Thursday, Aug. 15

 

Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board unanimous on LDC vote: CLOSURE!

[AUG. 15, 2002]  In a unanimous decision this morning, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board voted to allow the Department of Human Services to close the 125-year-old Lincoln Developmental Center.

The decision was a bitter disappointment to parents and guardians of LDC residents, employees, and members of the Lincoln/Logan County Community who have worked for many months to save the embattled facility for the developmentally disabled.

The 14 members of the 15-member appointed board who were present also voted to close two other health facilities slated by Gov. George Ryan to be shuttered to help balance the state’s budget: Zeller Mental Health Center in Peoria and Singer Developmental Center in Rockford.

"In my opinion, this process was a waste of time and money. This group just rubber-stamped the recommendation of the governor and the Department of Human Services," said Dan Senters, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 425, which represents many LDC employees.

Senters was one of 40 parents, guardians and union members who attended the hearing as a show of solidarity, even though they were not allowed to testify.

The agency requesting the permit, DHS, was the only group allowed to present arguments Wednesday morning, Senters said. Melissa Wright, associate director of the Office of Developmental Disabilities, testified in favor of closure.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

LDC supporters believe the last-minute change in board membership was another tactic of the governor to assure that LDC would be closed forever. Only a few days ago Gov. Ryan appointed three new members to replace board members whose terms had expired but who were still serving. One of those replaced said he did not favor closing LDC.

About 160 residents are still on the LDC campus. DHS has been unable to move them to other facilities because of an Illinois Supreme Court order that prevented any further moves until the permit issue was decided. Senters said he thought the issue would be moot now that the planning board has granted the permit and DHS might resume moving residents.

Attorneys for AFSCME have questioned whether the new appointees could legally vote on the issue and are considering an appeal of that and other issues to the courts, an AFSCME spokesman said.

[Joan Crabb]


Articles from the past week

Wednesday:

  • City may change ordinance to permit CILAs

  • Illinois Virtual High School now more affordable

Tuesday:

  • Governor appoints new members to IHFPB before crucial LDC vote

  • Governor signs bill allowing cell phones in schools

Monday:

  • Elkhart — Soup to nuts and archaeology too (Business)

  • Futures For Kids conference to highlight after-school programs

  • Gov. Ryan signs telephone solicitation bill into law

  • ‘A Chain Reaction of Hope,’ says Miss Illinois

Saturday:

  • LDC employees get layoff notices

  • IOCC ‘race’ coming through Lincoln

  • Thompson craft awards presented to four Illinois artisans

Friday:

  • County manager may be idea whose time has come

  • Financially strapped students suffer credit problems

Thursday:

  • Lack of funds no reason for closing LDC, Bomke says

  • Training offered for county board candidates

  • Abraham Lincoln Marovitz collection donated to state

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