Pleas Continue to Spare Youth Shelter from Private Firms

CREST HAVEN — There was plenty of applause at the Oct. 27 freeholders’ meeting, not for the governing body, but for opponents of privatizing the county Youth Shelter.
Rhonda Love, employed for over two decades at the shelter, spearheaded the opposition.
SHe makes less than $40,000 a year after that time, she said.
Love cited a recently hired part-time horse-riding Sheriff’s Officer at the County Park and Zoo, who is earning about what she does, and she works full time. “So I am a little disgruntled. I may be losing my job.”
Love told freeholders she “risked my life to come to my job. I love my job,” she added. That she might lose her benefits and go to another department, Love said, “I’d like you guys to tell me. How can you do that to someone?”
Applause erupted when she concluded.
As he had at two other meeting, Director Daniel Beyel told how department heads were asked to craft ways to cut their budgets, due to a $3 million to $5 million expected budgetary shortfall in 2010.
“Your department ignored a request from the board,” he said. “Your department made no effort to communicate with the board’s task force,” said Beyel
The shelter’s $1.1-million annual budget is, according to county figures, roughly twice as much as other counties pay for similar service to at-risk youths.
“You operate two, three, four times more expensively than other counties,” said Beyel.
Love said Vice Director Sheets had knowledge of “all thhat is going on.”
“Yes, we have discussed what was happening,” said Sheets. He said it was still necessary to learn cost efficiencies.
Administrator Stephen O’Connor cited the shelter’s 14 full time and one part-time employee, who take care of, on average five children in a facility desigend for 12.
“It doesn’t work,” said O’Connor. That is why, he said, the county is seeking requests for proposals from private firms.
Terence O’Neill, a teacher at the shelter, cited the county’s $140.5 million budget, and the shelter’s $1.1 million as not taking up a full 1 percent of the spending plan.
“I’m hhoping the board and adminstrator is taking a hard look at the other 99 percent of the county budget,” said O’Neill.
He added that, on the day of the meeting, there were 12 youths ata the shelter. He acknowledged, “We did hit a slow period that has given us a big black eye in computing figures.”
O’Neill read a letter from a 16-year-old identified as Michael.
He lived at the shelter for the past month, and was dismayed reading that freeholders may privatize the shelter.”Some are here for court. SOme parents do not want them at home,” the youth wrote.
“All the young men and women here feel welcome,” he added. “Please don’t close down the Cape May County Youth Shelter,” he ended.
There was more applause.
He again cited cases of sexual abuse at privately operated shelters, and added, “That could put the county in a bad position.”
“I would like to see county money spent on county kids run by county workers they,” said O’Neill.
“I don’t think you want them to be in a religious program an hour or two away. They will lost contact with their families,” O’Neill.
More applause.
Then a mother, who identified herself as Barbara who told the board she had been in the shelter as a youth, and that one of her spent time there.
“If you shut that down you will cause overcrowding in other areas,” she said.
She said parents have chipped in $5 a week to help with activities.
Another mother, Michelle, said her daughter was deemed uncontrollable by here, and sent to the shelter.
That visit, and the care given by worker, helped her daughter.
“Kids need help. In Cape May County where are they going? Where are they going to wind up?” she asked.
O’Connor responded that private bidders are given three preferences, includig using the present structure, finding shelter homes throughout the county, the third being a facility outside the county.
When she questioned how many jobs might be lost, and O’Connor replied, there was more applause.
“Putting a child in someone else’s home for the time being is a wrong thing,” said Tara Hardwick. She cited counselors at the shelter ready to assist youths.
“That is what helped,” she said, and noted, “I had friends who have been in the shelter,” said Hardwick.
“I am a taxpayer, a voter and I don’t want to see a program like that being shut down,” Hardwick said.
A; Brannen of Wildwood told freeholders a friend’s child was helped by shelter personnel.
“If it was not for the shelter, they would still be in trouble.
“”I’m the biggest advocate of saving tax money, but put dollars aside, especially for the youth of the county,” said Brannen.
Once again, applause erupted.
“Before you make any decisions, it sounds like there was not enough talking with department heads. Reopen the book and see if we can resolve some of the problem,” Brannen urged.
Applause resounded. Then, at 5:30 p.m. with no more public input, Beyel adjourned the meeting.
Parts of this story were first published at capemaycountyherald.com
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com