Minutes 01/09/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY, January 9, 2001 recommendation from the Virginia General Assembly. Henry County, local law enforcement agencies, and Piedmont Community Services have already went on record in opposition of the plan. There is potential that the closing will place undue hardships on 'the area. Mr. Earl B. Reynolds, Jr., City Manager, stated that if closed, the City will incur additional costs associated with the closing. Council moved upon motion duly seconded, with,atl members voting: 'Vote 5.0; Yeas (5)-'Crabtree, Teague, Dallas, Fer~ll, and Roop; Nays (0)- None, adoption of the Resolution as follows: WHEREAS, the MartinsviHe City Council realizes the importance of and .greatly supports the role that the Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute (SVMHI)plays for the citizens of MartinsviHe; and WHEREAS, this facility is the primary mental health hospital serving Martinsville and surrounding localities, providing essential mental health treatment opportunities for many of our residents; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is considering a plan that would 'shut down SVMHI within eighteen months, shifting short-term care of the mentally ill to private hospitals and local community service providers; and WHEREAS, SVMHI is a unique community resource, and its dosing would create hardships for individuals and families affected. by mental illnesses; and WHEREAS, our region is limited in the number of other public and private mental health resources that could reasonably fill the void left by the closing of SVMHI; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, in 'regular session assembled January 9, 2001, that it does hereby support keeping the Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute open, and that any discussions on SVMHI' s future include representatives from the affected localities and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Coundl considered adoption of a Resolution 'in support'of utilizing 'inmate labor for a roadside 'project on state route 650. Mr. Earl B. Reynolds, Jr., City Manager, stated that the work is desired to dean-out culverts along the route, and that 'the Code of Virginia requires a Resolution to grant the request. If 'approved, the inmates will be a part of a work crew from the Patrick Henry Correctional Unit, Camp 28. The crew would be supervised .by. S tare correctional officers. Council Members Dallas 'and Ferrill expressed concerns over potential security issues of using such labor that may pose a threat to public safety. Council Member Ferrill stated that he wants to know more about the different inmate security levels that may be used in the proposed