Minutes 11/21/1972 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 1972 the July rate. The Chief expressed the view, and Council concurred, that this sharp and beneficial reduction could be attributed to the greatly accelerated use of radar for the detection of speeding. It was noted, with appreciation, that the various press representatives had been helpful by giving wide publicity to the stepped up police activity. The City Manager noted the presence of Mrs. Mary Alice Roberts and Miss Janice Smith, Roanoke Regional representatives of the State Department of Public Welfare (Social Services), as well as members of the City Welfare Department staff, and that the scheduled discussion of the various ramifications of this program was important to an understanding of the situation, the problems and the potential. Mrs. Roberts outlined the federal-state-local relationships and responsibilities in the welfare program, explaining that the State had been involved with the Federal Government in this program since the 1938 expansion in the Social Security system. There was a discussion of the fact that the State must require many things of the localities, because of the Federal regulations which must be administered through the State, and reference was made to the necessity of the application of the merit system, a system of appeals from the decisions of local administrative staff, the great numbers of reports, the confidentiality of the r~rds, and there was special ,--", ~,.- note of the series of court decisions which have the effect of liberalizing the system and at the same time tending to remove or decrease local jurisdiction over the program. There was great concern over the increase in case load, the spi~ling -==" costs, the public opposition to the basic method of operating the welfare system, reported case histories involving blatant abuses of or misuse of program goals. Also, there was discussion of new pro~rams now being carried out, involving City operation of the Day Care Center, the Food Stamp program and upcoming changes involving f1separation of services", whic h changes, it was agreed, would cause additional problems and misunderstanding on the part of the public.