HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-28 12-051 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 12-051
Date: December 28, 2011
Item/Subject: ORDER, Establishing a Committee to Advocate for the Continued Operation of
the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility and Care for the Chronically Mentally III
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary:
The State of Maine is considering whether to close the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center and also
budget cuts that may affect services for the chronically mentally ill. The Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center serves all of Northern and Eastern Maine. The Riverview Psychiatric Center in
Augusta is the only other State-run psychiatric hospital in Maine. It serves all of the southern
part of the State of Maine and is the only forensic psychiatric facility for the entire State and
closing the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center would put significant additional burden on its
capacity and resources.
If approved, this Order will establish a Committee for the purpose of developing a legislative
strategy to address the issues regarding the potential closing or reduction in services at the
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility. The Committee will develop a legislative strategy to insure that
those citizens suffering from chronic mental illness shall have adequate services. The
Committee will have members. The City's Director of Health and Community Services
shall serve as an ex -officio, non-voting, member of the Committee. The Committee shall
periodically report the status of its work and its recommendations to the Bangor City Council as
those recommendations are developed. The Committee will have approximately seven (7)
months to complete its work and will end no later than July 15, 2012.
The Order provides that the City Council's Government Operations Committee shall appoint the
members of the Committee.
Manager's Comments:
Associated Information: Order
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
Passage
First Reading
Referral
Department Head
Page _ of _
City Manager
Finance Director
City Solicitor
12-051
Assigned to Councilor Baldacci
December 28, 2011
AO 4 CITY OF BANGOR
tE V
(TITLE.) Order, Establishing a Committee to Advocate for the Continued Operation of the
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility and Care for the Chronically Mentally III
By ffie 0t Council of the City of Bangor.
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 State of Maine is considering the dosing of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric
Center; and
WHEREAS, the State of Maine is currently considering budget reductions that will likely
impact the care and treatment of those suffering from mental illness; and
WHEREAS any such budget reductions increase the need for facilities such as the
Dorothea &x: Psychiatric Facility; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of all the citizens of the State of Maine and particularly
those of Northern and Eastern Maine that the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility remain
open and that the State of Maine provide support for the care and treatment of those
suffering from mental illness; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR
THAT there is established a Committee to be known as the Committee in Support of
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility and Services for People with Mental Illness for the
purpose of developing a legislative strategy to address the issues regarding the
potential closing or reduction in services at the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Facility. The
Committee shall develop a legislative strategy to insure that those citizens suffering
from chronic mental illness shall have adequate services; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED., THAT said Committee in Support of Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Facility and Services for People with Mental Illness shall consist of thirteen
(13) members. The City's Director of Health and Community Services shall serve as an
12-051
ex -officio, non-voting, member of the Committee. The Committee shall periodically
report the status of its work and its recommendations to the Bangor City Councils as
those recommendations are developed. The Committee shall complete its work within
approximately seven (7) months of its establishment but by no later than July 15, 2012;
and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT the City Council's Government Operations
Committee shall appoint the members of the Committee.
IN CITY COUNCIL
December 28, 2011
Motion Made and Seconded for.Passage
Pas d
C�- -
CITY CLERK
# 12-051
ORDER
(TITLE) Establishing a Committee to Advocate
for the Continued Operation of the Dorothea Dig
Psychiatric Facility and Care for the Chronically
Mentally Ill
Assigned to Councilor , �e��� 0 r ,