersey's reliance on institutional care, the Task Force on the Closure of State Developmental Centers was created by the state legislature and charged with reviewing certain criteria of each of the state - operated facilities including but not limited to the local economic impact of losing a center; the ability of a community to provide or develop services for those leaving who wanted to leave or didn't oppose moving outside the region; the state's ability to maintain operations, and projected repair and maintenance of each center; and WHEREAS, among the seven state - operated facilities for this purpose is the Woodbridge Development Center (hereafter referred to as WDC), a residential facility, established in 1965 for persons with developmental disabilities and located on 68 -acres in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township; and WHEREAS, in July (2012), the task force recommended WDC (and North Jersey Developmental Center in Passaic County) be shuttered by2017; and WHEREAS, while indicating that no one piece of information or experience was a determining factor in which of the seven state - operated facilities would be recommended for closure, there are other factors that should have been considered before making their decision. These factors include the rights (federal law requires government to meet the needs of the individual) of the clients at WDC to have treating professionals make judgments about how their needs are best met and that transferring clients from long -term institutional care to community housing has its own set of problems including higher rates of mortality and an increased likelihood of abuse in a community; and WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the Township of Woodbridge is deeply concerned by not only the recommendation by the task force to displace WDC clients but the wide - reaching economic effect with the loss of approximately 1,600 jobs in our community. The opinion that Woodbridge's relatively strong economy is more able to absorb a closure should not be relative to the task force's decision. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Municipal Council of the Township of Woodbridge, that it expresses its disagreement with the findings and conclusion of the Task Force on the Closure of Developmental Centers; opposing the closing of the WDC as it is a vital and valuable resource that should be kept in operation for the benefit of its clients and employees; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Municipal Council of the Township of Woodbridge, that certified copies of this Resolution be forwarded to Governor Chris Christie, 19' District Senator Joseph Vitale, Assemblymen Craig Coughlin and John Wisniewski, and the surrounding communities of Woodbridge Township. ADOPTED: SEP 18 2012 I hereby certify that this is a true and exact copy of a Resolution adopted by the Municipal Council of the Township of Woodbridge at its Regular Meeting held on John M. UA, RMC, CMC, CMR Municipal Clerk ` Sponsored by 3rd Ward Councilwoman Michele R.Charmello