Patrick announced two years ago the plan to close Glavin Regional Center, Monson Developmental Center and the Templeton Development Center.
View full sizeA Monson Developmental Center building that may be slated for demolition following its closing. (Staff Photo By John Suchocki)MONSON - State Rep. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, is seeking legislative support for an independent study into the impacts of closing Monson Developmental Center and similar centers that the administration of Gov. Deval L. Patrick wants to close.
Gobi said Friday she does not believe that community centers the residents of the developmental center would move to are set up to deal with some of the complex medical issues that some of these people have.
Monson Developmental Center is a residential facility that serves people with intellectual disabilities.
"I don't think it is fair or responsible that we even discuss closing these facilities before first understanding the impact that closure will have on patients, their families, and the communities hosting these centers," Gobi said
Patrick announced two years ago the plan to close Glavin Regional Center, Monson Developmental Center and the Templeton Development Center.
A cost-benefit analysis study conducted by the state projected annual savings of between $20 million and $40 million from closing these three centers and the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham.
The state Legislature enacted a law that authorized the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to conduct that cost-benefit study.
Gobi has now filed legislation that would require the state inspector general to appoint a non-governmental commission to study the costs and benefits of closing Glavin Regional Center, Monson Developmental Center and Templeton Development Center and the costs and benefits of alternative methods of providing the services now provided at those institutions.
The state operates group homes for people with intellectual disabilities and also has contracts with private agencies that operate such group homes.
Gobi has also voiced support for additional legislation requiring that, in the event that Templeton Developmental Center is closed, the land it occupies would continue to be used for services for citizens with developmental disabilities.
The Monson facility is scheduled to close in 2012, and the Glavin and Templeton centers are scheduled to close in 2013.
The Coalition of Families and Advocates, a statewide group that works for high-quality care for people with intellectual disabilities, has been critical of the decision to close these facilities and of the cost-benefit analysis study conducted by the state.
Work is also well under way to study future uses of the property that has served the Monson Developmental Center.
The Monson center has a campus of 600 acres, 200 of which are in permanent conservation restriction.
There are 50 buildings on the Monson property, and the state has plans to demolish 23 of them.