|
REGULAR MEETING March 26, 2018
<br /> Community Advisory Board on site to address any ongoing needs and concerns because things
<br /> will happen and will come up.
<br /> Rod Goodchild, 837 S. 24th Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I came here and heard this. It takes
<br /> courage to stand up here. I support those two (2) young men. I was so moved. I will support them
<br /> and I encourage us all to see how we can positively impact these young men.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to recess for five (5) minutes. Councilmember
<br /> Regina Williams-Preston seconded this motion which carried by voice vote of nine (9) ayes.
<br /> Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the Council
<br /> Chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City building at 9:26 p.m. Council President Tim Scott
<br /> presided with nine (9) members present.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston asked, Will this bring jobs to the community?
<br /> Dr. Bruinsma replied, Yes, it already has. It will be over twenty (20)jobs for just the Woodford
<br /> Home. There will be seventy(70) total.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, I remember when Mr. Shipman first came a
<br /> couple years ago. I'm not sure we've spoken since then but one (1)thing I remember him talking
<br /> about is the rate of pay you paid your employees. I got the impression that these will not only be
<br /> jobs but they will be good jobs that respect the dignity of your workers. I also want to say as a
<br /> teacher who taught for twelve(12)years for students with emotional disabilities in a self-contained
<br /> setting, I have a heart for a population of students that have this great need. I've seen the result of
<br /> having those continuing services. I've gotten phone calls from a young man, at four (4) in the
<br /> morning,who is sleeping on the playground when it is raining because he is aged out of a program.
<br /> He ended up reoffending and ended up in prison because I think there is a lack of services of this
<br /> type. I certainly have personal experiences with how needed this service is and I wish we could
<br /> have more. I appreciate and thank you all for bringing this to the community, and you certainly
<br /> have my support tonight for this. Please give me a call,personally, if there is anything more I can
<br /> do to support your facility and students.
<br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride stated, Our democracy is a representative government. I
<br /> believe thirty(30) days ago, I was elected to represent the people. There have been a lot of people
<br /> today that came to speak in favor of the Woodford Home, but I have also been inundated with a
<br /> lot of meetings over the last few weeks as well as phone calls and emails from people in opposition
<br /> as well. At the same time I believe that, in spite of my own personal feelings, this program offers
<br /> services that are desperately needed in our community.But I cannot overlook the amount of people
<br /> that called and met with me this week to say they were not in favor as well. I believe this measure
<br /> will pass tonight but I will be the vote against so that the voices of the people who oppose the bill
<br /> can be heard.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, Between my visits to the facility, the information provided
<br /> by you, and the input from the public toni ht, I think this is strong evidence to a terrific program
<br /> model. You have a strong philosophy, great discipline policy, and the young men's personal
<br /> testimony is evidence to that. But, you also have strong regulatory oversight from the State. Your
<br /> supervision ratio is,indeed,outstanding. What you have done from the time this was first presented
<br /> to toni ht,in terms of your commitment to involve the community in your ongoing administration,
<br /> I think it is outstanding. Your commitment to keeping the lines of communication open with the
<br /> neighborhood, your willingness to look at any issue, it is a robust system. To that end, there have
<br /> been a lot of individuals that spoke tonight that have already connected with ROP and DePaul
<br /> Academy. I see this as an extension of a service that is already being provided,it is already meeting
<br /> high standards, and already having success. We need to open up this next pathway for these
<br /> students. The location, the building,the space is all appropriately located in terms of proximity to
<br /> schools, employment opportunities, recreation opportunities, and others. When we talk about
<br /> rehabbing and assisting youth who have fallen into trouble, it would be very difficult for me to
<br /> imagine something else that could be more wrap around than this. I really have no reservation on
<br /> this. Sure there will be challenges. Even teenagers living in a home with two (2)parents,roof over
<br /> their heads, there are still problems. Dr. Bruinsma, I also want to say that you have an amazing
<br /> track record in our community. I don't know who knows that record, but I know the Broden's
<br /> 22
<br />
|