HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 01-12 Maplewood residents oppose group home for retarded REVIEW Maplewood residents oppose
grouphome
for retarded
by Anne Skinner card from the real estate agent saying his support to avoid future problems."
new neighbors would be, "Peter and Wiegert added,"I can see some value to
Richard Dedrickson, 365 E. Skillman Claudia Sajevic,they have five children." that type of home when it's properly
Ave., Maplewood, appeared before the "And he is not going to be living there," operated. I don't think what they're
Maplewood City Council recently to voice he continued. contemplating is the criminally insane. I
N\ his opposition to a home for retarded Jerry Fischer of Parkview Real Estate, think they might be talking about the kind
,„ adults to be located at 373 E. Skillman St. Paul, said he sent the card. "We of person who is slightly less capable of
Ave.Dedrickson said,"I would like to ask normally do this. At the time I was making decisions than a normal person.
the city to assist us in getting information assuming that it would be his (Sajevic's) And if they were to receive a little more
as to what's going to take place in this family. His name was on the earnest recognition as an individual, they might
home.We have no legal recourse and we money contract. I didn't know he wasn't do all right"
highly object to it." going to be living there then, but I do According to Sajevic, Wiegert is
Dedrickson presented a petition signed now." correct. "These people will all be
by 13 neighborhood residents who oppose Dedrickson added that the value of his working, they are high functioning in-
the residence.He said that there already house will decrease because the residence dividuals. A staff of two will live in and
is a residence for retarded children about will be located next door,according to his others will come in on a daily basis."
500 feet from the one at 373 E. Skillman, real estate agent. Sajevic said the home will be supported
"and we've had a considerable amount of Councilman Donald Wiegert moved to by state and federal funds, although he
trouble with them." "have staff investigate controls,conflicts will be making a profit on the home, the
City Attorney Don Lais read the statute and concerns of this kind of facility, and amount of reimbursement is controlled by
governing such residences to the council investigate fire and health inspections state and federal regulations. He said he
at its Dec. 30 meeting. He noted that to and whether it is a requirement of at least had talked to the neighbors on either side,
avoid an over-saturation of this type of having the courtesy of being informed." "I don't know how much they understood
residence in one area no other residence City Manager Mike Miller was on about what was going on. They were a
may be located within 300 feet of an vacation during the meeting, but later little bit apprehensive."
existing facility. "You're probably going said, "Sajevic informed me about it According to the report Lais later
to have to let them operate for a while and earlier in December. I indicated that it prepared, Sajevic has had over 12 years
if anything happens, then you will have was going to check on the state statutes experience in dealing with the retarded
recourse to action,"Lais told Dedrickson. and found him to be in accordance with and is currently employed at Norhaven
Dedrickson told the council he and them but also told him that I felt and he does know the occupants of the
several other residents had receiveda something like that needed neighborhood group home. Residence in the home will
be a promotional step for these people,as
they have made progress as a result of
their treatment, training and effort at
their respective homes. r-4,
The people have been selected atter an
intensive observation and review of going
into their social history, their ability to
care for themselves in such detailed
things as clothing themselves, personal
hygiene,ability to function while riding a
bus and other things that most other
people would consider basic.
Each of the six involved will have
employment or educational assignments
outside of the home and will be expected
to leave in the morning and return home
in the evening in the same manner as
people on a 40-hour work week.
Sajevic intends the home to be run on a
long term basis,without a rapid turnover
of residents.He said this type of program
is being encouraged throughout the state
as a method to move those people who
aren't in need of an institutionalized home
back into the community and become
participating members. He added, each
of the six residents are currently
residents of Ramsey County.
"We had to go through the public
hearing process at the Metro Council
when applying for licensing.There are a
number of programs similar to it in
Maplewood and other communities,"
Savevic said. The home is fully licensed
by the Minnesota Department of Public
Welfare and from the Department of
Health to operate.It will be supported
57 percent federal funds and 39 percent
state funds, with the remaining four
percent from a variety of sources.
Occupancy is due this month. The at-
torney's report indicated that the city has
no say in the home's licensing or ap-
proval,rather it is controlled by the state,
but advised the residents that Sajevic
would probably be open to meeting with
them to discuss the nature and dimen-
sions of the home.