HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-12 12-030 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No -Date: 12 030
DATE: December 12, 2011
Item/Subject: Resolve, Supporting the Continued Operation of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric
Center and the Creation of a Committee to Advocate for Keeping the Center Open
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary: Currently, the state operates Dorothea Dix, which serves Northern and Eastern
Maine and Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta which serves all of the southern part of the
State and serves as the State's only forensic psychiatric facility. The State of Maine's biennial
budget required the formation of a work group to develop a plan and suggest implementing
legislation regarding the future role and structure of Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center with the
possibility of closing the Center.
The closing of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center would isolate consumers needing this level of
service to their detriment by hospitalizing them at a significantly further distance from their
natural supports. It would also place increased burdens on emergency response systems such
as public safety, mental health providers, hospitals and others who are able to utilize the
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center as a resource for a significant population.
The Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center is by default the primary resource for a large population
whose support systems are often vulnerable to budget issues and program cuts and who when
they are in need due to their mental health issues depend on the services of the Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center. Closing it or reducing services would have a significant impact on Northern
and Eastern Maine and its citizens.
This Resolve will call for the Maine Legislature to maintain continued operations of the Dorothea
Dix Psychiatric Center and for it to work to restore funding cuts made to the Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center. It also directs the preparation of a Council Order to create a task force for
the purpose of advocating for maintaining the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. City Staff shall
recommend members of such a task force to the City Council and shall prepare an Order for the
City Council's consideration and action to create the task force and appoint its members.
Department Head
Manager's Comments: � (
City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
City Solicitor
Introduced for
x Passage
First Reading Page _ of _
Referral
Assigned to Councilor - Baldacci
CI`T'Y OF BANGOR
D leLQ Y2; 2011
(TITLE.), Resolve, Supporting the Continued Operation of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center and
the Creation of a Committee to Advocate for Keeping the Center Open
WHEREAS, the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center serves all of Northern and Eastern Maine; and
WHEREAS, the Riverview Psychiatric Center In Augusta is the only other State-run psychiatric hospital
in Maine and serves all of the southern part of the State of Maine and is the only forensic
psychiatric facility for the entire State; and
WHEREAS, closing the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center would put significant additional burden on the
Riverview Psychiatric Center's capacity and resources; and
WHEREAS, the closing of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center would isolate consumers needing this
level of service by hospitalizing them at a significantly further distance from their natural
supports, including family, potentially leading to longer stays and more difficult re-
integration back into the community; and
WHEREAS, closing the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center would place increased burdens on emergency
response systems such as public safety, mental health providers, hospitals and others
who are able to utilize the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center as a resource for a significant
population; and
WHEREAS, this is particularly true for the City of Bangor which, as the largest service center
community in Northern and Eastern Maine, draws service -dependent populations to the
community; and
WHEREAS, from a census of over 1100 prior to the efforts to deinstitutionalize in the 1970s to the
current in-patient capacity between 50-66 depending on available funds, the Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center is by default the primary resource for a large population whose support
systems are often vulnerable to budget issues and program cuts and who when they are
in need due to their mental health issues depend on the services of the Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center.
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Bangor calls upon the Maine Legislature to maintain continued
operations of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center and, further, that the Maine Legislature work to
restore funding cuts made to the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. THAT the City Council and City staff create a task force for the purpose
of advocating for maintaining the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. City Staff shall recommend members
of such a task force to the City Council and shall prepare an Order for the City Council's consideration
and action to create the task force and appoint Its members.
IN CITY COUNCIL
December 12, 2011
Motion Made and Seconded for Passage
Vote: 9-0
Councilors Voting Yes: Blanchette, Baldacci,
Durgin, Gallant, Gratwick, Longo, Hawes, Sprague &
Weston
Councilors Voting No: None
# 12-030
RESOLVE
Passed (TITLE,) Supporting the Continued Operation of
the Dorothea Dig Psychiatric Center and the
11 CLERK Creation of a committee to Advocate for Keeping
the Center Open
Assigned to Councilor � CXR c -c \" .PM /'